New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-25
GAG LAW.
THE CODE AMENDMENTS REVIEWED. 4

To TIE EdftOT or The Trt 0Nhe.r.
SIR: The bill originated in the Senate. IL
was there bin OF few sections six or thcTeabouts ~
passed the senate the close Of the session, and went
to the Assembly. If vas amen lcd' there BY the ad-
ton OF several sections and amended was passed. ana
returned 70 the Senate FOR concurrence in the amend
ments senator from Ncvy.Yorl City moved to concur
in tho amendments. Senator from ono OF tho river
dstgicts stood the Clerks desk with the bill in his
hand and either prompted motion to non-con-
cur and for Committee OF Conference This last sen
aor was informed TINT the first Senator had remarked
that he would give 500 the last Souaor were out Oh
the Senate Chamber for a space OF time. In 10"
minutes the last Senator. still having the bil IN
his possession was sent for to tho cloakroom OF lpo
Senate. He passed around the Republican side Oh t.e
Senate Chamber leaving he passed, the bl IN inc
hand OF another Senator the country. with tho IN
junction retain possession oft On reaching the CLOAK
room he Of the attaches OF the senate ChanO'
who made some p-cteXt OF business The Senator re-
turned 10 his place In the Chamber The motion TO non
concur hal prevailed COIsnittee OF Conference was
appointed on the part OF the Senate OF three members
Such Committee appointed also on tic part OF 'ne
House The Joint Committee met One OF the Sena'o
Committee asserts that at the meeting OF the Conference
Committee they agreed upon the following sections OF
the bill appears, aud to no other section WINCH
is row in &. save as is stated below.
SEC In reference to preferences the calendar Oh
Court OF Appeals amending Section 10 Of Code.
SEC L. In reference TO limitations OF Actions unoi"
ing Section o. Of Code. H., eoo,to,
SIC c. In reference to lspendens, amending secuoh
1872 OF Code.
SEC s. In reference to attachments amending SECTION
227 of Code.
sEC T. In reference TO the issuing vi oA00"'''
amending Section 2s3 Of Code
SEC IL In reference TO receivers after an appeal,
amending Section ST Of Code.
sFc IS Now Ia tho bi amending Section 3is OF Code
was unanimously rejected IN Conference Committee
As to this Section, amending Section $40 OF Code
recollection is rot perfect.
SIC % references, amending Section S56 OF Code
SEC 121 of Code was amended in or the other
House. Tho amendment adopted unanimously In
Conference Committee. But the amendment does not
appear in the bl, as is now, before the Governor
It's the practice in the Legislature that the report OF
the Conference Committee is first made to the Houe in
which the amendments to the bin were made, and In
which was given to the request OF the other House
for Committee Of Conference In this it was the
Assembly stood in that position. Accordingly tho
papers memoranda OF the Committee wero taken by
the Chairman the Committee the part OF the House
Assembly for the purpose Of preparing the report II
after brought by him to two members OF the
Senate Committee. and signed by them, and was also
signed By five members OF the Assembly Committee. 1t
was according to rule, first made the Assembly and
was there concured in. 1t then sent 10 the Senate
II was there read in whole in part from tho Clerks
desk To the hearing and apprehension OF the Senator
TO whom nlusion has last been made, and who
of the Conference Committee there not then In the
report ANYTHING what had been agreed TO in the Con-
ference Committee. The molten made 10 agree to
the report. The vote in the affirmative. At once
the report was from the Clerks desk, by Senator
from Ne7yYork City, and Of the Senate Chamber.
Asst had been agreed in the Assembly il needed not
to be taken there for legislative action 1t needed only
10 be engrossed and receive the signatures OF the
Speaker of the Assembly and the President Of the Sen
ate 1t could have been taken away for scarcely any
other legitimate purpose.
To those who have never "a hill" afterit has
passed both Houses and been amended considerably in
the last which has voted upon it, let 1t be stated
that il leaves the first House fair clean manuscript
without ntorlneaton material erasure, without rider
When It has been amended in tho other House, it
comes back to ist the It is crossed and
baekened by lines Of expurgaton and erasure by inter
lined amendments, and loaded with riders, when are
Sins Of paper in various handwrngs pasted or pinned
upon the or gnal bill. 1t is then mass OF matter re-
curing careful attention from the Engrossng Clerk
10 reduce to the proper form. and to preserve
all and than meant to be enacted ms II
the amendments are copcurred n but they are not
coneurred n and conference is ordered 1t goes thus
chaotic the Committee which takes M one by one the
amendments proposed, and discusses and passes upon
them 1t parliamentary law that conference
committee cannot originate matter in bill 1t can only
agree TO- or refuse TO agree TO- the amendments proposed
y the one House to the bill ofthe other Itmay modify or
qualify amendment, but it cannot Of itself propose
md report any new subject or matter.
This is stated to show, First: That at all events the
hill before the Governor is in all probability Irregular In
that some Of the matter in it was never before ener
House; and Second How easy tits for vicious manlpna
zion 70 drop from the report OF Conference Committee an
amendment agreed TO- to add to the many riders ana
nterlinra such others agreed TO- as unprlh
ciped men may surreptitiously insert: - ~, - - .
AS for instances In tho Winter OF $50 mere vas a
Conference Committee on OF the Canal ApProprla
ton bills. report was agreed To- Wheh le Dii Ia, a
received the signature OF the Governor ana Was laW
Chairnan OF the Canal Committee OF the Senate was
hat imp
(0f Is7i, when the Conference COMMITTEE came ~
gether on appointments proposed ny uec norf Nrssf
20 that body, tho Chairman to whom nave ai1u th
the precauoD quckcned by MS expIlehee Oh tne
y0ri pgssa with the action Of the Committee ON the
Amendments OF what were adopted ana wha were TO
{be hand o. oac OF the Assembly Committee. After the
bin had been engrossed and was ready iof ths a gS
ful Chairman " whom we have alluded, examined ~
comparing with the two keP ana y
10 the amount OF $4,000 ne had stayed at the Capital
for purpose not Joining in the dpersiye rout which
ToIloved the first adjournment
To We come to the report OF the Conference Commit
tee was Placed in me Ean9s OF fne Engr0eg
numbering G - cbeS TIC last Of them has upon it the
sheets are az W aT tl,e sjcnatres NJ tvyo
Senators and members OF the Assembly ana nothing
or Inf tle else On nearly every sheet there is in the
Of one of the Deputy Clerks Of the Assembly
some formal part Of report as thus, 10 secuo 63 OF
setd act s hereby amended SO as TO read follows"
Then i'm d6erent handwriting Is pasted upon the half
sheet OF fOOscap with mucilage piece OF paper, once
fndependent of t. which expresses the phraseoogy OF
HE anepduent To this there but few exceptions
believed no exception. far the amendments are
concerned. which has provoked aninadversion. Inc
amendments are mainly Ia the handwriting OF TWO per
sons IN pain handwriting seh - l~ has in
coming from law office In New IOiA wy "4on mas III
its employ hired scIivener. - 80, 1900.
Such seems 70 De important, though not the most
important part Of the history OF the COae,Amehdmehs
OF last Winter Senators have been cenSed IN the press
and Ia the mouths OF men, and stu more IN te saudened
minds of other silent men, that through reeessness OF
negligence,