New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-04-02
DANGERS AT ALBANY.
A WARNING BY THURLOW WEED.

w
DR. swINBURNE HAS A HAND IN THE SUPPLY BILL
PROSPECTS 6r fSIQCTOUs LEGISLATION.
TO the EditOr OF The Tribune.
SIR: Legislation at Albany has nearly reached its
close and thus far so creditaby thai there was graf
living reason to hope that the people would have
little occasion to complain of their representatives.
But there is still danger of mschievOus legislation
Indeed this danger is imminent at the close of every
session. The utmost watchfulness and the sternest
will is required to detect and defeat fraudulent
claims Supply bills the fruitful source of evil
Fraud assumes the most plausible appearance, and
turks behind apparently harmless sentences. The
Tammany Ring robbed this city of millions OF dol
lars in pursuance Of two three line sentences in the
Supply bill, understood by none except the mover
and the favored few who expected to participate III
the swindles.
There are honest and intelligent members Of both
Houses who earnestly intend and hope to keep the
Supply bill of the present year free from the niqu
ties and denominations which have disgraced former
Legislatures. But in spite Of their vigilance very
bad egg found its way into the nest yesterday This
is less the occasion of surprise than Of regret for
know with what insdous adroitness the party to be
benefited by another grab" works up his jobs.
The abuses exactiOns, and aggressOns Of Health
Officers upon the commerce of this city, growing
worse and for some fifteen years. finally cul-
minated under DR.. Swinburne. His systematic ex-
tortions only remembered with indignant loath-
ing His successor. finding the machinery for pecu-
ation in perfect order. had only to follow in the
footsteps of his predecessor to reap abundant har
vest of ILL gotten gain and merited obloquy. TWAS
the misfortune as well as the fault of Dr. Carnochan
to have inherited from Swinburne facilities for evil
which constrained his removal by the same Gov
r,o, ybor, bo rocaiyad hic Han
PLY Cows Hoffman and Dix found in Dr. Wander
poe Health Officer who, by a capable and honest
discharge of his duties has protected the city from
disease, rescued its commerce from annoyance, ex-
empted tho merchants from extOrtiOn, and restored
the office to the high character it attained Is years
ago under the auspices of the late DR.. A. Sidney
Doane.
This DR.. Swinburne, on motion of Mr.. c. s. Spen-
Ger, worked some sort of claim" into the Supply
bill yesterday. / do not know the pretext upon
which that claim is based, But do know that
Swlnburne ought not to be allowed to thrust his
pacious arm into the Treasury. Let him be content
with the large fortune he accumulated by means not
easily forgiven or forgotten. Should this lniqui-
tOus amendment reach the other branch of the Leg
islature confidently hope that the Senators from
Long Island and New York will see that it is stricken
out.
In conclusion, feel constrained to add word Of
advice or admonition to Col. Spencer, who repre-
sents an intelligent constituency. II not greatly
misrepresented this is not the first more than ques-
tonable claim that he is responsible for Officers OF
regiments which assisted into the field at the COM
mencement of the Rebellion assure me that Col.
Spencer is now claiming money from the State
Treasury which was then received from the Union
Safety Committee, or subsequently from the Gov
eminent Such things formerly done by Tom
Fields but even that individual went with his
pitcher too often to the we'll T.W.
Neg York, April l, 1874.