The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-13
Measure Favoring
Young Veterans
Passes House.
BIG VOTE IN FAVOR.
Railways Must Put Plat
form Gates on All
Cars.

Boston, May 12.-Today, just year
from the time the Second regiment, the
first Massachusetts regiment to leave
the state for the front, left the state
camp at South birmingham, armed
and equipped for active service in the
Spanish war; the House very hand
somely observed the anniversary by
passing to a third reading by an over
whelming vote the bill to extend the
veterans preference act to the soldiers
| of that war The bill has already been
engrossed in the Senate, where it was
first reported, but was amended in the
House so as to give the first preference
to the veterans of the civil war. This
was unanimously agreed to by the
members interested in the passage OF
| the bill, and it was evident that these
older veterans yet hold the warmest
place in the hearts of the people of the
state. Under the bill the second prefer
ence is given to younger soldiers, and
to this the Grand Army men make no
objection.
The bill was bitterly opposed by the
House advocates of civil service and
two of its pronounced devotees, AGessrs.
! Myers of Cambridge and Wells of Pea
against it on the sole ground that it
would still further limit the operations
of the merit system.
The bill was passed to third read
ing by the handsome vote on roll call
of 1877 yeas to "a nays. There were
seven pairs, making the total vote 1874
to 81.
Speakers in favor of the bill were
numerous. Mr.. Mellen of Worcester
called the attention of the House to the
fact that the day was the first anniver-
sary of the departure of the Second
regiment for the front, and urged the
members to observe the occasion by
passing the bill. He alluded to the ar
guments against it as being exactly
the same as those urged against the
veterans of the civil war being granted
any exemption from the civil service
regulations.
Mr.. Hagberg of Worcester, answer
ing Messrs. Myers and Wells, declared
that the younger soldiers were as much
entitled to exemption as the older ones,
and that they had earned it. He took
issue with Mr.. Myers on the latters
statement that Gov. Roosevelt of New
York had drawn UP an even stronger
civil service law than that of Massa-
chusetts, and declared that what really
had been done in that state was an
earnest effort to rid the law of some Of
its fool features. He also intimated
that the rough riders did not alone win
the victory at Las Guasimas or capture
/ Santiago alone. Although somewhat
! i'll, Mr.. Hagberg made good speech,
and was congratulated by many of his
! fellow members
1t remained for Judge" Brooks of
| Orange to make the speech of the day
in favor of the bill. He spoke Of the
anxious days when the young me2 of
ct,
rolls for the Spanish war, the parting
from parents and relatives and the try
ing days after they had gone to the
front. He believed nothing was too
good for the veterans of both wars and
also believed that now was the time
to do something for the soldiers of the
! Spanish war. He believed it was a
good time to give these soldiers some
substantial token of the gratitude of
the state Another war might come at
any moment, and in that case the mem
/ bers of the legislature might be called
/ upon to serve in the ranks.
| Mr.. Hayes of Lowell had an amend
/ ment adopted, making soldiers and
sailors in the regular army and navy
! eligible under the provisions of the
/ law. Mr. Davenport of Greenfield Of
fered an amendment striking out the
clause giving veterans of the civil war
| first preference, and in defense Of the
amendment stated his belief that the
veterans of the Spanish war should be
on the same level as to exemption as
the civil war soldiers. The amendment
was rejected.
Previous to the preference bill the
House passed the bill requiring rail-
road companies to equip all their cars
with platform gates to engrossment in
spite of the determined opposition of
the railroad committee. Three bills
amending the employers liability law
were rejected, as was the bill for a
commission to equalize the salaries of
state and county officials The bill to
abolish the contract system on public
works was rejected.
In the Senate, the committee on rail-
roads reported a bill extending the
time for building the Millbury, Sutton
and Douglas railroad An order also
/ was reported, giving permission to
cities and towns to pay for injuries
sustained by persons not firemen on
1 duty at a fire.