New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-14

Mr. ALyoRD followed eongratnlatng the people OF the
State upon there another accession 10
the independent party Of the State, ana sncn one ~
the gentleman from Erie Albereer) He then proceeded
10 pass In review the history OF the State aud the pro
eress made In behalf OF the OF the people, but
he said be was pleased that while the State was
making progress the public mind was returning 10 i"e"s
and systems OF the past, which were pure ana
valuable lie characterized the present system
the worst possible IN existence IN 'hc
country He showed how the various oinclals IN
charge of canals each acting independent OF
the other always conflict TO the loss OF millions OF dol
lars TO the State IL was miserable management
and should be swept away without hesitauon bue ITO"
IL proposed TO change thisi The inancla minaBe
ment WAS by this amendment, TO be placed In the
hands OF one man. IL Is true, IL Is
great power to give " one man. But the
Governor would select n man competent 10 az
sumo IL, and would dare to take 1t but one
who could discharge the duties INCUMBENT upon hln'
He did believe there one particle OF danger IN
the proposition. He then turned TO the State prisons
and showed that here too tho same results wold DC
attained At present everything was done dsjointedy
whereas, by this amendment we would have IL all done
tremendously The power should be placed In the hands
OF one man. and when he does any thing wrong demand
Of him strict accountability Tits, be SAID the people
demanded and should have.
Mr.. WEED said he was ready to recognize the VIII oi
people as the VIII OF God. But there were times Wheh
this viii from people excited and unit 10 ex'
press It, he did not feel himself Obliged to give IL
that heed which under other circumstances he would
therefore this House against tho idea ex-
pressed here yesterday action mere form.
He felt t dnty here 70 exercise his judg-
nent, above party. We have before the organic
law OF the State, and IL behooved to act with
elaboration. We arc asked to return TO our
olden time system. The power which In years
past wo could connde 10 men, perhaps cannot
noyyh a mfr ed 10 e
honest men now as we formerly had. II So then go
must educate men in honesty that Is our first duty
that the fact As TO the who made these amend
ment he said they not the men who would be ex
pected represent the people OF the State 10 Gil cases
3d. In the preceding Convention though composed OF
the best talent of the State the people were nos repre-
sented. They not of the people. and OF course
could not represent the people, TO the canal clause
he said he would go the root OF this amend
ment. 1t provides for appointing the nead Oh
that department. and that was In dlrect
violation OF the spirit Of our system OF government
This what he objected to. We could reach the Same
desired result referred by the gentlemen from Erie
and Onondaga by having this official elected by the
people, This whole amendment he sad stood upon the
question of whether the official should be appointed or
elected. He looked at the proposition ss step back
ward toward limited monarchy. The people had noI
this departure He then referred to the action
OF the Convention OF 1861 20 show that his position was
he characterized il as the worst feature OF
all. The Governor should have careful adviser
in the Attorney General but with this amendment you
WILL have mere mnion OF the Governor-you will not
have man. the equal OF the Governor, securing his
power from the source who can say TO the Gov
ernor You should not do so and SOD And do the Deo
pie want thisf Not at all. They will not hayeis In
conclusion he said he felt to be his duty to say this
much at this time as, owing TO the importance Of tho
tIarat IN he
We are at work on the organic law Of the State the
great charter Of the peoples rights and We must SO act
as will best subserve the peoples rights and interests
Mr. DAVIS as length showed the operations OF the
present canal system. He was convinced II was all
wrong nd was Of losses TO the State amount
ing millions Of dollars The Consultation Of 1876 hadput
the In the charge Of three different and distinct
departments; but he deied any to follow up aud
trace anything wrong for which single one OF these
departments can be held responsible. Was this
business-likef he asked And II not busnessilKe,
is 10 right and proper, especially when
such vast interests involved He also review the
manner in which contracts are awarded and showed
how those having insight into the practices OF the
Engineers Department secured contracts by putting In
"bogus bids" on certain portions Of the work and
travagant ones others-one bid largely making up
deficiencies in others 1t swndle; but what could
be donei Tho honest bidders know this business is
gross swindle; but what they dol Good, honest
men are deprived of work. and the State Is robbed an
nually Of hundreds OF thousands OF dollars.
c. g. SPENCER gave the gentleman from Washington
Dayis credit for being well informed in the matters he
had spoken Of. He was business man, but what, he
asked had what he had said to do with the great princ
pic underlying this atclci This article provided Tor
taking from the people their rights and privileges aud
this he was opposed He called upon the House to
vote IL down.
Mr. FARRAR also spoke at length in opposition to the
49, 10 nrnn ri
belonged to the people.
Mr.. PRINCE then withdrew his motion TO recommt
the bill to the Judiciary Committee, made yesterday
Mr.. LINCOLN moved that a further consideration OF
the resolution be postponed until Monday next at noon,
and that the final vote be then taken without debate
Carried.
The bin amending the act relative to the appointment
OF Clerks of the Courts Record coming up for hua
passage when 1Mr. Coughhn's name was caiied' no
ataed that this bill proposed to make radical change
in the mode OF appointing the Clerks OF tho District
Courts taking the power from the judges ana givngH
" Messrs. PRINCE and g. SPENCER explained that the
bill had been amended. -
Mr. se the oil sna
hsn changed vote from the negative 70 the airma-
The Ass % to
make an appropriation Of 100000 for the purpose OF
dressing granite for the new CAPITOL was received anu
unanimously agreed TO.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
BY Mr.. BERRI-To relieve women from taxation
By Mr. COLAHAN-ro abolish Imprisonment for con-
tempt.
BY Mr. DEAyE-Authorzing the Hudson Tunnel Com
pspy to construct portion Of Its road under ground In
Sew-York. -.
BY g. W. sPEScsR-To oblige hotel Keepers TO provide
dr.-escapes for their premises.
By MI MURRAY-Authorizng the New-York Ware.
house and Bulkhead Railway Company to erect ware
houses piers In the City Of SewYork and construct
. railway to and from the same on or near the ouix-
head line. Tho same bill was up last year.
BY Mr. Observation-Disclosures the construction OF
railroad the City Of Brooklyn aud kings county 10