The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-05
IN THE SENATE.

The Senate was called to order
promptly at IL o'clock by the senior
member, Mr.. Soule of Bristol.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Noble w.
Everett of Wareham, an ex-member of
the Senate.
Senators George of Essex, WhittIesey
OF berkshire, and Moran of Bristol were
appointed committee to notify the
governor and council that a quorum of
the senate was present and ready to be
qualified.
Soon the governor and council enter
ed. and the oath was administered to
the members, and afterward signed by
the 80 present. Senator Frank A
Patch of BoXboro (sixth Middlesex
district did not appear, but later came
in and was qualified.
Senator Hodgkins of Nfiddlesex and
Maxwell and Tague of Suffolk were
appointed a committee to collect the
votes for president. They reported thar
Hon. George E. Smith of Middlesex had
all the votes cast, So. Senators Will
Hams and Feneno escorted President
Smith to the chair
President Smith said in part, in talk
ing the chair:
Much is said about the length of
our session. 1t needs to be emphasized
that we do not create business, but only
listen in committee and act in our SEES
sions on the public business which the
people of this commonwealth in a
proper and constitutional manner bring
to our attention.
There are two ways only in which
we can be sure of short sessions. The
length of the session may be limited
by law. This for various reasons has
provoked considerable criticism in Ger
tain western states; or we may select
petitions or business as we deem most
important and act on those, pass the
appropriation bills and adjourn, leav
ing larger or smaIled number of mat
tiers of more or less importance
unconSidered on our calendar. This
is after the manner of procedure in the
congress. We had over 1900 matters
last year for consideration, and some Of
them of great public importance, and
all were acted upon and decided
I'm many particular instances no
Sarm could result from a refusal to
consider and reconsider year after year
the same questions without any sub
stantial change in conditions For in
stance, long and patient hearings were
given last year to every person who
wished to be heard on the taxation
question. The committee reported and
the legislature acted in June 1t hardly
seems necessary again within seven
months to begin rehearings on the same
question. The serious trouble, howev
er, with this plan of selection, is how
to determine just what should be left
on the calendar for our SUCCESSORS.
I'VE shall probably this year go along
about as heretofore, and hear every
body, but the time is not distant when
one or the other method is likely to be
adopted Meantime we can expedite
matters by promptly assigning each Pc
tition for hearing, and granting no con-
tinuances. and reporting the result of
the Investigations promptly to one
branch or the other. It is for our per-
sonal advantage to attend to this bust
ness quickly But [ believe that we all
have it in our hearts the purpose to
do the business intelligently and hon
estly. and be controlled only by those
influences. which make most strongly
for the public good
The Senate then further completed
its organization by the choice of Henry
D. Coolidge of Concord as clerk, John
g. b. Adams as sergeant-at-arms and
Rev. Edmund Dowse of Sherborn as
chaplain.
After the appointment of the usual
committees on counting the vote for
state officers, preparatory to Inaugural
ton, the Senate adjourned at "A until
II o'clock tomorrow.