The New York herald., 1871-02-02
THE STATE CAPITAL.
What Was ssthe Wisest Law
Ever Made 20
A LEGISLATIVE CONUNDRUM.
How Carey Enjoys His
Triumph.
WITNESSES In CRIMINAL CASES
PES ToLs AND COFFEE.
Overhauling the Children's Aid
Society.

House to-day and the score or more members who
were detained In the Assembly Chamber nalf hour
| longer than they desired, and who were thus pre-
! vented from attending an exhibition Of fighting
''dorgs' In certain part OF this village, have
to thank Mr.. Prime, OF Queens, and his resolution
for the deprivation These resolutions were 1t will
be remembered, offered last week. They called for
the appointment Of a committee of nine to see what
could be done toward enactng general laws In such
q way as to put an end to the immense amount Of
special laws which accommodating In the statute
books to an extent that is making even the legal
profession trembe. Mr.. Greene advocated the pas
sage OF the resolutions in speech, in which he cited
the immense number Of special laws passed year by
year touching matters and things which could
be covered by one general law. Mr.. Littejohn con-
ceded that the generalization OF laws tOravoid
special legislation all very fine in theory but 1t
was impossible In practice. Mr.. Nelson, OF course,
had his say in the matter. He wanted to know
''wHAr WAS THE wIsEsT LAW EVER MADE?"
Prince took this to be q conundrum at first and
was about to "give it up" when he was suddenly
reminded Of a passage in a religious tract he had
read when boy. This gave him his cue. "The
wisest law ever made came from on hgh,n he ex-
claimed "DO you mean to say, then,r persisted
Nelson. 'that 1t Is not necessary TO make
special laws to cover matters that the law
from on high does nots' This was a perfect stun
ner to Prime, not much that 1t indicared
wisdom on the part OF the questioner, but that 1t
mixed little with great things In such irreverent
way that the member from Queens was LETT
without a word OF remonstrance ~ thlnk,n con.
tinued Nelson. I'VE need special laws Tor rail-
roads and telegraphs Notwithstanding the law
from on high If 1t is sufficient for legislation why
does 1t not suffice to Keep the purieus OF Newtown
IN sanctty2" roar OF laughter greeted this sally.
and Nelson sat down, as well he might, after this
ebulliti0n of nonsense. The discussion then
continued in q serious mood, and finally ended by
the whole subject being referred to the Judiciary
Committee
GOLD BARRELS"
Speaking OF especial legislation" remind me that
the question OF old barrels is again destined to
''raise Can'' in the lower House this session. 1t
may not be generally known tnat there is member
from New York who goes by the name OF Con.
Molly Well, Connolly, like all true legislators,
tries to do his best to guard his own interests,
no matter what other interests may be overridden
terests lies in the old barrel business Last year
believe, bill was brought into the Assembly pro-
hbiting the packing OF wheat, hour and the like
other than new barrels, and that 1t Connolly
| good round sum to have the thing smothered Just
imagine his horror, then, this morning, when his
| colleague, Mr.. Flecke, one or the strongest
1 ANTI-LAGER BEER ADVOCATES
old barrel busness Feckes Bill " underSann n e re
| was drawn up at the suggestion CT large body OF
coopers, who make money by making new barrels,
| and who would make great deal more II the bill
| becomes law. But 1t Will rot, II Connolly knows
himself. The Clerk had no sooner read its title than
he was on his feet. '.Mr speaker" said he, BRAN
dishing his right hand over his head though he
had tomahawk IN IL ready to brain the trembling
Flecke "Mr. Speaker, / don't see the necessity OF
TINS blll. 1t has been coming up here during the
past three or four years. and it never passes It's
only annoying and taking up our time to consider
| lt.f The Speaker reminded Mr. Connolly that every
| member had perfect right to offer any kind OF
bill ne pleased, and that the barrel member from
No toll of
committee when the time came Tor its consideration.
Connolly then sat down, and Flecke went to his
| seat to explain matters In German.
| BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
There would at last seem 10 be some chance here
treated little peter than actual criminals Every
! body can conceive what comfortable thing 1t
would be for respectable man who has the mis-
/ fortune, by chance, TO witness murder or a high
Defention' for several months awaiting until
on trial Indeed, more than one Migrant
outrage could be cited where respectable
parties nave been held witnesses in the House OF
| detention for many long months, while the men
they were expected to testify against were enjoying
their freedom, thanks to somebody's money given
in form Of bail. II Mr. Fields BILL introduced to.
day. becomes law, as 1t should, this state OF things
will be no longer subject OF universal complaint.
certain crimes be no longer tempted TO keep their
knowledge TO themselves lest they be virtually i'm
/ prisoned until
| THE REAL CRIMINAL GETS HIS DUES.
The bill provides that a witness cannot be held
Il
ginning OF the court term following the commission
OF the crime OF which he may have some knowledge
nectlon may add that another blll, concerning
prisonment for debt, was also introduced to-
DAY, which Will, il successful in getting through
both houses, work most neediul reform.
| The readers OF the HERALD will remember
the sad story of that unfortunate India rubber
patentee who for infringing patent right was
| thrown into prison. and, because he could not get
tile amount OF his tine ts2, 50O, renamed in Ludlow
street jail lor eighteen months ana would have pro-
! been for the ''kindnessn OF certain individuals
| WHO finally concluded to extend to him q helping
| hand. IL may he that the repeated offences OF The
individual allude TO called for severe punishment;
but his case, for all that shows how easily III this
State a man could be Imprisoned for almost life
time In default OF payment OF few hundred dollars.
1t matters not how II may be argued that we have
| NO IMPRISONMENT FOR DEgT,
for If a man in civil action can be held in prison
fer years because ms opponents refuse TO yield an
Imposed upon him, that alone, call IL by what name
you WILL makes Imprisonment for debt in TINS Srate
an undenaole ract me o. b n, IN Question VIII regl.
that poor man VIII find mercy as well as the rich
man.
STILL HARPlNG on MY DAUGHTER
Mr.. Goodrich is one Of that class O. politicians
who do not believe that the dead past should bury
Its DEAD Indeed, lie has idea thai the Carey
rwombly case must still remain q topic ot every
day discussion IN the House. lie certainly had his
say the matter yesterday, and the dem ocrats
who tried not to let him have much Of O
say az It was, came to the conclusion that
after Carey's victory Goodrich would subs.de But
they were doomed TO disappointment this morning
when he sent up to the CLERKS desk series ot reso-
lntions winch after stigmatlzlng the action OF the
majority OF the Committee on Privileges and Elec-
tons IN the most bitter terms, called upon the COM
mittee TO show at whose expense the report had
been printed and for the printing OF $500 copies ioT
distribution throughout the State so that
THE PEOPLE COULD SEE FOR THEMSELVES
"how Mir. Twomby got more votes than Mr.
Carey and q great deal more OF The same sort.
hr. Fields, who has evidently made IL part OF his
business 10 keep Goodrich In as straight jacket as
possible rose to point order before the resolutions
mad been read IN their entirety and objected to
them as being disrespeCtul In language. so they
were returned TO Goodrich. lie, however, gained
his point, which 10 raise another breeze about
the case. Mr.. Fields would have done much better
had he allowed these resolutions to be read ana theL
go quietly wherever referred and-poSted nthi.
PISTOLS AND G FEE.
| There was quite % sensation this morning among
few OF the members on the republican side OF tn,
House. Nelson and Bgnall had quite lively set-t,
daring the Casey-rwomby case debate yesterday
and today wag got up challenge to Bignai I,