The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-14
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Local Improvement Bill and the Rivalries for
H6wer-The Difficulty Explained Eighth
Avenue Railroad Fare-Ezra Cor
1sll and the College Boys.
Senate Business.

ALBANY, May 10, 1873.
ne Committee on Cities OF the Assembly held a
meeting this afternoon, and gave hearing on the
Local Improvement bill, which was called for FUR
tAer consideration the other day from the Senate.
There was great hullaballoo about the passage OF
the hill by the House, and a great deal OF talk
about 1t that was not. as stated In the HERALD at
She time, justified by the facts OF the case. WHAT
really caused the rumpus was the fright
Of Comptroller Green that, If this bill
was allowed to become law, Commissioner
Van Mort would have certain powers which he
himself coveted. The DILL was thoroughly ex-
planned In all Its aspects by Mr. John d. Stranan 70
the committee to-day in way that dispelled all
the sensational reports that were made about IL
ut the start. He contended that the bill was
1air and lust measure and necessity to the city,
and that bill similar TO 1t had been drawn up ut
the request OF Mr.. Green and advocated by Mr..
az he Se said had been changed bv the
new charter and had left the city in
A RATHER PECULIAR FIX
as far az making assessments was concerned. BY
one section Of it it was provided that no assess
ments for repairing could be made and the power
had been taken from the Comptroller of making
assessments for work already done. The bin under
consideration covered the defect He argued be-
sides that the charter virtually prevented taXpay-
ers from deciding for themselves what pavementS
they preferred, II they wanted patent pavements,
and vet he contendea that one of the best pave
mentS In the city was patent one in South Fifth
avenue. There was, he said, q law passed in 1872
which created commission TO make contracts for
city improvements and that IN pursuance OF the
authority vested In them the commission had
acted. Their authority was limited to ninety days
and they gave certificates for all work done under
their direction and some certificates were gwen
after their allotted term had ended.
HONEST CONTRACTORS
who had done work and strictly according to their
contracts were thus, in many instances, debarred
from receiving the pay really due them, for the
reason that, as matters now stand the Comptroller
some head OF department whose certificate can be
shown Tor the work performed and yet the
to nv OF
ment by the charter. Many parties who
had just claims, honestly done, could therefore
passed. 1t will be seen that ii was this particular
situation OF affairs that gave rise to the suspicion
that the bill was intended simply to cover claims
OF no account.
THE COLLEGE LAND SCRIP AND CORNELL.
There is considerable talk to-day over the speech
grant and Ezra Csrnells transactions herewith,
and tits probable that an investigation will be had
Inc friends of Mr. Cornell, 1t Is said will ask for an
investigation, but there are no indications as yet
shat they Will move early in the matter Mcclure
asserts that the charges he makes can not be dis
proved, and he challenges any man to show that
the facts and figures he cited IN his speech are not
borne out by the official records OF the State. 1t is
highly probable that the bfl which was the indirect
cause OF the alleged expose VIII not be heard OF
again this session.
TIE BROOKLYN CHARTER.
nom the Senate. with amendments, Mr.. Worth
moved that the bill be laid on the table, and that
the amendments be printed Immediately. he SAID
> subcommittee ol the Senate had taken this Bill
In charge and had made large number of amend
ments the purport and effect OF which the House
nothing This r was he said very ant
charter OF Brooklyn had been amended, ana he
Thought 1t was eminently proper that the Brooklyn
amendments were. Mr.. Plerson said he under
stood that the amendments referred to were
as sy SIMPLY b @
time. He thought it would be lar better to COM
init the bill to conference committee. The mo-
ton to lay the bill on the table and print was
ried-66 to 3.
BILLS PASSED IN THE SENATE.
The Senate consumed the entire day session in
the third reading and passage OF bills. Among the
important ones passed were bills to incorporate
the New York Society Tor the suppression OF Vice;
to provide for the care of Washington's headquar-
ters at Newburg; for the Improvement oil Hudson
River, between Coxsackie and Troy; amending the
TO incorporate the Financial and Cotton Press Com
papy OF New York.
bill to amend the act for the formation
of companies for mining, manufacturing and
chemical purposes, Which was understood to
be in the interest of news associations in
New York, was defeated. bill to make
the District Attorneyshp salaried office, and CIV
ing the District Attorney a salary two-thirds as
lost by votes yeas to IS nays. The antipathy TO
this bill was such that 1t is wonder it ever at
In the ordinary way by this vote, but, being killed
and buried, 1t was denied the ordinary courtesy OF
renewal by resurrection, being refused recon-
eideratiOn by vote OF 6 to 90
An effort Is to be made tomorrow to get Mr..
Blessings bill in relation to
THE EIGHTH AVENUE RAILROAD
before the Committee OF the Whole OF the Senate.
1t has been smothered In general orders for over
month The company, IL Is said, are trying to keep
tom getting before the committee. The company
Say they are willing to have an amendment made
to the bill that the fare shall be reduced to five
cents when all the avenue Is graded. This implies
that the avenue should be graded beyond Tooth
street. which will be an accomplished fact probably
In about twenty years from now. The workingmen
who travel on the road are opposed TO any such
amendment, and want the bill passed as 1t stands
The report OF the Joint Committee on
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
recommending that the special session be dispensed
with, and that the Senate proceed at once TO con-
sider the amendments was received and agreed to
and the amendments were made special order
for tomorrow night.