New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-02-14
ALBAN Y.

A DULL DAY IN THE AssEMBLY--THE ASTORIA
| BRIDGE--PRoTECTING DEroslToRs IN saw
INGS BANKS-CONFLICr OF AUTHORITY IN
THE CANAL BOARD,
| ALBANY, Feb. 12.-As the Senate was not in
session. and large portion of the Assemblymen had
gone home prematurey their free railroad passes,
there comparative quiet around the Capitol to-day
The exciting controversies between different branches OF
the Tammany Tribe sent home such large portion
Of the NewYork delegation and their sympahizers that
the Assembly might well have adjourned on the pre-
vious day. as the Senate did The business mostly Of
n humdrum character. chiefly local or Insignificant
matters such should be allowed 10 occupy the
attention of any State legislature
mt there are matters concerning legislation
which nay serve relieve dreary monoony Of the
record for ta day One OF these is semioicial state
ment made by Ass,mbyman Pearsal Of Queens County.
in reference to amcnGens asked for in the charter
for building bridge or for blaokmailng capitalists
who would build a bridge from NewYork across Black
Wells Island to Astoria. AS the people Of Queens
County are particularly interested in facilitating any i'm
provements which Mr.. A. T. Stewart is making In that
region he deemed proper to learn distinctly whether
Mr. Stewart is in any way interested in the amendments
as his name had in way become mixed with the sub
iect Mr Pearsal authorizes the statement that Mr.
Stewart is in way concerned in this bridge and thinks
that instead Of promoting public interest in
ton with the project the existing charter is an obstacle
to efforts that might otherwise be made 10y capitalists
who would accomplish the enterprise in the best manner
and In the shortest time
Gov Hoffman has transmitted to the Legislature re-
port Of the pardons. combinations, and reprieves
granted by him, and the therefor, during the
calendar year The fiscal year begins on the LIST Of
October and ends the 3Oh Of september) There
Sc rardons 90 combinations, and two reprieves OF the
plrdons from State Prisons and % from County
Jail Penitentiary 1t Is the first document
/of the kind ever presented by any Governor
to the Legislature submission Of this report meets
a demand often expressed-for people generally were
excusaby jealous Of Gubernatora power this respect
pardons having often been granted in where the
public not altogether satisfied with the exercise Of
executive clemency. Similar reports will be expected at
future legislative sessions.
Recent have turned particular attention here
towards the safety of Savings banks generally, and for
the protection of the multitude of depostOrs in those in
situations. The bill Of Assemblyman Hathaway, OF Che
mung, requires a thorough examination aud report on
the condition OF these institutions often in two
years. by Superintendent Of the Banking Department
1t is provided that should any Savings bank fan to re-
port regularly be charged with lOanng or investing
money contrary to law, the superintendent shall notify
managers OF the institution TO discontinue such prac
tees; aud should any institution refuse to comply, the
Attorney General shall institute proceedings against such
bank The expense Of the examination must be paid by
the bank which requires investigation. This bill is re-
ported favoraby from the Bank Committee, and will
doubtless pass.
The chickering's between Gov. Hoffman and other Tam
many dgnitares about office spos of less conse-
quence to the people though they foot the BILL than
the important pecunary results involved in practical
point of public policy covered by question now pending
in the Canal Board. matter Of seemingly trivial ma
ture has produced temporary collision OF authority in
reference TO controlling power in internal navi-
CATION. There is a case pending among the canal
authorities wherein the power Of the Canal Board-euo'
gized by Gov Hofman-s brought into conflict with that
Of the Board Of Canal COmmissiOners-the pet OF Gov
Seymour The Board Of Canal Commissioners urged on
the Canal Board Of which they members that cul
vert on section 100 shoud be made Of an iron segment
and not as at first proposed Of tcoOden syphot-the
cost for the iron being nearly $4,000 than the 5000
estimated" for the wooden fabric But TINS reasonable
proposition does not yet meet the required approval OF
the Canal Board OF which Board three Canal COminls-
sOners form but One-third-a powerless mlnoHty-tne
remainder Of which Board consists OF IentGov Beach
Gen. Champlain. State Treasurer BRISTOL ana
the latter arc vastly familiar with law and politics
than with canal navigation But OF course tsese STATE
officers were bound in courtesy to bow deferentiay TO
Gov. Hofman's complimentary assertion that hey 1.-THE
ruling majority in the Canal BoardD knew az about
canal management; and hence they resisted the pan
proposed by the Canal Commissioners aud refused TO
sanction the use Of iron, even though The Commissoners
cuyert exceed "eight cents per pound" Not much
thousand dollars. But, them the principle OF tho
thing" there's the rub"
Commissioner Wright contended that as the Commits !
low breaks in the canal and delays in the navigation Gas
the cuivert preferred to a structure
they satisfied IL is the best But the majority
the Canal Board concluded seemingly that really
possessed much knowledge Of canal affairs Gov.
Hoffman rather fanCully ascribed 10 them and with a
hrmness worthy of mightier objects, resisted de
cson this practical question in canal repairing de-
ferring final decision "i Wednesday OF next week"
The simple facts here stated indicate that time should
lost putting canal management on basis worthy
81 import not merely to the people OF this state,
but to trade and commerce of large section OF the
Union including particularly Commercial Metropolis,
where some shOrtsighod people consider canang old
fOgyish in this fast of steam and
that canal breach at that any culver might delay
the whole navigation between the Atlantic and the
Lakes in "a way that would cost several millions Of dol
lars to the merchants and farmers well to the canal
OF whose 5000 vessels ana tens or
thousands Of empoy5s would be affected more OF less by
detention Ofnavigation through such cause That Is
the this culvert question, small as 1t may aI
near and il hoped that trivial quarrel about
authority or cost in this any similar matter Will pre-
vent the canals being placed III the best practicable
working order III the shortest possible time.