New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-21
ALBANY.
AFFAIRS AT THE STATE CAPITAL

| AFFAIRS AT THE STATE CAPITAL"
| CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUEsTIoNs-mK Al
| Word AND THE GOVERNORS MESSAGE Tux
| ANTI-GAs MONOPOLY BHI.-CUIRENT TOPICS
| (rIox TnE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or rnE rHipuShl
ALBANY, Jan. 2O-The constitutional amend
ments were special order in the Senate this morning
and occupied the attention OF that body for nearly two
hours The principal discussion Was on the hfth arce
giving the appointment OF several State officers now
elective. together with "a Superintendent OF Iuohc
Works, to the Governor. IL was opposed ny
all the Democrats who spoke on tho subject
with the exception OF Mr.. Bradley ""o
was member OF the Constitutional Commission
which drafted the amendments senators Johnson
Parmenie and Lord opposed vestne the appointments
these officials in the hands Of the Governor ~ being CON
trary sound democratic doctrine and tending toward
Capitalization. The Republican side OF the sehatc TOOK
very little part in the debate contertins itself by voting
solid for all the amendments. The legal questions IN
the discrepancy between the record oil The last
Legislature and the publication OF the amendments IN
the matter OF the Black River Canal was discussed nut
no light thrown the subject and IL was gen
orally conceded that the fate OF tho seventh article would
have to be decided ultimately 10y the courts The re-
publican Senators generally in favor OF submitting
all amendments 20 the people without alteration
and so voted Committee OF Whole Tho motion to
strike oct Article V. lest by vote OF =, 20 II. MT
Middleton and Mr.. Coe being the only nators claimed
~ Republicans who voted Yea. The amendments are
the special order again tomorrow.
In accordance with a previous resolution. tho Assem-
bv took up the Governors message IN Committee OF the
Whole this morning. when Mr.. Avord made an elabo-
rate speech upon tho document. which. he said. was
OF the most important messages that had boen sent
to the Legislature for many years. He entirely agreed
with most of the recommendations OF the Governor.
especially those relating TO finance gold specnauons'
ccrtifcltio Of checks by bank CASHIER &c. and arged
the passage OF the bills introduced by him last evonns
to correct these evils Mr. Ayord was left alone in his
ponship OF the Governor, not single Republican
on the floor volunteering to word complimentary
or otherwise the Executive OF his party Indeed,
they seem to in doubt TO which party their Governor
belongs.
The old antieas monopoly bill. which has been before
every Legislature for the last ten years. aud Away"
failed to become law. made its appearance again To-
day having been introduced by Assembly man Donohuo
OF Brooklyn. 1t provides that no Gas company shall
charge more than s. per Zoo cubic feet OF gas of 6
sperm candle Illuminating power. ana anthorIzos the
MAYORS OF New-York and brooklyn 10 appoint an IN
speotOr for each city, whose duty y shall he 10 test the
quality OF gas supplied TO consumers at least once
week and as much OfteEer as he Shaii %
requested so TO do by two or moro vic
tins of bad gas.
The Committee on Privileges and Elections met TINS
morning 81 consider the of Mr. Madden. vino CON
teats tho seat OF Senator Abbott OF the XIII District
Henry Smith appeared as counsel for the contestant.
and NJ ittDew Hale Tor the hlttnE fntinDf No"S"ci-
able discussion took place the question
whether the Committee should go behind the docu-
mcntsry cvdcuc. relating TO The rEht OF the cahvasers
OF Sullivan Comfy to throw out certain rethrha Tor
infurmalty The Committee are to ncot again TINS
evening to hear argument from Mr. Sniih. VINO claims
al Mr. Madden should ne awarded the seat on the
documentary evidence whon covers the whole case
origna " submitted 10 the Committee. leaving Mr.
contest other grounds # ne should SEQ ut
Two ont OF the three members of the Commit 90 apper
favor OF this course anu II II shoih Dc aOptod
Mr. Madden will b. Installed III the seat forthwith
"a
the parpose OF agreeing upon limo OF policy with
regard to The constitutional amendments No dctlOn
was taken, however rs Mr.. Ganso1 was opposed to
holding party caucus on t'i4 question iie gu nov
think it far 10 Mr.. Bradley, WHO Was u Democratic
memner Of the Constitutional Commission, 10 invite hm
into caucus AMI bind him by party vote to slultIiy
himself 10y opposing senator what ne hau Noted1 Tor
"a Com m, Oner vote striking out The ntih
article TOT ay Messrs GdnsOn and Bradty Notod Win
| the Republicans
10 reduction cond be maze III the exprns's OF
running canals met TINS evening aud decided 10 dis
Tense with supcrpendents, one on toe Champlain
Canal two the Is ick River, two on me Eile Two on
thc Gencsec ana TWO Chcnaugo. II VAS also de
cl ED 10 the of collectors aud otherwise
| ,urtail the expenses Wherever practicable.
AT the meeting OF the S3uac Committee Privileges
Elections tins evening counsel foT NJ ddon claimed
that deprived "f ls scat nv pain Violation oil
tne law Dy the OF Sullivan County, and con
ndcd thar only question before thr Committee was
the leg ATTY OF their action l. iogd', vi Iddrn should
bc awarded his seat forthwith. and tho contest,
| any WAS to II. made otner grounds, snould
| De icft 10 ABBOTT Con. Van Wyck and Matthew Hale
and demanded hdt the Committee should lnNes
sate all the allog3i irregularities ana if nds OF the
canvass before deciding VINO was entitled 10 the seat
TIE Committee VIII prODaDp report thI ueclAion tiiS
| week. d.,
mice Of OJc Hundred went before the FoNrrhor ms
afternoon and presented tie charges Of the Committee
against thO Commissioners OF ChaEe7 ana CoIreclioh
| % mat ciiy.