The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-04-26

M
The State Legislature, which recently closed its
sittings, seemed determined to distinguish the
session just expired by the number, variety, alb
surdity, unconstitutionality and unpopularity Of
its acts Of legislation In reference to the good
city of New York. We published, some days
ago, the new Metropolitan Police bill, the new
Excise bill and the bill in reference to the Cen,
trail Park. The provisions Of thu two frss must
be now pretty familiar to all our citizens, rom
the strong opposition winch one Of them is meet
ing from the municipal authorities, and from the
general disfavor with which both are regarded by
the most sensible and practical people We pub
lish to-day another batch of bills also applying
to the new City Hall, one to Quarantine regula-
tions, and one to affairs generally in the port and
harbor
The Assessment bin undertakes to reorganize
that department Of the city government which
relates TO assessing the value of real and per-
sonal estate. II sbolishes the Office of Ward As
SCISSORS and the Bureau Of Assessment in the Street
Commissioners Office, fixes the termination
of Office Of the three Tax Commissioners
now in power, for the first Monday in July, 1859.
gives the future appointment of commissioner
salary $500 each-to the Board of Supervisors,
provides for the appointment Of twelve deputies
by the Tax Commissioners to be de-
signated by the Supervisors-and prescribes
generally the duties and powers Of the Commls-
sioners
The bill for the erection Of the new City Hall
appoints Richard M. Blatchford. Gustayus A.
Conover, Robert Emmett, Edwin ID. Morgan and
Henry Eveson commissioners vacancies TO be
direct and superintend the erection of new
City Hall on that portion of the Park lying in
the rear Of the present City Hall. They are TO
decide on the plans and specifications. make con-
tracts, &c. There Is provision, in very bad
grammer, about giving the United States authori-
ties accommodations for Post Office and courts
The Mayor, Aldermen and Conmoualty are su-
thorizcd to raise two millions of dollars by the
creation Of public stock redeemable In 1875.
and bearing six per cent interest the stock not TO
be sold at less than par value. The twelfth sec
ton authorizes the Mayor and Aldermen to
remove commissioners for violation of the pro-
visions Of the act; 20 that If the City Hall Com
missioners do not pull well In harness with the
Common Council, the Mayor and Aldermen may
remove them by resolution What q pity there
was not similar clause in the police bill
The Quarantine law Is entitled "An act 10 pro-
vide for more effectually guarding against the
spread OF pestlental diseases" II merely con-
tains some provisions regulating the powers aud
duties of Boards Of Health and Health Officers
provisions which might have better emanatcd
from the Common Council
The Port bill u entitled can act to establish
regulations for the port Of New York. Its pro-
visions are probibitory Of encumbering piers and
docks, casting cinders from steamboats, into the
bay or rivers. interference with buoys and bca-
cons, NC. II repeals the act to amend an act re-
lating 10 the Harbor Masters OF the port Of New
York, passed April IL, 1861. All fines and
penalties recovered under the act are 10 be paid
into the treasury OF the State, aud the Treasurer
shall pay back 10 the Commissioners $4,000
annually, ITO be divided equally between them"
If the fines and penalties amount TO that sum. II
not, they are only to get az much ms recovered
None Of these acts exhibit evidence of very
large amount Of knowledge on the part of the
Legislature in reference to the subjects on which
they were legislating. But they are now laws,
and we must see what we can do with them