New-York tribune., 1873-04-15
ALBANY.
THE LEGISLATIVE SITUATION.

THE LEGISLATIVE STTUAIION'
TIE CHARTER READY FOR THE AssEMBLY-Irs FATE
PAST coNJECTURE--THE COMMISSIONERS OF PUB
LIC BUILDINGS TO BE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TINE ABUSES IN NEw-YoRK-PRoPosED LEASE
OF WASHINGTON MARKET.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE]
ALBANY, April 14.-The New-York Charter, as 1t
passed the Senate, has been printed, and will be sent
to the Assembly tomorrow. No one dares attempt
to predict what will be its fate the Lower House.
There is very little prospect of concurrence in the
Senate amends. and Of cogrse a conference commit
tee will follow. Speaker Cornell will doubtless frame
the committee the part Of the Assembly in the in
terest of the Cusom-house faction while LieutGoy
Robinson will most likely follow the action of the
Senate and make up his Committee in the interest
of the other side. What chance there is for agree
ment between the two Committees each individual
can Judge for himself. II s said the Custom-house
leaders will try to urge the adoption OF the plan
of appointments rejected by the Union League Club,
and will be here in full force tomorrow for that pur
pose.
On the other hand the ohice-holders under the old
Tammany regime are pluckng up courage, and are
confident they prevent the passage OF any char
ter at all, and thus prolong their lease OF
power. Alexander FreaT, the chief henchman OF
the Tweed dynasty, arrived this evening accom-
panied by several old Tammany pace-hOlders, and
more, it is said will be- here tomorrow These and
other signs seem 10 indicate what has been whis
pered for week past that the or failure OF
any charter for NewYOrk at this session of the Leg
islature will depend largely on whether those who
want charter those who do not are ready to put
up the most money. The Finance Committee of the
Senate of which Mr.. ID. p. Wood is Chairman, OBJ
tained authority, this evening" TO send for persons
and papers and investigate the dOngs of the several
commissions having IN charge the construction of
public buildings. The commissions included are
those of the new Capitol, the Elmira RefOrmatOry
and the Poughkeepse Insane Asylum. While no
positive dishonesty is charged against any of the
Commissioners, considerable complaint has been
made at the slow progress of the buildings and
their immense cost to the State, both present and
prospective.
Mr. Woods Committee has also been conducting
for some days past, an inquiry into the which
has been made of the large sums of money which
have been appropriated for quarantine build
ings in New-York HaTbOr. Since DIR. Canochan
was made Health Officer, in 1870, some 100000
have been appropriated by the Legislature
for various works. Most of this money has been
expended for unwse purposes, and for about 100000
there is, in Mr.. Woods opinion. nothing TO show
whatever. Between 1864 and 1870, when DIR. Swim
burne was Health Officer, the island on West Bank
was constructed. and extensive buildings for hos
ptal and other purposes placed thereon. Since then
DR.. Swinburnes plans have been departed from.
They might have been fully carried out for less
than $4,000 in addition to the 100000 already
expended on them between 1864 and 1o1O The
quarantine establishment could then have been
seIf-sustaining.
Instead of that 100000 have been obtained and
spent in three years; the emouments OF the Health
Office have been largely increased at the States ex-
pense, and very unsatisfactory condition of things
exists The Quarantine Commissioners appear from
the testimony taken so far TO exercise no effective
supervision over the expenditures made by tho
Health Officer and the office Of Commissioner is re-
garded as a sinecure.
The Assembly ordered to third reading several
bills this evening among them the one introduced
by Mr.. Clark to lease Washington Market, giving
the Market Association priority as essees Mr. Voor-
his strenuousy opposed giving the marketmen pref
erence other citizens and SAID that the prop
erty was to be leased il should be by public auction
IA the hi iQlest bidder.