New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-02-16
ASSEMBLY.


ASSEMBLY.
TIE Hon. B. B. johnson, elected from the LIST Dis
trict, Delaware appeared and took his seat, in the
place of ID. ID. Shaw deceased and on motion of Mr..
Brigham bis name was added to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
The Pro-rata bill was taken up as the special order.
warm debate ensued on the question of applying the
rule to canal forwarders well to railroad pa
The SPEAKER took the floor, and addressed the
House follows:
Sir have learned this morning from four or five
that this House is TO be Influenced this ques-
ton by disbursement of money 10 the members. /
have received the information from such source that
its accuracy is undoubted. repeat it, Sir for desire
to be understood that money is to be used by the op
ponents of this prordta measure to influence the ac
ton of members upon this floor in regard TO it. have
learned that letter was exhibited in Wall street, writ
ten BY member this floor, saying that if this meas
to be defeated $780, 900 must be sent to defeat it
with The member who wrote that letters within sound
of my voice and knows whether the charge is true or
false. Sir, / speak what do know, when say that
money to be used by the opponents of this BILL to
defeat il in the Houte.
Mr.. ROBERTSON, in reply to an insinuation of the
Speaker asked how he dared with such knowledge in
his possession to continue this debate until he had
moved for Committee of investigation II his infor
nation were so reliable as he had asserted how dared
he withhold the full facts and indulge only In nsnua-
tons II it were not reliable how dared he make the
insinuaiion at all VAST trick to influence the action
of the House on the bill If 30 it was most unworthy
Yet if not true why should il have been used to stay
then the current Of debate on anamendment TO
the bill Ii the duty Of the Speaker to show the
facts before he attempts to influence the House by
such an mputation. He scorned it. Yet, not for him
self-for he defied any to insnuate improper
motives against hm-but the part OF every member
of the House He too had heard Of the Clinton League
of a combination Of foreigners who bad raised and
actually expended money to push forward this pet
scheme But he scorned to make any use of the know-
edge for an un worthy purpose on that floor.
fhs SPEAKER offered in explanation that he had
not made direct charge, but only stated what he had
heard. He repudiated any intention to influence the
action of the House.
Mr.. ROBERTSON had understood the charge dis
tinctly 1t was one that should not have been made
The bill should be suffered to stand upon its merits and
them alone.
After further debate, Mr.. MERRITT moved to re-
port progress, with the view Of asking Committee
Of Investigation.
The motion prevailed, and, when the Commit 90
rise, Mr.. JAQUES moved that Committee of Five
be appointed to investigate the charges made by the
Speaker.
Mr.. SEARLES moved to lay the resolution on the
table.
Motion lost.
After very warm debate on raising Committee of
investigation, Mr.. McCAI.LICOTT moved preamble
the resolution setting forth as the reason for the
olution the charges made by the Speaker. This was
opposed by the Speaker and others, and lost.
The revolutions were then adopted, and the House
adjourned till seven p. m.
EVENING SESSION.
A communication was received from Gov Morgan
inclosing letter from the Governor Of Ohio and the
resolutions OF the Legislature of that State in reponse
to the invitation to visit Albany.
The Probate bill was then taken up. The PROPOSE
ton eciting most debate was the amendment making
the bill applicable TO Canals well as Railroads. The
opposition to this from the friends OF the
bill Mr.. MILLER, the SPEAKER, and Mr.. FLAG
LRR taking ground against il the plea that pro-rata
could not be applied to Canals that no complaint or
discrimination had been made against Canals, and that
Canal forwarders had never Disseminated against ct
zens Of the State and therefore i. needless to ap
ply the provisions of the bill to them.
Messrs. ROBINSON MILLIKEN and JACQUES
spoke in favor of the proposition holding that was
sound argument against extending the provisions OF
the bill to canals to say that canal forwarders had
Disseminated against citizens OF the State, but
holding also that canals do discriminate az well as
Railroad Companies. Messrs. Robinson and Jaques
made able arguments against the principle Of the bill
as unsound mpracticable and calculated to destroy
the commerce Of the State
The amendment to extend the provisions Of the bill
TO canals was lost. Yeas 81, Nays -.
Mr.. WELLINGTON then proposed to strike out the
enacng clause in order to speak at length in favor OF
the BILL and also in favor Of the remposton of tolls
on railroads.
After further debate, the Committee and re-
ported progress
Mr.. FLAGLER attempted TO make the bill the
special order for tomorrow, but before taking the
question the House adjourned.