New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-03-14
From Our Own Correspondent
ALBANY, Tuesday, March IL, 1860.


ALBANY, Tuesday, March IL, 1860.
GRINDING COMMITTEE.
The House had lively discussion Yesterday on the
resolution introduced several days ago by Mr.. Miller
or the appointment Of Grinding Committee, in
which Messrs. Conklng and Robinson resolutely OPP
posed, and Miller and others advocated the appoint
ment of such Committee. To-day the resolution
again called up and adopted This kind of Committee,
which s an invention ofmodern legislation istoleraby
well known TO thoee who are familiar with the forms
and details of proceedings here as mill for grinding
out " little bills" at rapid rate than can be ac
cOmpished by the ordinary machinery of Legislation,
and at the same time 1t is strongly suggestive OF
! "toll."
The ostersible reason for the appointment of this
Co zmittee lie the prees of business upon the Legsa
ture and The necessity for greater dispatch IN the pas
sage of bills; in other words 10 prevent i'll maufed
and inqu'sitive members from consuming the valuable
time Of the House in Committee of the Whole, by
making ill.timed and intrusive remarks, and asking
pryng and impairment questions in regard TO little
private bills, which are " all righi," and on which
members are expected TO vote and not talk.
The resolutions for the appointment of the Com
mrtee, originally presented by Mr.. Miller was con-
sideraby amended, 70 az to restrict the Committee to
considerably narrower limits than heretofore granted
TO Grinding Committees which, so far makes the
appointment of such Committee less Objectionable.
The resolution, as finally amended, reads as follows:
Reored That there be appointed Select Committee Of nine
whose duty shall be TO coner all bills the general orders
and select heIero such bills in eudsen proper to
be referred 10 selec commeewi.h power 70 report com
sevep said Committee snail be required qaoum aad
bill sha be reported by said Committee without the assent OF
quorum The Committee shall hold regular sessions and
bill shall be reported by which shall NOS have been considered
ported which pToposes to make an appropriation om the ate
Treasury; shall said Committee have power report airy
voaby b, the Standing Select having charge othe
printed nor any bin mPOss State tai nor any cisib or
bill granting franchise for the creation Of railroads shall
shall report the Houte lat Of the bills which they shall
ect each day when such eon shall he made aud The reports
No select Committee any bin reported by Commit
tee Of inc ball be referred to report complete .s the
uar meeting Thereof and u they nse any changes in the b
reiers nee 10 the context in the printed bin.
MIR. MGken moved to amend by providing that,
instead of referring the bills which may be reported
from the Grinding Committee to a Select Committee
TO be appointed by the Speaker they be referred the
Standing Select Committee, which originally reported
them with power 10 report complete. These Commit
tees would at least have the advantage of being
what familiar with the questions respectively referred
TO them and would therefore require ees time for the
consideration of such bills than would be required by
special committees whose attention had not previously
been specially called to such bills. This amendment
was voted down. Another amendment was also voted
down, which provided that no bills should be taken
from the general orders by the Grinding Committee
against which 80 members ehould protest.
II has been suggested that this Grinding Committee
which seems generally TO be looked upon with decided
disfavor outside of the Assembly Chamber, might be
avoided, not only without de,rment 10 the public bust
ness before the Legislature, but with papabe benefit
thereto The outlines OF this plan are 10 appropriate
one hour daily Immediately after the reading Of the
Journal TO the special order Of referring back reports of
standing select committees OF private or local
bills to tboe Committees which originally reported
them, with power TO report complete.
That the clerk be required TO prepare a properly
ruled book in which each member may write the title
of the bill or bls the Committee which may have re-
por ed such BILL The date Of the report and the number
of the bill on general orders, together with the day up
on which he intends to TO have such bill referred
no motion 60 be entertained for such reference except
upon three days notice given upon the Register, aud
no member 10 speak more than five minutes upon any
motion 10 refer and rot 10 speak more than with
out permission Of the Honse.
This three dsys notice would give each member IN
opportunity to look over the Hills which 10 might