The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-02-24

PRINTING COMMITTEE, presented to the Senate at Al
bany, on SATURDAY, the 2lst inst, is a highly int.
resting document. i lie items of payments made
to sundry printers be seen some evidence of
what might be Gale corruption" The following
exhibit shows the sums which have been paid to a
few favored individuals, within the last twenty
years
REcAriTuLATIoS OF PAYMENTS.
To Edwin Croswel. 522, 055 AZ
TO Thurlow Weed. 22l Coz 65
To Carroll Cook. sS052 81
TO Ebenezer Mack. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 3l,ss4 o.
TO French s Cassidy ............. II,l53 %
TO Charles Van Benthuysen ............ 5,23s 10
Total. $3.50 o5i al
Upon the above, Mr.. Chase, a member Of the
committee, in a very able speech upon the subject,
observes as loows:-
Thus it will be at glance that eight hun.
dred thousand dollars has been drawn from the pubic
nnb nynng i've 10 and
twenty two thousand dollars Of which has been scooped
into the capacious lap OF the present State Printer
We CONCEIVE that it would hardly be possible to
draw up better or more conclusive argument in ia
vor of reform than that which the above statement
contains. 1t is indeed, such convincing argu-
ment, that we will not add to it, but content our
selves with recommending close and fixed attention
to It's facts. As 1t proves reform to be necessary
say, let us have that reform, speedily and with.
out delay-et the public printing be thrown open to
fair competition, and not henceforth be made Job
for corrupt and party purposes
TAxEs UPON SEAMEN.-We have seen a memorial,
signed by numerous merchants, shipmas,ers and
others, praying the repeal, alteration OF certain
law passed just prior to the close Of the last session
Of the Legislature. This law requires that every
seaman, arriving at the port OF New York, shall
pay the sum Of one dollar for foreign voyages, and
twenty-five cents for coasting voyages, for the sup
port Of the Seamen's Retreat, on Staten Island II
further appears, that after meeting the current ex-
penses fthe year 1916, and discharging every liza
bilty incurred in the maintenance thereof and ex-
pending large amount in making improvements,
there is remaining in the Merchants Bank and in
State stocks, surplus of eleven thousand dol
lars
II does really seem that the poor, Woodworking,
noble-hearted seamen, are taxed, in proportion to
their means. more than any other class. Possessing
as they do no properly qualification, it is really
piece Of special taxation The mechanic, or laborer,
under the same circumstances is liable TO no taxa
ion and may at the same time receive the benefit
OF treatment at the City Hospital, a, the public ex.
pense. Moreover, in addition to the tax imposed by
the Legislature, seamen are required, by the Uni
ed States law to pay the sum OF twenty cents per.
month Tor the privilege of hospital treatment
The memorialists, in order to equalize this tax
suggest that the inequality could be obvated by
requiring the payment of certain sum, in the fol
lowing manner, to wit:-For all voyages beyond
the Cape osGood Hope and Cape Horn, one dollar
and fifty cents per voyage; voyages beyond the
Equator, and this side of either the Cape of Good
Hope or Cape Horn, seventy.five cents TO Europe
the Mediterranean, Africa and its Islands, fifty
cents; the West Indies, thirly.seven and a hall
cents South American States and Mexico, fifty
cents and for coasting voyages, twenty cents pei
voyage.
Under the present law, the poor sailor, receiving
as he does, but small often far too small wages, finds
il impossible, after paying necessary expenses fol
clothing, &c, to more than pay these numerou.
taxes imposed upon him. We sincerely hope ou
shipmasters and merchants will push along this pc
tltion, and that our Legislators will attend to it,