Foster's Daily Democrat

BAY STATE LEGISLATURE.
The Cattle Commission Again—Reports of Committees.
BOSTON, March 17.—The abolition of the Massachusetts cattle commission was a question quite emphatically passed upon at a hearing before the legislative agriculture committee yesterday. The commission are bitterly opposed by farmers on account of the increased use of tuberculin for testing cows. Prominent doctors and fully a score of cattle raisers spoke in behalf of the commission. The hearing is unfinished.
Among other matters considered in committee were several Cape Cod canal petitions, Norfolk county estimates, the Bulfinch front, etc.
In the senate the committee on Metropolitan affairs reported a bill authorizing the city of Boston to incur indebtedness outside the debt limit not exceeding $1,000,000, to provide for the extension of public parks.
The resolve authorizing the appointment of a committee of five to investigate the reformatory and charitable institutions of the state came up for third reading. Mr. Wellman moved an amendment that the committee consist of three, instead of five, and that the commissioners be paid such compensation as the governor and council may determine. The amendments were adopted, and the bill as amended was passed to be engrossed and sent to the house under a suspension of the rules.
The committee on judiciary reported a bill authorizing the license commissioners of New Bedford to reissue licenses, where, through no fault of their own, the licensees may have lost them through informalities in the application therefor or publication thereof.
In the house, ought not to pass was reported on a bill making nine hours a day's work for state, county, city and town employees.
The house passed the bill to abolish days of grace on commercial paper, except sight drafts.
The motion to substitute a bill for the adverse report for an appropriation of $50,000 for the Boston emergency hospital was defeated in the house.
Resolves authorizing the levying of county taxes for Berkshire county, $80,000; Hampden county, $165,000; Franklin county, $35,000, were reported.
Leave to withdraw was reported on the petition for an amendment to the constitution providing for the election of president of the senate and speaker of the house by the people direct.
Mr. Parsons gave notice that when the house reaches the adverse committee report on the petition for a constitutional amendment giving the suffrage to women, he will move to substitute a resolve granting women the right to vote as petitioned for.
The bill to unite the city of Springfield and the town of West Springfield was passed to be engrossed.