The New York herald., 1871-03-26
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Claim Swindles Before the
Legislature.
a Nice Way to Steal the
Peoples Money.
~--~~~~~~~>~~o~~D~~~-
The Erie Bill and the Railroad
Committee.
A Lively Time Over the Bonding
Law Expected.
ArRANy. March o5. 1871.


There are many ways by which corruption is
dragged into the Legislature under
THE GuIsE OF JUSTICE
and right but probably fraud Is generally sue
cessful at Albany that which is hidden under the
plausible mask Of an honest "claim" Of an honest
man. Year in and year out-be the complexion OF
the ruling majority In either House democratic
Or republcan-claim bills never fail to bore
their way into the public treasury In for
mi1able numbers; and OF late the yillany
has become such thing OF regularity and form
that but few members ever consider 1t worth their
while TO bother their heads about it way the.
other. II is true that when the claims come up for
discussion the few who are on the alert raise an
e1.cry and manage TO place themselves right upon
she record for their own individual sakes but, as
rule the claims always triumph in the end,
and countless rascas are consequently made happy
every once and awhile by donations OF the peo-
.ple's money without ever having done anything to
merit a solitary cent OF It. Last evening" as have
already informed you by telegraph, the claims now
before the lower House were made special order.
Strange TO say several members had the boldness
on the occasion to show not few OF them up In
their true colors. The utter rottenness OF one or
two OF them ought to have made the House set its
face sternly against all OF them, but The
MACHINERY OF THE LOBBY
any portion OF the Assembly: it is quite possible
that one or two WILL in the long rum find favor with
q majority. Now, let me give you an example or
Two OF the unblushing effrontery OF this "claimn
business Nearly all of II, be 1t known, relates to
canal contracts. Well, one OF the claims, for
raj thousand dollars, which was discussed pro and
ron last night, made its appearance with a very
honest face By the merest chance In the world,
however, 1t was discovered that the work for which
II was put had not yet been commenced. In
other words, certain man had taken contract. to
do certain work for stipulated amount, and he had
the impudence 10 put in clam for it, as though he
had completed it; and, owing to circumstances un-
fortunate TO himself, had been The loser by job
and desired the state to turn the scales in his favor
present actually opposed motion made to kill it9
Another, very plausible on It's face, woud nave pro-
baby been considered favoraby but for the fact that
One OF the members was stupid enough to
ASK TOO MANY QUESTIONS
@ aoout H. ana It was IN consequence, ascertalned
10 '.come down" Handsomely was done on a canal
not Ia the State at all. Again: gentleman, who
honest ipeople, fathered, unwittngly 1t may be-
q claim which was considered all right 1t was In
ing that some people were Surprised when % it came
to light that the work for which compensation was
asked was done ten years ago and thoroughly paid
Ior at that. These lew instances sull-
hidden beneath nine out OF ten OF every
more proof OF their rottenness were needed,
and space permitted 1t would be quite easy to ex-
plain now many Of them are made in the name OF
q assigneesn who have been "claimlngn for con.
tract compensation almost every year since $780,
party to the case cannot be detected; nor would 1t
be difficult TO give long list OF contractors wno by
bidding lower than their competitors for contracts,
obtained them, knowing right well that they could
mol do thework for the price they agreed TO- yet feel
Ing assured that Tor
LEGISLATIVE PERCENTAGE
Wnat tney may lose or Wnat they may desire pro-
at Is almost certain 10 be made up 10 them IN
claim bill 1t is great pity that this kind OF ras-
caty is not throted here oitener than is but just
30 long as money Is power IN the Legislature the
people, who are The losers by the way 1t is made to
flourish, must, suppose, continue to grin ana bear
II as best they may.
THE ERIE QUESTION.
the Railroad Committee made itself heard TO-DAY
on the Erie question: but in rather indefinite way.
flagg took upon himself the responsibility to act as
Ia making another promise about the Erie Railway
case. II Will be remembered that In order TO staye
On The Goodrich resolutions at the beginning OF the
report before saturday, sure pop. The promise was
successful in keeping the resolution from being
be set down as piece OF WHY strategy,
which some people VIII be ready 10 ap-
made, there were many who laughed In their sleeves
and poked their neighbors in the ribs on the
strength OF it, and many felt, in their heart OF
hearts, that If Fisk and Gould couldn't see tue pro-
they '
DIDN'T KNOW THEIR BUSINESS,
That was all Certainly Mr.. Flagg meant TO do what
he promised. OF that there can be no doubt. But
and the committee IS not Mr. Fagg. you see the
committee was under no obligation to keep
this M Faggs secon NOV ws 1nss oay
need only be referred to. 1t consisted this time in
asserting that by Monday evening or Tuesday morn
Ing the committee would report upon The Erie bill;
for the report is to be a very elaborate one, you
know 1u OF quotatlons and references and all that
Sort OF thing. Besides, dye see the world wasn't
made IN day. This promise Will doubtless be kept,
because the committee have authorized 1t TO be maze.
" hile speaking OF this committee may as well say
that IL reported adversely to-day to the act
repeating
THE BONDING LAW
Irving, OF New York, who. like good many
Others, has an idea that every member OF commit
tee ought 10 have say, at least in the committee
mind 10 take In reference to measures OF public I'M
portance, dissented from the report the ground
that Gs far as he knew meeting had ever been held
by The committee examine the bill. This created
somewhat OF stir, and vote TO disagree with the
vote Of ts TO So II was then committed to the Com
mltiee OF the Whole for discussion. AS Mr.. Little
John was the member who yesterday gave the Rail-
road Committee such
SLAP IN THE FACE
BY taking out ofthelr hands that ALBANY and New
York transportation Company blll,' winch he de-
nounced as an .enormity,'' aud having 1t referred
TO the Committee on Canals, there willbe fun over
head again. The members OF the committee have
been ugly as bears with sore heads since the
bill slipped through their fingers and they only
They will be sure to do it, log-rolling III private
bills IS now the order Of the day.
WHAT Is IT2
MT Btchuan rather startled the House to-day by
asking Tor the rec0mmittal the Committee OF WAYS
ana Aeans OF TWO bills IN which the Seaman's
Retreat ioks IN Richmond county are Interested.
He SAID ne had good reason 10 believe that they
1iever shoud become law. The bills provide for
the disposal OF certain lands In the county and it
As more than surmised that speculaiors are a, the
bottom OF the work that would follow II the bills
were passed.
SURROGATE QUESTION.
The Judiciary Committee, motion or Mr. Fields
were to-day instructed 10 report by bin whether or
not any additional legislation is necessary in regard
10 the terms OF ollce OF Surrogate whose ON
cial existence viii terminate next JanIi-
aKy. IL is contended by many that the
new constitution did not provide any way by which
Ine Offices vacated should be filled, and IL conse-
quentIy feared that II action be not taken upon the
subject by the Legislature, there may be very
interreglum in Surrogates offices LII
many counties.
BUSINESS AHEAD.
The business OF the Two Houses, let me add IA
conclusion Is far ahead O that for The same period