New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-03-10

SvoT this morning-the Senate occupying most of its
time in discussing the bill abolishng the present
system of contracts the repairs of the canals and
the House in reading bills third time. The only
speeches in the Senate on the Canal bill, were by
Senators Morgan. Republican, and Beach Demo
craft The former opposed the bill reported by the
Senate Committee, favorng that reported by the
Assembly whilei Senator Beach argued in favor of
Tho Senate measure. The question has settled down
60 be almost party one. Senator Stanford,
elected by combination of Democrats and Repub-
lcans desired to show his gratitude to the former
by introducing last year the same measure reported
formerly by him, and which virtually restores the
old superintendent system. OF course the adoption
of that system, which allowed the appointment of
large number of new officers and therefore increased
the pap of the present CanaliBOard. was urgently
pressed by the Democrats of both Houses but they
pnly succeeded in getting II through the Assembly.
The Republican Senate would not ndoTse it, and the
Democrats much to Senator StanfoTd's chagTin,
did not get the loaves and fishes they
ooyeted Gov. FentOn last year appointed
ex-senator James A. Bell of Jefferson, Canal Auditor,
and he was unanimously confirmed by the Senate
He was gentleman whose ability was conceded his
Integrity never questioned and his qualifications for
his new post universally admitted. He accepted the
position and the consequence was the canals last
YEAR were managed better than they ever were before
she thieves and plunderers were driven away in dis
NAV and the canal fund increased to o surprising
extent In his report Mr. Bell drew parallel be-
tween the old superintendent and the present con-
tract system, and while he showed that neither was
perect he concluded that the latter, if additional
safeguards were thrown around it, was the
better of the two. There was just as much
chance for peculatOn in the superintendent system
ss there was in the other, while it increased the
expenses of the canal by creating large number of
offices to be filed merely by political partisans. His
recommendations were embodied in bin presented
by Mr.. Chase of Buffalo, and which was printed IN
these columns Immediately after the Canal Commit
tee of the Assembly had reported it favOrably On
this report of Mr. Bell, Senator Stanford some time
ago made coarse attack, charging the Auditor with
being merely the tool of the Canal Ring OF course,
Nothing Mr. Stanford could say would injure ex-
Senator Bell but there were a great many surmises
"a to what prompted the assault. 1t now
apnears that Senator Stanford wanted Mr..
Rail to appoint a personal friend of his to a
clerkshp in his Office. Mr. Bell said he could not
comply with his request unless he proved to be a
faithful and experienced Republican clerk. From
that moment Senator Stanford found out that MIR.
Rel was the tool of the Canal Ring. SO he turned
his attention TO the Internal Revenue service and
got his friend an Office under Assessor Webster of the
XXXHth District of New-YOrk, where the hardest
part Of his work was to give an attorney authority
10 draw his pay This lasted until the Senate met,
vixen the friend was further provided for. The AS
sembly bill is infinitely better than that presented by
Senator Stanford. 1t does not create patron
age for Senator Stanford and his Democratic
friends. while it throws such safeguards
around the letting of contracts that fraud is well
nigh impossible Still Senator Stanford will oppose
it, He seems by his actions to labor under the i'm
preston that Senator's position is measured by the
patronage he dspenses, and acting this plan he
cannot Of course agree to bill in which, TO use an
Albany expression. there isn't any bones"
The Democrats could not prevent the passage of
the preamble 10 the resolution of the Assembly
Federal Relation Committee asking for the repeal of
the Tenure-of-Offce law so they contented them
selves by voting against it, They had already voted
for the resolution which stated that in view of the
facts contained in the preamble, the law should be
repealed.
There is some curiosity to know what will be the
action of the Democrats on the ratification of the
new Constitutional amendment, providing for UNI
versal Suffrage. OF course they all oppose 1t, but
their method of opposition has not been determined
upon. There are many who want to follow the
ample set in Indiana, and bolt but this would not
help them. In the first place, it would leave ma
jority of Republicans in both Houses, which would
be sufficient to give New-YOrk's approval of the
amendment; and, in the second place, all the jobs
are to come vet, and while the Democrats might
think the Republicans abundantly able and willing
to take care of them they would rather be counted
in than out So it is pretty certain there will not be
a secession. The resolution approving the amend
meut will be proposed tomorrow by Mr.. La Bau,
and he will have great consideration, not only for
the newspaper reporters but for the people of the
State, who are not willing that legislators
should Critter away any more precious time if he
will call the previous question them as soon as
they are properly before the House.
Mr.. He. Murphy has introduced an important bill
IN the Senate, which compels the Metropolitan PO
lice Commission to furnish patrolmen to do duty at
the Criminal Courts except that of Special Sessions
when the Judges request it, A failure TO comply
will make the Commissioners guilty of a misdea-
meanOr and they can be tried for it well in the
Courts of Kings County as in the Courts of New
York.
The Assembly this morning passed the bill which
authorizes the Board of Supervisors Of New-YOrk to
raise $4,000 to build a soldiers monument in Central
Park provided commission consisting Of the Park
Commissioners the Mayor Mr.. A. G. Thorp, and Mr..
John Fox. decide that it would be proper to have
such ornament
MI Genet has introduced in the Senate bill in
crea5ing the NOtaries Public of New-YOrk by $50
appointments OF course IT will pass
The Senate Committee on Municipal Affairs have
reported favorably on the bill giving the Controller
Of New-YOrk power to appoint four Commissioners
OF taxes and assessments. The Committee state that
the Office Of Commissioner Of Taxes was first created
March 30 1850 and by that act the Board of Super
visors were authorized to appoint three tax commits
soners. one TO hold Office year, one two years
and one three years, and whenever a vacancy oc-
IN