The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-05-11
n.,,v Of SEN ator Andrews 70 sne A''
OF the Citisens' AsseeissAeA'

s"o -" A <aeA u saint that will not nor
% mucn s that dare not resent such assaults
whenever /" ~ meet my observation. The ridiculous
en'rse Aat hoping to be a candidate against Gov
sfn0r Fenton at the next gubernatoral election is as
much an mputation upon the Governor upon myself
The motive of such allegation IL is difficult to divine,
unless 1t may be to discord between Governor
Fcnton and myself It Is true we have differed about
one or two matters Of public policy; but We have diff
tered honestly. as gentlemen may, without any disturb
ance or jar in agreeable personal relations II II will
sslieve anybody TO know, will here declare that am
not seeking and do not desire any Office place what
ever
am also charged with "complicityn in the "City
Chamberlain swndle. Now what are the facts In this
cassf amendmen. TO the city tax levy was proposed
% the committee lnot by mel but the committee re-
ported the Nil without any amendment touching that
srioe While the levy was under consideration in the
Senate late in the evening" and while tae friends OF re-
fora tin had hopes That the Health bill might he en-
yraited on the tax levy the democrats the fact that
ssyera republican Senators we're absent seized
N.ih the determination 70 force the bill third read
sag without further amendment After making one or
oenorts TO have the Senatethen In Committee OF the
xhorse and report progress each or which was voted
down, determined 10 proract the session until TINS
purpose Was gained and with that design alone
took she readest 1t hand, and offered the
amendment touching the City Chamberla which had
Helped TO defeat in the standing committee knowing It
and the Senate adjourned The next day withdrew tho
amendment An amendment touching the City Chamber.
hin was adopted in the Assembly, and came under my
notice again in the conference COMMITTEES referred 10
another portion OF this communication was suspicious
q this amendment and finally offered - substitute the
Following, drafted by myself In presence Of both
Dittees and it was adopted, and is now the law
The Chamberlain OF the city of New York is hereby author
a nc %ay y
enc cent and no more In lieu Of said one Per cent but
lending sha not apply to moneys paid or received on
This amendment has been msprined or msrepresented
by various journals in this respect That the oneeghth
was 10 be Gin lieu Of the per cent to which he is
entitled by law 1t is alleged and perhaps Justly that
this assumed him to be entitled TO per cent and
declared IT, But mark the difference in my amendment,
which says 'where he may now by any existing law
he. This assumes nothing, declares nothing, egalizes
nothing 1t leaves Mr. Deven just where found him,
except the reduction II the law before entitled him 10
moth ng, he IL TO have the whole of that and If
entitled him to anything rs fees, no is to have one
eighth Of that
Now, upon that amendment which I claim to be en-
arcy OF my own devising, am willing to stand or fall
before the intelligent citizens of New York There ii is.
LOOK al H. Turn over and see, in any possible con
strucon It can be tortured into benefit Mr. Deven
ct the expense OF the taxpayers, whether il
sbsoue outright redu ction of seyeneghths OF his legal
fees
The SANDER to my personal relations with Mr. Deve
III mnY be onsidered dis proved by the scope the
above amendment but will further say to silence all
eavB, that have never met Mr. Deyeln and have
had airy communication from with him. any friend
o. agent OF his acting as SUCH in relation to the matter
Of his fees
As the city tax levy has incidentally been referred to-
may further be permitted say, in relation it, that
was received az very late period in The session The
Committee ON Municipal Affairs ia the seEato, of which
chairman, took the bill into consideration immed-
2
four pablo sessions, of several hours duration At
these sessions parties app AIRED to present their
statements or claims before the committee, and the 0p
portunity was offered TO any persons who chose to
be present themselves Having thus heard all who
had any communication TO make, the committee held
. series Of private sessions, occupying three
four hours each day. when persons admitted
less summoned by the committee. AT these meetings
each subdivision Of the levy carefully considered in
connection with the statements claims which had
been laid before the committee the public sessions
The result Of these deliberations may be found in the
hn md vlnfad for tic
This bill shows considerable deduction many of the
items called for by the departments and recommended
by the Common Council thought them and still think
shat the majority Of the committee erred in in
stances by reducing these appropriations below pract
cable standard but my Jud sment was overrued, and
She bill was made special order by the Senate
and passed that body with only. three or four
the contingent fund Of the City Inspector was 1,
made by the Senate against my wish and VOTE Another
strike seventh section paying to assessors
back fees This had my and vote, as had
previously misunderstood its scope and tendency A
hrd amendment TO str Ike out the provision for pay
Ing the judgments Of Gregory and McLaren This had
been inserted in the bill by vote of the committee
unanimously believe-after long and careful nves
engrosscd and sent to the Assembly. II back
from that body on the same day. with very large
mittee on Municipal Affairs They TALL being present ex-
cept Senator Smth) at considered the Assembly
amendments, and reported to the Senate recommending
concurrence in few OF the amendments and that
ference committee be appointed by each House upon tho
remaining points OF difference. Against my publicly
pressed wish was placed upon tho committee the
part of the Senate together with Senators shafer and
Lambier, and Immediately met similar committee OF
Ave members from the Assembly
The matters in regard to which the houses disagreed
considered ser.attn and upon most OF them the
Assembly Committee receded but upon others they
pert nacious, and long discussions ensued resulting
some Instances in compromse and In others the senate
Committee were compelled TO recede.
The result OF this conference to reduce the levy
more than quarter OF million OF dollars below the
sum Fixed by the bill as Il passed the Assembly
But why did the Senate yield to the Assembly in any
thingY Simply because the Assembly possessed ord
nate powers with the Senate and had much right
insist upon its views az the Senate had Was there
aitcrnaiveP Yes: the two houses could have dis.
agreed thus destroying the bill; and had been
admonished for days previously, by the friends
Of reform, that this was the very result that the
enemies Of reform were aiming at. ! was ad-
visd that the failure Of any tax levy would cost the
city million Of dollars That the finances Of the city
would be administered upon the credit OF the city, with
out any restriction That under The plea Of necessity
all restraints would be set ASIDE and carnival OF reck
less plunderng be enjoyed Certainly bad no desire to
become any degree responsible for such condition OF
ShinFs The action OF conference committees
be entirely satisfactory Where two parties have adopted
6xed views, and then End themselves where the pres
of legislative rules requirements compes each
abandon something that he believes to be right and
adopt something that he believes to be wrong there must
be mutual dissatisfaction Every member Of the Senate
and Assembly committees OF conference signed the Joint
report, yet every member dssented from items in
the report Such agreement Is necessary In the
nature OF a compromise.
Now, while gentlemen from westchester and Duchess,
ana Albany and Otsego and Onondaga were thus vexing
their souls and negectng othr important state business
70 devise methods Of promoting economy and efficiency
In the government OF the city OF New York where
The called refomers Of that cyf Did they present
budget as substitute for that OF the Common Conncil7
Did they appear before the committee with any practical
Or other suggestionsf Did they say to the committee
that sooner than have levy exravagant in any OF its
stems, they would assume the responsibility OF dispcns
Ing with II entirely? Did they communicate with
che chairman Of the committee-thc man who abored
sssduously 70 carry the Gre reform and the
health reform through the SenateY They did OF
these things but enjoying their comforts and pur.
suing their own gains during the critical period they
now open upon the Legislature all the gstes'Bings.
gate Newgate and Cripplegateef their wrath singing
Out myself especially, although constituted but hun
dred and sixeth part Of the legislative power These
self appointed watchmen slept upon the walls while
others we're striving TO protect the Taxpayers and now
attempt 70 evade the responsibilities their postion bv
calling names and making faces at their bet,ers Recn
ing upon their couches In the Fifth they their