The New York herald., 1871-03-08
The Two Houses of the Legislature
in a Busy Mood.
SENATOR BRADLEY'S NEW POLICE BILL.
A Movement Toward ImprOy-
ing the Efficiency OF the
Onicers Of the Force.
A QUEER DIVORCE BILL.
The Brooklyn POlice-Discussio on the
Proposed Increase Of Pay.
ALBANY, March 7, 1871.
The Legislature has finally determined to 60 to

ALBANY, March T. 1871.
The Legislature has finally determined to go to
WORK IN DOWNRIGHT EARNEST.
Judging from the way In which the lower house
went about Its business this morning, and the en-
phatic "No' which the majority gave to every
motion made 70 adjourn before the usual hour. In
one sense the day was an extremely duh one; that
Is, no new bills OF any Importance were introduced
and no measure that came up In any form whatever
with but one exception, was deemed OF sufficient
moment TO provoke even an inquiry from anybody.
so lively discussions were only remarkable by their
utter absence. This, probably, would not have
been the case had LittleJohn been in his seat for
AvOrd was on hand bright and carly, with his same
white beard and
RIP VAN wINKLE LOCKS
trimmed to fashionable nicely, thanks to the clip
ping skill OF some good republican tonsorialist
away up In Unondaga and he was spelling for a
scrimmage all the morning. II may be that the
Oswego screecher found this out just IN time to
keep out OF the way. However, had IT not
been for the fbustering efforts or Irving,
of New York, ana 0'Nen OF the county
Antrim, Mr. Grfln would have Knocked the
general duness IN the head with his speech on
BONDS and mortgages, ana why they should not
be taxed.n Griffin has spent considerable time
over shis speech which, they say, Is brlmfu Of wit
ticisms and overlooking with all kinds Of jokes at
the expense OF the Ways ana Means Committee. He
has so far not opened his mouth on any occasion
since he has been "a member, and Mr.. Selkreg and
his hackers the radical side or the house think It
rather unfair thai the democrats should always
STAND IN THE WAY
when he cesires to make himself heard on the
momentous subject OF which his speech Is to treat
Tomorrow, when the subject comes before the COM
mittee, 1t may be that those In favor or the bill now
before the House Will De able 10 euchre the other
side. At any rate If Griiiln gets recognized by the
Speaker he Will certainly make Rome howln In
this matter OF the absence Of all discussion, repeat
the day was a dun one, but the business done was
immense, and II the members continue for week
or so TO be as anxious to clear away from the
Speakers table the pile OF small bills that now
overwhelm it, as they seem to be now, there will be
good reason TO talk about
AN EARLY ADJOURNMENT.
The lower house were in Committee of the Whole
all day long and passed no less than iorty-ve bills
II that isn't business some people would like to
know what is. The one exception to the general
unlmportance Of the bills which have already
alluded to was one introduced BY Senator Bradley.
It's
NEW POLICE BILL,
which makes the Police Commissioners the trustees
or :Ee Police Insurance fund, ana authorizes them
10 deduct one dollar per month from the pay of each
member OF the force, and arrange a scale of pen
sons Tor disabled officers and their heirs. The most
extraordinary feature OF the measure is that It en-
powers the Commissioners TO dlsmiss without
trial. by unanimous VOTE any captain, sergeant
officer or clerk In their employ, and Ii tncy sre t
pension him IN o sum not more than one-half the
pay ne had been receiving The object no doubt OF
this feature IS 10 enable the commissioners TO ret
rid OF a good deal OF the driftwood which Is now
noatina about In the uniforms OF sergcants and even
captains, and Which IS OF earthly good to tns.
force whatsoever As matters now stand the Com.
missoners cannot get gCod-for.nothng sergeant
out or the way except on Charges preIerredn and as
many OF them, wnLe beng OF no account as police
officers. keep themselves straight enough not TO
be put on trial Tor any ohence The disadvantage of
the present law be at a glance, People
VINO are familiar with the status or our present SER
geans OF police in your city viii, DOUBT heartily
applaud this bill, If the Commission only make use
OF II TO get or their shoulders load which, besides
furious 10 the department at large. II, when they
get the new power tney exercise II rightly, by plac
ing men OF Intelligence IN the places O many or the
present sergeants. who can scarcely
WRITE THEIR OWN NAMES
or spell the simplest word In the English language
correctly, ana VINO can never tell the difference De-
tween o drunken man ana one in COMMISSIONS the
morale OF the police force viii certainly not lose by
the innovation. The present Commissioners are
men of experience. and VIII doubtless take the
right view OF the matter, and not allow outside
politicians 50 to make use OF the new power given
to the Board that good and meritorious men shall
be made to stand ASIDE without being able TO sa, q
word IN their OWE defence, only to make way for
only Recommendation win be that they have ..in.
fooence In the ward"
THE NEW DIVORCE ELL.
Among the many bills reporter formally upon to.
day by the committee to which they were referred
was Mr. Bayls' divorce bill. This measure Is on a
par, although Is not quite so bad bill, with that
Introduced In the Senate about a month ago IL
gives the Supreme Court discretionary power 10
allow any party against whom decree OF divorce
may have been granted to remarry, provided three
years have elapsed after the time the decree
was made in other words, the guilty party has
N m h...rr
the matrimonial market. Then, II he gets decreed
against again, another three years OF waiting and
so on, td kbttaTl- OF course it would be ridiculous
to argue tina. everybody whom the bill would
.sbcnet would use IL as facile means to legallze
his indelities, ont 1t virtually gives the guilty party
In divorce case sort Of immunity which in rpis
State, some people Think VIII not be regarded with
much favor.
Mr.. Lewis Railroad bill, Introduced in the Sen.
ate to-day, has not only the same end IN view as the
Goodrich bil-the repeal OF the Erie classification
act-but II goes further. The Goodrich bill touches
the Erie folks alone, while Mr. Lewis includes
botn the Hudson and Central. The one lett IL op-
tOnal with the two latter roads 10 make use OF the
ter cempcls them to elect at the next election full
board aud forbids that at subsequent elections the
stockholders snail elect directors or the three en-
SUNG years.
RAILWAY EXTENSION.
bill was introduced In the senate authorizing
the seventh Avenue Railway Company 10 extend
Its track along Fourteenth street, from Union square
10 Seventh avenue.
THE BROOKLYN POLICE QUESTION
There was quite q lively discussion tins evening
over the Brooklyn Police bill, during which the deie-
galion from that village created quite breeze all
among themselves. good deal of interest was
the ether House were Gu the hoor while the
Kings county chickens were tearing each others