New-York tribune., 1873-01-08
ALBANY.
OPENING OF THE LEGIsLATUI

4
BLISS CHATTER.
! fRROh TIKI REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TBB TRIbcSZl
ALBANY, Jan. 7-Old frequenters OF tho
Capitol much astOnsbed al the great Improvements
In the Senate Chamber The pillars have all been taken
out the Lieutenant Governors aud Clerks desk 70
moved from the northern 20 the southern side OF the
room, the seats rearranged in circle the floors newly
carpeted, and the walls newly painted The effect is 10
make the Chamber appear almost twice as large as be-
fore. Gen. Robinson, the new JeutenantGoyernor.
called the Senate to order. he BIDS inir 10
make au excellent presiding officer, being much reader
than was supposed he would be- The business Of the
day aside fom the reading Of tho Governors message,
amounted to little The nominations by Gov. Dixd
Alexander g. Johnson of Utica as Judge OF the Com
mission Of A. Appeals, I'm place Of Ward Hunt. and David
Rumsey OF Bath IA Supreme Court Judge In the WIN
District In place OF Judge johnson, deceased. were
promptly confirmed. The Governors suggestions In
regard tile abolition OF the UsUry laws were folowed
ND by tho presentation Of bill to that effect by Juae
Robertson
The formality of balIoang for Speaker. Clerk. and
other officers the Assembly IS not very Yey cerc
mony at the best but where candidates to be voted
for have all agreed upon In caucus and the result
ia known for days before baotng begins, 1t eS
pecally dull proceeding This tedious ceremony
which occupied about hour and hail. was relleVed
only by brief speech from Speaker Cornell on taxing
his seat after the announcement OF tho result OF tho va"
lot The Speaker was evidently somewhat nervous
manuscript, delivered In 30 low oone
"a be scarcely audible at the extremitleS OF the
Chamber. He confessed his utter uexperlehce III Tue
duties of legislator but promised to sustain al ne
privileges OF the majority TO which he Delongeu "hie
at the same time he would eaously guard the rights OF
the minority and OF each individual member. His
speech 40 far az 1t could be heard, appeared to give
general satisfaction. and was greeted at us
close with moderate applause. The conduct OF
Speaker Cornell during the session to-day, aitef
taking the chair indicated that he u likely to prove
more successful presiding officer than his friendi
ANTICIPATED What little he had occasion 10 dc
was done with the readiness aud dispatch OF man ac
customed to the posltion and If ne keeps on as wei al
he has begun Is the general opinion that he will prove
20 be a creditabe If not brilliant Speaker. f he sue
ceeds making up hs committees 80 as to give even
olerable satisfaction his party he may do what few
OF his party predecessors have dOnego out OF Speak
ers the end OF the session with as much ecat az
| he entered II.
The reading of the Governors message was lisenedu
with more patience and attention than any similar docp
ment for several years pastDoth parties being anxious
TO hear what the Governor, who has been claimed
| in turn by each, had to say public matters. There
was special anxiety 10 know what position Gen. Dir
would take question OF NewYorlS City legislation
1t will be noticed comedies with Mayor Have
meyer in the propriety OF comforting full powers upon
the Mayor in the matter Of appointing and removing
heads OF departments. This so far as can bo Judged al
present not likely TO meet the concurrence Of majority
OF Republicans this Legislature II is pretty cer
TAIN In fact it may be set down fixed fact, that this
power will not be given to Mayor Havemayer unless
satisfactory pledges be extracted from him in ad
vance Gen. Dix freely stated 10 the leaders Of the
party TO which bis election that he will make no
appointments outside of tho Republican party but
Mayor Havemeyer not only does not volunteer such
PROMISE but peremptorY refuses TO make II wher
solicited. In any new charter or any amendments
to the present charter that likely pass this Winter
fiv ha
ing the heads OF departments that VIII insure their going
into Republican hands charter has been drafted ~
the Admin strlton leaders in New-York (manly the
work Of Geo. Bliss, the newly appointed United states
DlsrctAtOrneyl, which provides for the retention In
office OF Mr.. Van Mort, the Commissioner OF Public
Works; f. Deladeld Smith, tho Corporation Counsel and
Andrew H. Green, the Controller, and which provides
for filling the other Commissions by appointment from
Board consisting OF the Mayor. subject to the approval
OF the Board OF Aldermen. "A synopsis Of this
charter will be found the eighth pagel
Much difference OF opinion exists, even among
the Republican leaders in NewYork, IA reference to Ger
tain features OF the charter but they all agreed that
the virtual control Of the City Government should he
gwen % the party that successful az the last cleo
ton Tie Committee Of Seventy, IT ia understood, are
not 10 take hand in charer-making this Winter. bui
will leave the whole subject TO the Legislature.
THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
lBY TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRBUSBl
leading topic OF conversation among members tins
evening and the comments upon several Of its recon-
mendations by natering 10 ms Excellency
The country Republicans nearly unanimous IN their
condemnation OF the Governors proposition % contno
the appointments Of Hlroor Masters and Port Wardens
10 nautical men. Among the thousand or more applt
cants for positions at least breeourths residents
Of tho districts the greater portion OF whom are
backed by members 0f the Legislature and other leading
politicians from their respective districts and they can
not appreciate the policy that would conhne those
Offices " residents Of the seaboard.
They have quietly acquiesced In the programme Of Mr.
Murphy which appropriated % the Federal officers AL
tho patronage connected with the organization Of the
Assembly, thinking they 20 have fair show IN the
appointment OF port officials, and in the reorganization
OF the New York municipal departments; but now bej
dnd themselves excluded by the Governors recon
mondaton from these pickngs and they are beginning
to ask themselves. OF what avail is patriotism or parI
fidelity. If this ia 10 he its reward The country mem
bers also Indignant at tne Governors recommends
ton Of a repeat of tqs Uslfy laws ana tue s0o"n0h@
the tax on bond, and MORTGAGES -"
These que.si6ns have been elaborateB discussed
almost eTory session Of the Legislature i2r tse ss.
yeas4 and it has been possible TO got corporss
guard of rural members In favor OF either proposition
nor is t a all likely that they cap DO carried at this
| sion. Some notifications have been made by the Re
publican leaders here in the Bliss charter since the
cept OF tho Governors message Finding their Gov.
erpor aud their Mayor both agreed on the proprery Of
giving the appointment Of heads Of departments to Mr.
iiaveueyer. and desiring above all things TO avoid
collision with their newly elected chiefs, they have
agreed upon compromise by which the Mayor Is to be
allowed 10 nominate the Commissioners Of the variou,
eArtments subject the confirmation Of the Board of
| Aldermen
In case the Mayor and the Board cannot agree npou
the selections within days after the nominations
sent n then the appointments are 10 bo made by the
Mayor 60 the President OF the Board II they cannot
aurllI Ia lLIn, In