New-York tribune., 1870-01-07

| FREIGHT CHARGES-DEAD HEAD PASSES on
THE ERIE RAILRoAD-CHAMBERLA SWEE-
| NEY'S FEES.
ALBANY, Jan. 6.-The Legislative session to-
day was little more than matter OF form As 1t was
resolved, yesterday, TO take for several days
after today the attendance this morning in each house
scarcely reached quorum. The session in either
branch did not last an hour The will afford time
for the arrangement of committees and other matters
Among the few items Of interest may be mentioned the
abrogatiOn Of the custom Of going into Committee OF the
| Whole On the Governors Message. resolution from
Mr. kiernan OF NewYork, sustained by remarks from
Mr. Avord Of Onondaga, adopted for referring the
various topics OF the Message appropriate standing
committees, when appointed An immensy OF buncombe
bottled for the discussion must therefore be uncorked
| gradually as the Committees may report.
Spirited movements again made by Mr.. Mitchell OF
New-York to hasten the repeal OF the Metropolitan ex-
else law; he saying that the bill will doubtless be
pealed is best 10 do the deed at once in justice to per-
sons who required to take out licenses under the
present law. The several bills on the subject wero or
dered printed, and the question will doubtless be dis
posed of as unanimously, when the Legislature meets
again, the Ant-Fifteenth Amendment resolutions
were passed yesterday.
bill introduced by Mr.. Ray OF Ontario for regulating
freight charges railways foreshadows early excite
ment question that interests the people generally
as well as the railroad companies.
Another railroad bill, brought in by NewYOrk men,
ber proposes to amend the charter Of railroad between
Albany and New-York which will probably inclnde some
important matters in Central Railroad policy before 1t
goes through legislation The present shape Of the b
must not be taken conclusive Of the character 1t may
assume before 1t becomes law. ...- - ...f 'tire
resolution requesting tho canal authorities to report
fully the condition Of the whole canal SYSTEM and
the means requisite for increasing its efficiency will
doubtless furnish much needed data q compendious
shape to guide the discussions that will arise on pro-
jected legislation for improving internal navigation
subject that will appear very prominent during the
session.
transaction that Immediately followed the adjourn.
ment Of the Assembly but which outside of the usual
Legislative report formed marked feature Of the morn
ing. As the Speaker pronounced the House Adjourned
for the recess the Clerk announced that the passes
the Erie Railroad were ready for distribution" And
from the crowd Of members who responded 20 the call by
coming to the Clerks desk it seemed that of the
members had presented themselves for free passage
whether they lived near the Erie Road or not
In the abstract OF Controller Aliens Report, sent you
yesterday there omission which is hardly TO be
regretted nasmuch as the publication Of the missing
paragraphs now in adistinct FORM enables indicate
particularly its special relevancy TO the remarkable
charges made by Chamberlain Sweeny OF the aggregated
of $4,000 for his fees in remting Through
two checks) the New-York City portion Of the State
tax, to which modest operation attention called in
The TRIBUNE Of the Sd inst. Justice to the Controller.
well TO the tax paying people, requires that this in
erestng section Of his Report shall be fully considered
by the legislators whose Intervention he specially
quests concerning the fees taken for remg the state
eFfr9g Jbn ,seYfgal, GQUpties Hear what Controller
"The last Legislature did not act upon the subject OF
the compensation Of county Ieasurers Tor me receipt
and the state Treasurer OF the state tax
Up to within recent period 1t had been the practce 70
allow the county treasurer TO retain one per eet o, me
these services, not exceeding given sum Inc unit
was $500 in Of the counties, and $1,000 In others
of allowance
as unt within brief period the amounts thus retained
have not been large, IL has been continued
But the amounts now claimed hare become so large in
the aggregate that It is important that ne rgh TO- as
well as ne amount Of the compensation should be def
ntey settled by 1t IS the opinion Of sound and eI
percnced lawyers of the state that under existing laws
County Treasurers are not entitled 10 compensation from
the state treasury Jor ,s srce and IN ts opinion e
Controller concurs. There are one or Two e1cepuo%ns %
created by express legislation But In other cases the
compepsaton OF County Treasurors Is county charge
and the within certain limits is regulated by the
County Treasurers haze been allowed for the present
and until called upon 10 retain pa 'er tSa caoed Ir bt
without prejudice to the right TO demand the same the
s ees This was deemed equitable The service
rendered 70 the in tho collection and transmission
some labor and responsibility and entities the officer to
far compensationi and 1t Is recommended 10 the hegs
ature 10 make proper provision for Just ana equtaDe
compensaton to these officers, and 20 make the provision
applicable to the taxes collected ao pad INTO tue io@e
| ury during the last year"
The old reputation Of Controller Allen as Judge OF
| law and equity may enable your readers to guess
whether after boggnG after comparatively small claims
for similar concerning the remission OF the state
tax from other counties, he could readily swallow tho
enormous figures OF Chamberlain sweeny (over se9Ocol
for remitting his two checks Tor the oale Tax
| in New-YOrk
There was a meeting the Canal Board yesterday, at
which it was resolved hold another meeting On the
25h instant for the purpose OF hearing cases OF appeals
from awards made by the Canal Appraisers Little else
WAS DONE though one transaction deserves special nece
I hrllia
the WAY OF oce-hoding and sslaryreceivng including
extras" 1t officially appears that Assembyman James
shanahan actually resigned his position as Canal su
perntenden seemingly considering his continuance In
that Office incompatible with his dutos as legislator
| Possibly IT may be that law Or proprety forbade
his holding two offices. But what OF that Mr. shana
| han might have found at least one example
IA the Senate Of whose sachems holds half dozen
offices and pockets all the salaries and pekngs without
winkipg-most Of which offices (being New'York City
oces yield incomes each or ten times greater than
the honest receipts Of Canal superintendent and Assem-
byIaan combined. Then, there is the example OF Chan
berain sweeny another Tammany chief, not yet Sen
ator but who deserves higher elevation who, beside the
usu fat slices various offices, quietly takes more
fees for simply sending couple OF checks to Controller
Allen than would pay the lawful salary OF shahaah
two modest Offices for forty yesrs The explanation oi
this extraordinary resignation, may possibly be thst MI
| shanahan lives in a rural district, where modern
| improvements" in ofioe-holding are comparatively
| little known We're Thomas Jefferson alive IN these
accordingly alter bis saying that odceholder
rarely die and neper resign
HITCHMAN AS BOTTOM.
SNUG JACoBs-Have you the lions part written
PRAY you if it be- give it me- for am slow of study
BOTTOM HITCHMAN--Let me play the lion, too l
will roar that will do any mans heart good. VIII
roar that will make the Duke Sweeney say: Let
| him roar again let him again"