New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-04-03
THE PARTISAN CHATTER.
A DAYS WORK IN THg SENATE.

soMg QUESTIONS or AUTHORITY sFTTIED-TBED BOARD
or APPoRrTONMEST RETAISED-YIKSG sAIa-
RfEs
lYRom rHg REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TIH rRfBUsgI
ALBANY, April AT the close Of the session Of tho
Senate this morning the Committee Of the Whole
had not finished with the Charter. The discussion
of Yesterday 90 TO whether the Commissioner Of
Public Works or the Department of Parks shoald
have charge of the streets and avenues above Fifty.
ninth-st was renewed. Last year the control d
those streets was taken from the Park Commission
ers and given to Mr. Van Mort. The motion ~ rein
state the Park Commissioners in power was lost by
q vete Of 10 to 70 As a sort Of compromise the Park
Commissioners given authority over tie streets
Immediately adjoining and bounding the several
parks north Of Fifty-ninth-st The vote on this
proposition of which d. 7. Wood is the author. was
IA to5.
Mr. Lowery also succeeded in carrying through,
by q vote Of two 10 one, amendment putting tbs
Department of Buildings under a single head. 10
stead of three Commissioners. Considering that
only one Commissioner needed for the Depart
ment of Public Works, Mr. Lowery could not
the necessity of three for this Insignificant depart
ment, whose total disbursements were Only
$4,000 OF 10000 year. Mr.. Madden en-
deavored to substitute single Comma
sioner for the fancy - Department of Docks, ne
III.
the Dock Commissioners as demoralizing wrong.
and wicked II they were bound TO have three
Commissioners, two of them should have no salary.
Mr.. Maddens motion was lost. To meet an objection
made by Mr. Eaton, an amendment was made con-
frming clergymen in all the exemptions from taxa
ton now enjoyed by them.
At the evening session. on motion Of Mr. Benedct
the Board on Street Openings and improvements was
changed 80 as to consist Of the Mayor the Controller
the President Of the Department Of Parks, the Com
missioner of Public WORKS, and the President Of
the Board of Aldermen. This Board has power to
make all changes in streets and avenues south Of
Fifty -ninth-st.
Mr.. Benedict moved TO give the appointment OF
tho person having charge Of the official CITY Record
20 the Mayor, subject to the confirmation Of the
Board Of Aldermen The motion was lost by q vote
Of 9to11 This appointment is TO be made by the
Mavor. CORPORATION Counsel, and Commissioner Of
Public Works
James Wood moved to abolish the Board Of Appor-
tionent and to confer its functions on the Board Of
Supervisors He said the Republicans had unani-
mously opposed the Board of ApportiOnment when
it was first devised by Messrs. Tweed and Sweeny in
1871. The proposed Board of AppOrtiOnment took
power away from the people and gave 1t TO council
of four while the Republicans throughout the state
denounced the Board of AppOrtionment in 1871. The
Legislature was now invited to follow In the foot
steps of Tweed.
Mr. Woodin defended the proposed Board OF APP
portionment. and asserted that the plan of twas
acceptable to everybody, including the Reformen.
Nevertheless, MI. Eaton, when he appeared before
the Committee on Cities. strongly opposed ths
method of controlling the city's expenditures.
Messrs Benedict and Weissmsn defended the Board
Of Apportionment; and the former said the appro-
priation bills passed by the Legislature were fire.
quently tempered with.
James Wood again advocated his amendment.
Under pretense of allowing the people of New-York
city 10 govern themselves were putting them in
a straight jacket. He was opposed to this special
legislation for the City Of New-York. He thought
that the voters of that city competent to elect
men who were tit 10 discharge the duties of Super
visors.
Mr. Weissman, Interrupting, said that human wis
dom could not devise better plan than the Board
of Apportionment.
Mr. johnson denounced the Board of Apportion-
ment. He analysed the section, and showed the
vast power which was lodged in the hands OF four
men Tor, in case of disagreement, in any three OF
thernl TO tax the city. he thought there was more
safety in leaving this power with the direct repre-
sentatives of the people What guarantee was there
that the abuses which characterized the action
of the old Board of Appointments would not be
developed in the Onef
D. F. Wood argued that il was impossible 10 get
competent and honest men who were fit to be trusted
with the public moneys chosen as Aldermen. DE
thought the section should not be changed.
Mr. Johnson, who is the only Democrat that has
hitherto taken any active part in the Charter dis
cussions, replied to the last speaker. He pointed
out that the Aldermen, under the provisions Of this
Charter, were to be elected by very large cOnstu-
ences Some of them are from the city at large,
and might reasonably be expected TO be men Of good
character.
Mr. Woods amendment was voted down without
division. The Board of Apportonment, as consti
tuted by the Nth section, consists of the Mayor
Controller President of the Board of Aldermen. and
President of the Department of Taxes and Assess
ments.
Mr. Temann moved that the salaries Of the Assist
ant Aldermen be $500 year, and those Of tie Alder
men'S75O, which was voted down, Us also was janice
Woods motion To make the salaries OF the Aldermen
and Assistant Aldermen $1,000.
Mr.. Tiemann thought a better class OF men could
be obtained if no salaries whatever paid.
Mr. Weissman said the duties Of the Aldermen
were very. arduous and the proposed salaries-sio0
q year-none too high
Mr. Benedict maintained on the other hand. that
under this charter the office Of Alderman would 0e
almost sinecure.
Considerable discussion followed the subject
occupying an hour more. and IN the end the ssla
ries of the Aldermen and Assistant Aldermen were
fixed 900 until the expiration Of their terms, ana
fixed nc 81 coo for their SUCCESSORS The salary OF
the Commissioner of Buildings was fixed at 5000.
Without having gone through the bill, the Com
mittee rose at 1920, and the Senate adjourned.
Tho Charter is made the special order from day 10
a. en-. al Hxvin ba TAX