The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-02-13
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Discussion of the Constitu-
tionaI Amendments. :
SPECIAL LEGISLATION AGAIN.
Bill to Exempt. Women
from Taxation
CIVIL IMPRISONMENT BILL.

ALBANY. Feb. u, 1874.
Governor Honman, during hin term, appointed
1hirtytwo commissioners to draw up q series OF
amendments TO the State constitution, which,
under the provisions OF the constitution, were to
be submitted TO two terms OF the Legislature and
finally given to the people to vote upon. They
passed the last Legislature, and have already
exercised the wisdom OF this one to some extent.
Two Of them were laid aside from the last day OF
debate IN the Assembly. One was recommlt-
ted 70 the Judiciary Committee, owing to a
clerical error relative to the exemption from
sale by the State OF the Oswego Canal,
the Champain, the Black River and the Cayuga
and Seneca; and the other, giving power to the
Governor to appoint the Attorney General, state
Engineer and Surveyor, superintendent OF State
Prisons and superintendent oil Public Works, with
the consent OF the Senate, occupied considerable
time In the Assembly.
As the government OF the State STANDS at the
moment the Governor is a fgurehead merely.
and though his veto is a weapon OF some
potency, yet, OF later years, measure backed
by q powerful lobby inds way OF being lifted
over the veto as though it never existed. From
the lobby point OF view the veto Is looked upon
simply as q nuisance, not as An msuperabie OBJ
struction TO the passage of bill. 1t involves
greater expenditure OF money and that is 'al."
Mr.. Alvord, who Is king pin oil the Assembly,
ana has been variousy dubbed from time
to time, 'rhe Onondaga GIANT" "Old
Salt" DC, made a reasonable plea for
granting additional power to the Executive
head OF the State. The other sections OF the
amendment, that the Treasurer shall be chosen by
the Senate and Assembly on joint ballot, to hold
his office for three years; that the Lieutenant
Governor, Comptroller, Secretary OF state, At
torney General Treasurer and State Engineer
snail be the Commissioners OF the Land
once, and that the office OF Canal Com
missioner be abolished, were severally treated
and urged by the member from Onondaga
as proper and much needed amendments.
1t was commended by Mr.. Spencer that the amend
ment threw too much power into the hands OF one
man, and the section creating superintendent of
Public Works was declared especially objection.
able and as giving a chance to bring into existence
ANOTHER CHARACTER AS BOSS TWEED,
for the superintendent could hold his office forever
there provision In the section for the length
Of his term OF Office or the manner OF his removal
1essrs Weed Bostwick and Prince took part in
the debate, and finally the discussion went over till
tomorrow. The likelihood the amendment will
pass as 1t stands.
The people will hardly object to that which in
creases the pay OF members Of the Legislature. So
long as members are allowed only So day the
devil will be around With all manner OF tempta-
tions and tue people themselves with be to
blame for sending their representatives here on
starvation prices. Pay the legislator at least
enough to reimburse him for his expenses, and ne
will have less motive to justify him in seeking TO
clutch the gold OF the lobby.
BLARNEY FOR THE wORKINGMAN.
the Senate Is Just as much given to airing its
eloquencc the Assembly. A resolution offered
to pass an appropriation Of 500, 600 some time
in The session, so as to permit the work on
the Capitol building to proceed made an excellent
opening 10 reach the susceptibhties OF the work.
ingmen, and every Senator who Is professional
talker avsiled himself OF it and got placed on rec
ord as 1.-THE friend" Of the workingman, and, Of
course. the resolution passed.
THE CANALS.
You know very little OF the canals and the Canal
Board in New YORK city, and, In truth. the greater
part Of the state Is in almost the same Dlisslul
hands the canals have been rom the day OF their
inception have hedged in their operations SO Sc
curely that up TO this time nobody has been able
to penetrate the mystery OF their management.
The canals have been an enormous scandal rom
the beginning, and they have yielded an incacula-
Bile revenue to the thieves VINO took them in
charge. The people Of the state have been robbed.
right and lett to carry them on; and, perhaps,
one OF the worst amendments to the constitution,
IN the series which alter while Will be sub
mitted TO the people. is that which pro
highest bidder. To-day there a long discus
sion in the Senate over concurrent resolution
called from the table and recommending the Canal
Board to accept the toll list OF 1873 for the present
year. 1t proposes a reduction from the scale OF
the mnds OF that the
might seriously Diminish the revenue and render
these aqueous highways Improbable to their man
ayers. The resolution was finally laid over.
IMPRISONMENT IN CIVIL CASES.
Mr.. Colahan, of Kings, introduced an important
authorizing arrest and bail or imprisonment as q
provisional remedy IN civil actions. Its operation,
causes already entered on or accruing within six
months from It's passage. Another feature OF the
S that nv Cd the bos s
a right OF appeal within ten days for the
revision OF facts, either by the Judge who sem
would have right TO annul the remainder OF his
sentence and the latter to inquire nGo Its merits.
II the imprisonment Is the alternative OF nom
payment OF fine the prisoner has a right, within
twenty-our hours, 10 calm an examination on
oath as to whether he Is possessed OF sufficient
property 10 meet the fine.
woMEN'S GAME.
Mr.. Berri OF Kings, whose heart has yielded TO
the tender pressure OF the wOmens rights women,
introduced bill to-day In the Assembly exempt
ing from taxation all the real ana personal prop
become residents of this state. The implied con-
diti0ns for stavlng or this threatened deduction
representation, and, OF course, OF suffrage. to the
women. This dire alternative was presented by
the women short time ago before the judiciary
THE CENTENNIAL COMMISSIONERS
win have to go to Philadelphia with their pocket
books lined with their greenbacks They are
at liberty TO use their railroad passes, but hotel
bills drinks, &c, must not on such patriotic
occasion be charged to the State Treasury. The
Senate to-day decided 80, and agreed to the reso-
luton passed yesterday by the Assembly,
SPECIAL LEGISLATION AGAIN.
special legislation has been the bane OF this
State, and though the amendment to article 3 Of
the constitution has been passed already twice
by both houses, forbidding the passage OF any
private or local bills, yet this morning we were
again favored by MI Beebe, OF sullivan county,
with an argument in favor OF q charter for a
private institution which dies directly In the face
OF the amendment already agreed TO. general
law can be found TO cover al these applications
Tor special legislative favors, and should Mr. Beebe
succeed In his measure the door Will be thrown
wide open again for the admission OF other bills OF
q Ike Character.
GASEOUS ELooUENCE.
Jnere ts great deal OF time consumed to no
purpose oy discussions subjects which are Of no
intrinsic consequence Members will insist on |
airing thelr mnshy rhetoric, and the quantity Of |
latent oratory In the Assembly must be great, for
AT every opportunity II bursts forth ike the lib
Grated waters OF a mlldam. The Younger mem |
oers, who have come here for the nrst time, APP /
pear 70 CONSIDER tne Assembly sort OF debating
school, where they may practise the praces OF ora,
tory for higher fields OF displav