The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-16
The Session and Its Work
Yet Tagging.
The Work the Committees Can DO and
How They Can Do It.
The Constitutional Amendments
and that Fifth Article.

nixeA by the 1actlt 1s but lar TO presume that IN
day or two both houses win begin the business OF
the session downright earnest not, indeed, that
during the past few days nothing OF mo-
ment has been done for the Senate has
ALREADY waded through the constitutional
amendments and two bills have been actually
passed by both houses. Still the real hard drudgery
OF the session has not yet commenced, and. OF
course, the real beginning depends in great part
upon the committees doing their work promptly.
1t Is an old habit Of some Of the prominent com.
mittees to allow large number OF bills to accu-
mulate upon their hands before reporting upon
them favOrably or otherwise, and whenever they
are called upon to exert themselves In any special
direction the excuse Is given that they are over
whelmed with business. The excuse Is nine times
out OF ten very lame one, and in many instances
1t is only made 20 cover up some nice little scheme
which some one of the members of the committee
1s anxious shall not be reported upon one way or
the other until
CERTAIN LITTLE BARGAINS
of his own have been satisfactorily arranged with
gentlemen who know how to stine report in
duce one to come out into open day at any time
they desire. Just in this connection l may
add that one OF the very men who Is
just now going about complaining bitterly that he
was not made chairman OF o certain committee
'.sat upon" to use the lobby slang a bill in his
committee last year till the Legislature adjourned,
much, no doubt, to the relief of large number Of
slippery customers in New York city, who would
have been rather sternly dealt with had the bill
become a law. Sitting upon bills, therefore, it Is
to be hoped will be more observed in
the breach than in the observance this
session, and If each member of the com.
mittee just appointed makes up his mind
to report promptly after due examination, on
every bill referred to the committee OF which he is
SmemDer, no matter what outside pressure may
great step will be made toward
MAKING THE SESSION SHORT ONE
The Speaker has done his part in making up the
sion viii be q brief one, so far az he can make 1t
co. but alone and unaided his promise cannot be
make every exertioH in in their power also It" to
hurry things along. Again. the members OF the
Ways and Means Committee, who are all good,
have to do and how they ought to do 1t If they wish
e 90 it well, win in a great measure, from
KIM ~ BE- do ad prSvas
to make aR, the he. appropriations, and If they
was neve! expected, and, indeed, DI never
way Of the regular appropriations, or to take any
action until late In the session upon the ways apd
means they have 10 look into thoroughly before
they come before the House, they viii be
DOING THE STATE AN IMMENSE SERVICE.
They can Just as easily within the next two
mittee oil last year did in two months by departing
from the Only daily way OF doing business That has
Il RUE not to let BUSINESS n accamu ns
ON their hands until they are scarcely able to know
what ought to be done or what ought to be left un
done. General Batcheller, the chairman Is man
Of rare executive ability, and IL possessed OF q
keenness OF discrimination IN dealing with egisa-
and his colleagues who themselves, l believe Will
support him strongly IN every attempt he may make
toward nnrryng along the general business, so far
NJ his committee Is concerned. IT. then, the COM
mittees all do their duty faithfully and the long
takers OF the House can be taught few lessons as
TO the necessity OF using as few words possible
IN explaining what they mean about every measure
that comes before the House for its action, and in
saying nothing at all about matters they know
nothing about, which will probably certainly be as
ton to one in proportion to what they will know
anything about Mr.. Husted's idea OF a session Of
100 days only may be happily realized. And tor
such contamination doubtless the peop.e OF the
whole Sta:e will heartily say $50 mote it be-"
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
The House had quite lively debate over the
constitutional amendments to-day In Committee
ordered to third reading, but it is believed thai
when the entire batch comes before the House the
amendments to the fifth. article will be de.
mind that these amendments were ~ passed ,ss
by the last Legislature. and must be
go before the people. There seems to be con
siderable difference OF opinion as to the power OF
TINS legislature In passing separately on the
article win raise storm, ~ it takes away from
the people the power OF eecting several Of the
readers OF the HERALD idea of the Importance
oil this commonly called fifth amendment l
herewith append 1t In full 1t reads as Iolows:-
sEcrlos 1.-The Comptroller and Secretary State shall
% chosen at the same election and the same
sr% 9, as the The holding the offices
nSs e hold the same until the list day next
:Ss, salary liked By law 'i iSr sn s
which have ess S Issd beyond inc term for
:fs
sa and
); rrsgn be
iufs or the Ssd faithful T as
charge Of his duties he shall have the
much swc now nov s.s,
agent aay: sSa w AND sn' 81
ssis pssSn sas s :Pp0n all
hs sns aeRsSy Shalt Fl as
hG Rs dns sos
By Of sse mad
and the time when such Superintendent sn Of
A ad Be- ana
% sye to the s
Of the charges against him. and opportunity to be
SIG A-The Treasurer shall be chosen by the Senate
and Assembly In JOINT ballot and hold his office three
and until his shall be chosen oua
ned lie shall! before entering upon the duties his OF
vs aG
the OF the legislature, ana until thirty days after
the commencement Of the next session OF the Legisla
turc whenever it shall appear to him that such Treas
shall appoints compe person to discharge the
duties Of the ohce during suspension Of the Treas
urer.
SEc. 6-The Lieutenant Governor Comptroller Sccrc-
tary OF state, Attorney General Treasurer and State En-
gncer and surveyor shall be the Commissioners of the
Land ONCE The ONCE Of the Commissioner Of the Canal
aOOt9ne0
fore hnd performed by the Commissioners of the Canal
und shall hereafter be had and performed by the Comp
uoller The Canal Board shall consist OF the Lieutenant
governor Secretary of state Treasurer Attorney Gen
Public Works.
sEc. ga superinten Of public works shall be ap
by the Governor, with the of the Senate
nG 10 hold his ONCE until the end OF the term of the
svveInor Dy whom he was nominated and until his
appointed He shall receive for mis- services
~ ~ 70 be nxed by law He shall be required