Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-02
A BUSINESS SPIRIT.
Legislature is Making a New
Record for Itself.
COMMITTEE SESSIONS.
Boston and Maine Bill Discussed
in the House.
Committee on Agriculture Kills Several
Measures-Mr. MeIlen Has Hear
ing Postponed.
(speeIal DISPATCH % the spy.l

Special Dispatch to the Spy.)
Boston, March 1.-The people of the
commonwealth can find no. fault with
the effort of the present legislature to
get through in good season. There is
surely spirit for attention to business
that has seldom been so noticeable as
now There were nearly 80 committees
in session this morning, and after ad-
journment of the house, at 4.30 O'clock
the committee on rules went into ses-
sion to consider the order for gas in
vestigation. The committee ON metrop-
olltan affairs has a session this eve
ming, in order to have a conference with
the metropolitan park commissioners,
relating to several matters now before
the committee.
In the house, this afternoon, the Bos-
ton and Maine bill came up for discus
sion. This afternoons debate was be-
tween Mr.. Parsons of Greenfield and Mr..
Poor of Andover, the former against the
bill and the latter defending it, as a
member Of the committee on railroads.
The debate went over unfinished.
The house reconsidered It's rough
treatment just before adjournment yes
terday, of the bill allowing municipal
authorities to license lunch carts, and
after reconsiderdng the vote whereby
an engrOSsment of the bill was refused
it went over into tomorrow's calendar.
The committee on agriculture pro-
nounced the death knell of several bills,
including those for the repeal of the law
Of 1894, relative to the seizures of sam
pies of milk by milk inspectors; for the
care and regulation of the milk supply,
and for the appointment of milk inspect
ors by the boards of health. All of these
matters were reported adversely.
Representative M1genis of North
Adams IS back from a trip to Washing
ton, and is in danger of being summoned
to the bar of the house for absence
without leave. His excuse is the per-
formance of a duty that will tend to
make him a better legislator. The ac-
count of his marriage to a North Adams
young lady was printed in the papers
some two weeks ago.
Representative Coombs Of Worcester
is at his desk again, having partially
recovered from a bad fall on the state
house steps, two weeks ago.
Mr.. Mellen of Worcester appeared be-
fore the committee on manufacture,
and got another postponement of the
hearing on the bill that Worcester may
establish an electric light plant.
IN THE SENATE.
A bill to relieve the insurance COM
missioner from obligation to approve
the accounts of the state fire marshal,
was taken from the table and ordered
to third reading
The three Mackay bird bills were
postponed to Tuesday next on motion
of Senator Towle of Suffolk.
7NsI SA.s,1 IL
the Boston police force who have 20
years service in the department, was
ordered to third reading, after the lat
ter provision, offered by Senator Davis
of Suffolk, as an amendment, had been
adopted. se
A bill Incorporating the Worcester Hi
bernian Building Association of Wor-
cester was engrossed.
Senator Towle of Suffolk made an
other attack upon the system Of licens-
ing small hotels in Boston, saying there
was nothing strange in the fact that the
number Of kitchen bars was lessened
here; people can get all the liquor they
want late at night and on Sunday at
these places.
Senator Cook of Worcester said the
senator told the truth; the trouble was
not with the legislature, it was with the
police commissioners, and with the
liquor squad, which should be made to
do their duty.
The adverse report of the liquor law
committee on the bill relative to small
hotels, was accepted.
The senate concurred with the house
in admitting petitions that the Woro-
noco Street Railway Company may
carry freight, and for the Incorporation
of the Lowell, Marlboro and Acton
Street Railway Company.
A bill relative to exemption of execu-
tors, administrators and trustees from
giving sureties on probate bonds, was
discussed at length, the special point
being the exemption of guardians ad
litem of minors with small estates. The
bill was favored by Senator Towle of
Suffolk, who made a gallant single
handed fight against Senator Harwood
of Middlesex, Bowie and Chamberlain
of Plymouth, Morse of the Cape and
Irwin of Berkshire The bill
was rejected.
A bill to increase the salary of the
judge of the northern Berkshire district
court was engrossed.
Senator Irwin sought to table ad-
verse reports on bills to incorporate the
Commonwealth Gas Company and the
Commonwealth Pipe Line Gas Company
on the ground that other gas matters
are already there. Both motions were
refused and the reports were accepted.
On the first, Senator Irwin moved to re-
consider The motion went into the
calendar.
IN THE HOUSE.
The house concurred with the senate
order for further time--until March 16-
for the committee on water supply in
which to report on matters assigned.
An order was also adopted extending
the time of the committee on labor
until March 16--in which to report on
business referred to the committee. The
committee on roads and bridges was
granted the privilege of sitting during
the sessions of the legislature.
Leave to withdraw was reported on
the petition Of the town of Princeton,
for legislation authorizing the building
of a public school building on a public
park,
Leave to withdraw was reported on
the petition of the Peoples Telephone
Company, for legislation enabling mu-
nicipal authorities to allow the erection
Of poles and lines on private property.
Ought not to pass was reported on the
bill to allow county commissioners to
accept insurance companies as sureties
on the bonds of county officers.
Leave to withdraw was reported on
the bill to compel railroads and street
railway companies to provide their cars
with drinking water.
Ought not to pass was reported by the
committee on the Judiciary on the bills
to prevent public deception by adver-
tisements.