The New York herald., 1871-02-10
yhe Drafted Patriots and Their Chances Of
Getting Their Money Back.
Telegraph Companies to b Brought
to Terms.
A LUNACY COMMISSION,

pear upon the scene when there was
rush Of country bills and when the greenies
rom out Of the way places throughout the
State were In q strong "sfirmativen mood. As q
matter OF expenses. OF course, New York city s the
big pocket out of which must come the funds to
pay the contractors who are TO grow rich from the
iobe they VIII revel in probably for years, before
one OF the Court Houses reaches the altitude
Of Mansard or domed roof discussion.
There ale three bills Of this charac-
ter which deserve more than q passing
notice. They authorize the construction Of court
houses In the Eleventh ward, the Ninth and the
Twelfth wards II may be that It lie an absolute me-
cessfsy that the Eleventh ward sh0nld have better
house than 1t has: but II looks suspicious, TO
say the least, that among the gentlemen who are
mentioned as commissioners" In the act are
several
LOCAL POLITICIANS.
few Of them ale stil active IN harness, and few
Of them still quite active as though they were
probably engaged. 1t may be TO the interest Of
certain localities that their local leaders should have
charge OF 'local improvements, p which very par
ticular Senator has styled these court houses. but
the entire country win have to foot the bills ana
people are very suspicious nowadays Of wheels
within wheels. The house In the Eleventh ward 1t
Ia said, VIII also be used as o police station This
looks like giving taxpayers doubly good bargain
N tact,
KILLING TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE.
Taxpayers will find out for themselves, probably
whether the bargain will not turn out to be two
edged sword in their hands before the "job" comes
10 head. Next In order comes the new court house
which is to take the place of the old JEFFERSON Mar
set 1t may be as necessary as the one just men,
TONED, but is 1t possible that the county cannot
get a good building put mp for less than
s2co 600. The worst feature about these "jobsi lie
thar estimates as to actual cost Of everything is
that is, in bulk. They have several stages OF exist
ence before they reach their full growth. BY this
means 1t is only when the full growth Ii attained
that the taxpayers for the first time become aware
Of what the weight OF the load they
have to carry really amounts to. 1t looks
very cheap, you know, TO 1nd bill
but another bln and another blli comes along from
session TO session In the way Of act TO amend an
an q Of s
That court house in Harlem appeared TO be small
sa so ps nhen M ana TSs S a
Of the building hadn't shown Itself yet,
began to loom up. the next stage Of existence was
reached few days ago when bil was introduced
pprpRsng a an oa a1Sitiona h $4,000 Now new
greatness after this fashion, but ! mentien them
now simply because there seems to be tendency TO
anl that !! the thing s allowed 10 90 on much fur.
he ii Ss and a. ns
LusAncs AND SoN-LuSArIcs.
II is needless 10 state tnat any law which the Leg
n mla,9re can pass to gIara against the imprlson.
heartily commended by the entire people OF the
e,ate. This subec, has enGrossed the attention OF
our legislators for the pest two or three years. but
cans Certificates True, Mr.. creamer, in the Sen
Ing law more stringent. by provision that every
physician who should. BY certificate, declare party
would not conduce to his general freedom Of acton.
medical or otherwise but this would be practically
~; Every physician who has, in years past,
] rightly or :, wrongly appended his name to
be had to run certain risk Of being 'oyerhauled."
as the phrase goes for his action II turned out to
the Would S Of ne e s that som
body or somebodles would make II bis or their par
cuiar duty to see 10 T. thar he got hs Just deserts
Creamer'e bill only establishes by written law what
hos been the
USwRITTEN LAW OF THE PEOPLE
for years. Under the circumstances, Mr.. Frear's
Lunscy bll, introduced to-day-which, under.
stand, was drawn up by the District Attorney OF
provided always, Of course, 1t be so hedaed about
by proper safeguards that il may not he made into
eopeG a. sns Rnsh % oeeSe
which fact viii give It greater weight
after and some persons guarded against being sent
% insane asy.ums N Great Britain Il authorizes
members-two physicians and one lawyer. OF
course 1t is not matter OF absolute neces-
although 1t might not injure the Commission
IN the long run, some folks believe, II the lawyer
The commission VIII have power 70, in "a fact must
examine every person sent 70 an insane asylum no
evidence In criminal cases, where
TIE QUESTION OF INSANITY
Z put In as plea Of defence. they to examine
The prisoner, and their evidence az TO the state OF
1is mlnd is to be considered 'oIcal' In every
y 1H tSs, m d Uss w deal
ioIs 2, criminal trials where INSANITY is put in as
defence. But then II may be open TO one objection.
me eommtiee who bave charge Of the siil i Will
comes law, It Is beforehand stripped Of everything
that may prove its condemnation In the future,
The drafted men and those fellows who got
wounded or Killed by proxy during the war, am
before they can gel back the monevs they paid 70
keep away from shot and shell when their country
% induce the state 70 pay these moneys back to
4 that the Governor should appoint commission 10
80 10 washington and ascertain ali about the claims
the war, VIII place the whole question Just where
properly belongs The federal government drafted
ihe men and got
THE MONEY FOR SUBSTITUTES,
n and the money lie TO be paid back to them the
federal government should be considered the real
debtor, and not the state. 1he patriots OF Massa-
rnusetts, who were TOO generous with their money
to 20 10 the war themselves, had their claims
audited In washington, and not In Boston, and why
should New York be made an exception. II the
moneys are 10 be repaidf Every honest man hopes
Il they VIII not be repaid at ALL and the JUDICIARY
Committee, TO whom the resolutions were referred
viii doubtless give these begging patriots piece Of
their mind on the subject when they make their
report,
BRIHGING TELEGRAPH COMPANIES TO THEIR SENSES.
most excellent bill is that iavorably reported on
to-day by the judiciary Committee relative to tee-
graph companies. How often have fortunes been
lost by q telegram sent at eight a. NJ. not reaching
tts destination Till hours after II was forwarded,
when II ought 10 have been received within half
hour by the person 10 whom IL was sent The bill
compels operators date the hour on the despatch
when message II sent. and the operator who
receives IL must also date the hour when 1t Is
received. II an operator fails to DO this the com.
pany can be sued and damages recovered.
PETROLEUM TRANSPORTATION
The "a fntrn al; tod hv Mr. RtSr