The New York herald., 1868-03-16
TINE STATE CAPITAL.


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spEeNl onaesPeMBEn0 M kRAli
Rssgress Of Losislasisn-IAe "Rinsssn R1vse
sDfvidend,s-Impsrsanee ef the MIIk Qucs-
nen-The RaIfroad Schenes-TAe --latest
Phase Of "Broadway surface''-The Pres
sure for the Success Of the Arcade Under
ground Plan-Thc Ferries Invcstisafion-
Improvement ef the Harlen River-The Fire
Limits and the West Side.
ALBANY March IL, 1888.
Both houses have adjourned over to Monday night
after very busy week. Not that many important
measures have been passed, but the vast accumula
ton Of bills has rendered digent sessions necessary
80 advance them in the stages OF legislation
The committees have all performed faithfully the
orders given by the leaders at the outset retain all
bills as long as possible in order that they might be
launched upon the House towards the close OF tn,
session and there die through inability 10 reach final
action 1t Is recognized fact that too little legsla
tion Is better than too much legislation. and the
democratic oligarchy which has run the presen,
Legislature has ever kept this principle in view in the
endeavor to dctract nothing from the prestige OF
the party by its conduct at Albany this winter.
The Legislature of 1868 has been forced TO be yir
tuous compared with its predecessors II was in no
spirit of joking but In real downright sincerity, that
one OF the members exclaimed the other day
sSWhen is the corruption going TO begnr' II
has been hard TO keep some OF the guerillas under
control They have made occasional dashes and
forays their account and oftentimes In little
bands OF two three, high az six or seven
which latter numbers by the way are the usual
strength OF an Assembly committee. The Legsla-
ture as a body, however, has been very good.
The .ring' declared its first "divdend" yesterday.
The sum wasn't very large-only 800 apiece-but
It was like morsel to q hungry man and greatly
GUS homes to spend their hard earned money.
One individual has $4,000 less in his pockets this
morning than he had the day before yesterday, and
the Harlem Railroad Company no longer in dread
OF aforced reduction OF their rates for freight on milk
MIX is good thing 1t is lucrative well as nutri-
tive. Let the million inhabitants Of New York who
continue to pay eXorbitant prices for the lacteal
make it point to examine the cash account Of the
Harlem Railroad Company for 1858 and observe to
what item is credited the expenditure Of certain
sum of $4,000 How profitable must be the freight
fng OF milk when the above sum may be spent to
defeat legislative interference with the rates Of the
company
"Broadway Surface" developed itself in a new
piece Of strategy last week. The Tammany directory
are Of course committed against the road. Poor
Jake Sharp has made several charges upon them but
went down on his knees to beg the Big Sachem to
withdraw his opposition. The reply of the latter was
lowing words - or words to their eect.asceb @ y se It
can't be did," And Jacob went away, and has
started little side game which Is to prevent any
body else getting the better OF him In the matter OF
his pet scheme. He is fearful that In the popular
clamor for an underground railroad the Legislature
may grant franchise this winter, and such road
would be fatal to surface measure. bin has been
introduced, consequently which pretends to he In
the Vandenburgh or original underground interest
but whose coporators are nearly all friendly to Jake
Sharp, and therefore prepared to hold the franchise
and prevent the construction of any underground
road. Broadway Surfacer was introduced by some
OF the democrats In opposition to the determination
OF the leaders; but it s doubtful If 1t will get out
Ede the committee room. There are two or three
dozen different underground schemes now before the
committees all Of which, in the great rush Of legsa-
tion, viii knock their heads together or become
1mOthered In their own vOlumnouSness Very few
possess buoyancy enough to ride out the storm.
The road which has made Its advent with most
pretensions this winter is the Arcade The plan is
already familiar TO you from the descriptions of it
last winter In brief, II contemplates two sets Of
thoroughfare which the projectors propose TO make
almost as desirable for business purposes Broad
way itself This they expect 10 accomplish by ex-
cavatng the whole street from wall to wall on
either side, covering it with an iron arched roof
serving as durable pavement for the traffic above,
and pierced with openings at the sides which secure
both hight and thorough ventilation. The plan1s the
most attractive one on paper and In models. Last
winter the unsophisticated proprietors thought 1t
would go through "on ite inerits.n The lobbyists
have taken II In hand this session, and have given IL
in stock There win probably y'S be a. rush % 10 % ret n
on this road as the terms offered contemplate only
sixty Ave votes.
The ferries between New York ana Williamsburg
again to be the subject OF Investigation the Com
mittce on Commerce and Navigation having started
Tor New York invested with all the requisite "power
10 send for persons and papers, The same iegisa-
tive committee went down last year, but the hospi
tality and urbaHity OF the ferry companies proved
too much for them and they returned TO Albany
with anything bat hostile disposition towards the
monopoists, whose indifference to the comforts OF
the travelling public on these routes has been more
than once the subject OF bitter complaint. Mr.
Kiernan has an opportunity Of distinguishing him
self as legislative Peter the Hermit In well
these
Mr.. Wiley, the representative from the Boulevard
region OF the island has introduced a bill to amend
the law as TO c0mbustible materials, to permit
the erection OF frame buildings in the upper section
Of the city above Fifty ninth street and west OF Fifth
avenue He has done so In the interest OF numerous
property owners who desr0us OF building on their
lots but who unwilling to put up first class struc
ten or nfteen years They wish meantime to put up
temporary buildings, easily removed when property
improves Again, there are others who prefer to live
In frame cottages and wish the privilege OF construct
ing ther homes OF wooden materials. The law at
present requires the assent OF the Superintendent OF
BuidnGa, the consent Of the owners OF neighboring
lots and the isolation OF the house by means OF corr
rugaed iron and is otherwise SO stringent TO be
prohbtt0ry.
A good 5iii passed in the Senate was reported IA.
vOrably In the House yesterday. II gives the wharf
owners on the line OF the Harlem river az Second
avenue the right TO build slips and docks, thereby
making vast Improvement on the plan Of the Har
Dor Commissioners which proposes the construction
OF continuous bulkhead at which vessels would be
unable TO lie during the more rapid stages OF the tide
In the Hast river. The bill breaks up this line into
irregular contour OF docks and basins, wherein
Bes may transact'thcir business much more eicent-
II and safely The day Is coming when the wnarfng
interests Of this portion OF the city VIII be second 20
none In importance and timely legislation is needed
10 anticipate the wants Of commerce
.