The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-01-03
NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.
Tweed has not Put In au Appear
ancc-.-RepOrt Of David A. Wells
on New York City Debt md Re-

on new OTk Wy DcDt ana hcs
sources.
ALBANY, Jan, 9.-Thc House and Sen.
ate convened ut Ii o'clock today. Lieu.
tenant. Governor Beach opened the Senate,
delivering 4 hriet address. The Senate
then elected James Tcrwilligcr clerk.
Governor lloIIman's message is Il
lengthy document. The State debt has
been reduced to twcnty.ninc millions :;
the insurance companies Of the State have
paid twenty millions, losses by the Chi.
cago fire; the tolls on the canals have
been nearly half million more than they
were last year The Governor recon.
mcnds m inquiry into the alleged Quar-.
autinc abuses and referee system in courts;
the cight.hOur law should be enforced (;
he reviews the July riots, and contends
that if additional laws are necessary,
they should secure equal privileges to all
men Of whatever religion, politics, race,
color or creed lie thinks the Federal
Constitution should be amended so that
United States Senators should be elected
by the people. The exposure Of the
wrongs in the government OF New York
city has aroused attention to the necessity
of reform in public affairs, and
recommends that new charter,
on which the responsibility for the good
administration OF all city affairs shall be
fixed upon the Mayor, giving him the
power Of appointment and removal Of
heads Of departments; providing for the
immediate election Of local officials; that
the officials be removed for cause by the
Governor, and other suggestions some
what similar to those in the charter pro.
posed by the Committee Of Seventy; re.
commcnds law against bribing officials,
and that the Legislature thoroughly in.
vcstigatc the reports that the Legislature
has been influenced by money. The
Governor recommends II revision Of the
State Constitution; suggests that the
Governor should appoint all administra.
tive officers. lie thinks the term for Gov.
eruor should bG three instead Of two
years; recommends that the Senate be
elected 10y larger constituencies and for
longer terms, also that the restriction OF
the session 10 ono hundred days be re.
moved, and the Governor have the
power 10 proroguG the Legislature; re-
trains from the discussion Of Federal
matters, as the Legislature and Governor
diitcr politically, but hopes the work will
be harmonious in dealing with the House
affairs.
In the Senate this afternoon, a memo.
rial was presented from Comptroller
Green, Of New York city, asking the Leg
stature to make immediate provision tor
the relief OF the city finances. Referred
to Select Committee.
The Senator from New York city, Mr..
Tweed, did not appear in the Senate To.
day.
The Governor gent To the Legislature
today special message on the financial
condition "I New York city, in which he
says that in view nf tho recent events,
he addressed letter 10 Hon David A.
Wells, requesting him 10 investigate and
report on the subject Mr.. Wells re-.
ports that the net funded debt of the city
is $G1,23i, ,1l5; floating or temporary
debt, $9i,523, ,SG1. The present total liza.
hlitics do not exceed $l0O,OOO,OOO The
valuation "l property August Is, 1871,
was $2I2 ,9Sj,i99. The real estate valua.
ton OF the city for 1871 was returned at
500 BOG, no, and yet this does not repre-.
sent more than forty per cent of such
property. a true valuation would he not
less than two thousand million dollars
on which the present debt rs above csli.
mated, namely: $l0O,0OOO0O, would be
equivalent 10 u mortgage OF five cents.
The increase in the valuation OF the prop.
ty OF the city for assessment purposes he
tween 1860 and 1870, was S9l per cent.
The present increase in the value Of real
estate is estimated nj five per cent per
annum.