The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-04-08

publish in another column to-day list of the
acts parsed by the State Legislature for the por-
ton of the present session which has already
elapsed They number in all ninety-seven.
The session lasts for q hundred days, the first
thirty of which were occupied in electing a
Speaker, and ten more are yet to come. This
gives US little over an act and half day
for the work of legislation so far. In the last
session Of a hundred dsys the Legislature
passed eight hundred bills, 70 that If we are to
have the same amount of legislation this ses-
sion, the members lave heap of business to
despatch in the remaining ten days. The delay
in electing Speaker was quite God send, for
it saved US vast amount of mischievous legis-
lation. If the Know Nothings had only held
cut to the end of the session they would have
immortalized themselves.
The acts reported in our list to-day-as far
as anything can be gathered from their titles
seem to be Of little Importance: being chiefly
local bills or bills for the relief of Individuals
But the fact is that from the stupid way in
which all the reports both of Congress and the
State Legislature are furnished, it is impossible
to tell what is doing in either For instance,
in the dispatches from Albany ON Tuesday
among other bills reported as passed
is one "to alter the map of the city
of New York" Now who can tell
what that means Some persons perhaps
will learn its meaning to their cost when their
property comes to be cut up by-and-bye under
some provision Of this act. The method, not
only of reporting legislative business, but of
transscting the official duties of the Legislature
itself, needs thorough reform. The public are
most carefully mystifed about the whole affair.
The lobby is the only body which is we'll posted
In what Il going on within the Legislative halls.
Doubtless the lobby knows very we'll by what
influences the Broadway Railroad bill was le-
gerdemained through the House with such cx-
petition On Tuesday; and they can tell to a
dead certainty what Its fate is to be in the
Senate.
This mischievous and corrupt scheme, we are
assured, was rushed through without moments
dehate-without even the decency of an appa-
rent consideration-th though it is known to be
at variance with the wishes Of nearly every
property owner on the proposed line Of rail
road, and to all the people doing business on
broadway. While such has been the fortune OF
the bill in the House, we fear that similar one
awaits it in the Senate; for the same potent in
fiuences prevail in both bodies In both "the
lobby" is king.
TIE CrrY FNANCEs-WHY DORIS Nor Mr..
FLAoG RESIGN All the Developments which
the recent Investigations into our city affairs
have produced show that the Finance Depart
ment-the most vital in the whole government
lis in a miserable condition. The city treasu-
ry has been the prey of flock Of harpies who
have been feeding OH il at their will. without
let or hindrance on the part Of the Comptroller
No one doubts the integrity of Mr. Flagg; but
other qualities than honesty are required in an
officer occupying 40 important position as that
of Comptroller. The late exhibition which MIR.
Flagg has made Of himself as n witness is sufii-
cient to show that he is incompetent for the
post he occupies 1t is evident that he has been
conducting his department. or others have
been doing il for him, in a most improper
manner The Comptroller's office has been
used as a medium for all kinds Of frauds, and
Mr.. Flagg, If we can take his own testimony in
proof thereof, has been blind to the whole pro-
ceedings. In his voluminous evidence before
the Fraud Committee and the Recorder he ad-
mits that system Of population had been going
on, Of which he was made the involuntary in
strument; and when pressed for information on
many important points, which might lead to
fasten the. guilt on the right parties he has al
most invariably fallen back on the convenient
non ma r1oordo plea. thus leaving the invcstiga-
ton rs much in the dark rs before.
In justice to the city and to himself Mr..
Flagg ought to resign and make way for
more active and vigilant officer. There il no
other remedy for the complication Of fraud and
corruption in which his department il now in.
volved-
PRorER OBSERVANCE or TIE SABBATH There
has been Of late considerable discussion upon
the subject Of the dissertation Of the Sabbath in
this metropolis Meetings have been held, ad
dresses made and resolutions adopted with
view to check the prevalent disorder in the
city on the Sabbath. At one OF these meetings
the superintendent of Police, Mr.. Tallmadgc,
made speech against the pewsboys. Ills re-
marks have been made the subject of extended
comments by the press in general So far as
we understand the intentions Of the gentlemen
who are endeavoring 10 bring about the San
day reform, they do not object to the sale of
newspapers on Sunday, but to the cutcry of the
boys in the neighboshood Of the churches aud
private dwellings. Still another nuisance is the
practice of funeral paradcs on Sunday, by
which the worshippers In the churches are dis
turbcd and annoyed by the military music,
and the false alarms Of fire, which latter are
gottenu up by the idle hangcrson about the engine
houses, in order that they may have run in
Broadway. The best way to get over the news
boy nuisance is for the persons who wish to take
o paper 10 subscribe at the office and have IL
served at their residences by the regular car
riors Tho rorcn oc pnbl;, an; MON a,,.lt H. H.,