Lancaster Gazette

MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE.

Monday, JAN. 18. In the Senate, the President laid before the Senate a letter from the Hon. Philo Dickinson, resigning his seat at the Senate Board.

In the House, on motion of Mr. Metcalf of Hopkinton, the Committee on Finance was instructed to inquire if any, and what, alterations may be necessary in the laws requiring Assessors to reduce the valuation to six per cent. before making the taxes, and to lodge a copy of the valuation and tax in the Town Clerk's Office.

Election Laws. Mr. W. Blake, of B. from the Committee on the subject of so altering the Election Law as to conform the same to the Constitution or to give greater facilities to the exercise of the elective franchise, made a report declaring that it is not expedient to legislate on the subject. The report was recommitted, and the Committee so enlarged as to consist of one from each Congressional District, viz: Messrs. Larcum, of Beverly, Marston, of Newburyport, Rutter, of East-Sudbury, Brown, of Dudley. Putnam, of Fitchburg, Chapen, of Leyden, Hopkins, of G. Barrington, Souther, of Quincy, Briggs, of Attleborough, and Collins, of Eastham.

On motion of D. L. Child. of B. the above Committee were instructed to inquire whether any, and what provisions by law is necessary in respect to the time of closing the Polls at any election, and for protecting the right of suffrage from being defeated by a premature and unseasonable arresting of any ballot in this Commonwealth.

The Speaker presented a petition of Justice Willard and others of Hampshire County, for a repeal of the laws concerning personal liability in Manufacturing Corporations. Mr. Eddy, of Middleboro' a petition of Malbone Briggs for remission of a penalty incurred by him as surety or for the appearance of his son, now deceased—which was committed.

A bill in addition to act establishing a Marine Society in Newburyport, passed to be engrossed.

Tuesday, JAN. 19. In the Senate, the second reading of the bill to suspend the operation of the act providing for broad-rimmed wheels, was assigned for to-morrow at 11 o'clock.

The Committee on the Judiciary were instructed to inquire into the expediency of providing by law that in the necessary absence of any Town Clerk from a Town Meeting, the meeting may appoint a Clerk for the time being.

An order of notice, returnable at the present session, passed on the petition of the Green's Harbor Canal Company; also on petition of Seba Carpenter and others.

Mr. Fowler, from the Committee on Banks, who were instructed to inquire into the expediency of extending the Equity powers of the Supreme Judicial Court to cases in which Banks shall refuse payment of their bills, &c. made a report which was accepted, and the Committee were discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

Mr. Hastings, from the Committee on Manufactures, reported a bill defining the general powers and duties of Manufacturing Corporations, which was read once, ordered to be printed, and Friday next assigned for a second reading.

To-morrow, 11 o'clock, was assigned for the second reading of a bill concerning the two Congregational Societies in Deerfield; the bill establishing a Fire Department in the town of Lowell; the bill establishing a Marine Society at Newburyport, and the bill establishing the dividing line between Edgartown and Tisbury.

Mr. Hale offered an amendment to the bill in addition to an act regulating building with wood in Boston, and to-morrow, 11 o'clock, was assigned for consideration.

An amendment was proposed by Mr. Burnell to the resolve authorizing the Treasurer to borrow money, and to-morrow assigned for consideration.

A petition was presented from the Beverly Bank for an extension of charter.

The Resolve on the petition of George Reed was re-committed.

The Bill relating to the Nantucket Marine Insurance Company was read a 2d time, and on motion of Burnell, laid on the table.

Thursday next was assigned for the 2d reading of the bill to incorporate the Plymouth Insurance Company.

A report of the Treasurer on the petition of the Overseers of the Poor of New-Bedford; on the petition of Wm. Andrews and another; and on the account of Lester Filley—was read and referred to the Committee on Claims.

Adjourned.

In the House, Mr. Brooks, of B. made reports on the subject of enlarging the powers of Constables, and of requiring them to give bonds, that it is expedient to legislate thereon.

Also a Bill on the jurisdiction of Probate Courts, which was read once and ordered to a second reading.

On motion of Mr. George Blake, the Committee on Probate and Family Relations were instructed to inquire into the expediency of a law to enable aliens to hold estate within this Commonwealth.

The bill to repeal the law requiring the re-inspection of fish, excepting those which have been inspected in their importation, was taken up.

Mr. Williams, offered an amendment by striking out the clause excepting the Mackerel.

The discussion was interrupted by a message from the Senate announcing a vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Philo Dickinson from that body, and also, that the Senate had appointed a Committee to join a similar committee from the House to fill the same.

On motion of Mr. Strong, the hour of meeting of a convention for that purpose was proposed, and 3 o'clock agreed to.

The debate was suspended till the hour, when the two branches met in Convention and proceeded to the election.

Messrs. Warner of the Senate, and Hubbard, Hamilton, of the House, were appointed to collect, sort, and count the votes, and subsequently the Committee reported the whole number of votes to be 374, of which Charles A. Dewey, Esq. had 200, being a majority, and was unanimously declared elected.

The Convention then dissolved, and the debate on the bill was again resumed.

The amendment striking out the clause excepting the Mackerel, requiring the re-inspection of all fish, was stricken out.

The bill as amended was then passed to be engrossed.

On motion of Mr. Williams, it was voted, that the Committee on Internal Affairs and Insurance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reducing the fees of the inspectors of fish.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20.

Mr. McKay, from the Joint Standing Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred so much of His Excellency's address as relates to the Massachusetts Hospital Life Insurance Company, reported a bill, with a bill in addition to the same, which were read once and ordered to be printed, and recommitted for further consideration.

The bill from the Senate, relative to the inspection of fish, was read once, and ordered to a second reading to-morrow.

The Resolve authorizing the Treasurer to borrow money passed, several amendments having been offered and rejected, and 6 o'clock of the day for to-morrow assigned for the consideration of the Report of the Committee on the Census.

PETITIONS PRESENTED.

From the holders of the Ny-land shares; from Oliver Holmes: of the Merchants' Bank of M-; of the Andover Bank; of the Bright family; of the ship-for renewal of the same.

Bills—to suspend the act providing for the broad rimmed wheels; in addition to the act establishing a Marine Society at Newburyport; establishing a Fire Department in Lowell: establishing the dividing line between Edgartown and Tisbury; in addition to the act regulating building with wood within the town of Boston—It passed to be engrossed.

In the House, several remonstrances. of H. ordered to be printed—from B. Allen. of N. W. Whipple. of C. L. well. of M. Emmot of Leopard. of C. K. Norton, of T. Gardner, from each County—to consider the expediency of the act requiring the appointment of Commissioners.

On motion of Mr. Blake, that the Committee on the Judiciary be directed to inquire into the expediency of providing for the safe keeping of discharged convicts until they are let loose upon their good behaviour.

On motion of Mr. Loring, it was voted, that Messrs. L. of F. and Bowdoin of C. be a Committee to consider the expediency of altering the Fee Bill.

On motion of Mr. Reed, the Committee on Education were instructed to inquire into the expediency of altering the law in relation to the jurisdiction of school districts.
On consideration of the Fee Bill.

A petition was presented from... [full merged legislative proceedings from House and Senate, including reports, petitions, bills, and the detailed constitutional amendment articles, spanning Friday Jan 22 proceedings and the committee report on amendments to the Constitution, including the full text of the proposed articles on political year commencement and House of Representatives election districts].

Adjourned.