New-York tribune., 1874-01-28
ALBANY.
AFFAIRS AT THE STATE CAPITAL

hEHfS BY TIE sENATE-rHR MADDEN-ABBoTT
Gaze - QUARANTINE QUESTIONS - fHE long
BLAND OYSTER oURsuoS-ALBhNY MOTIFS.
lFRoM THE REGULAR coRREsrosDEsT or THE TIIbusrJ
ALBANY Jan. T-The Canal Board will meet to-
morrow, when it is expected that most Of the ap-
pontments of Canal superntendents and Collectors,
for which there If such struggle every year, Will
be made. Mr. Ranes. Liberal Republican, holds the
balance of power in the Board, and great anxiety ~
manifested as to the course he viii take lhose
protesting to know his purposes say he Will
lay down for his guidance the JefeTsonian rule Of
honesty and capacity, and this being complied
with. he will distribute the appointments be-
tween the Democrats and Liberal Republicans.
His position in the last canvass does not put
him under any obligations to what called Reg
ular Republicans who not only tried to defeat him
at the polls but attempted to backen bis character
in connection with the dcfacation of one OF his
subordlinates Mr. Ranes holds to the principle OF
standing by his friends and fighting his enemies.
Attempts have been made by the Administration
Republicans to intimidate him into giving them a
share of the canal patronage by holding over his
head tho resolutions introduced by Mr. Bennett,
calling upon the Attorney General to begin q SUIT
against him for the recovery of the money stolen Dy
Phelps; aud last evening the resolutions were called
from the table with that view; but they got very
little support from the Assembly, aud were sent
10 tho Ways and Means Committee, where they are
likely to stay.
Tho Constitutional Amendments came up for
third reading in the Senate this morning, and were
all adopted with the exception of Section OF
Article LII, which was stricken out in committee
last week. Article V, giving the Governor the
power of appointing several State officials, now
elective was opposed by Senators Lord, Parmenter,
and johnson, aud most Of the Democrats voted to
strike it out but it was finally adopted by vote OF
10 to TO- the Republicans urging that there was
no harm in submitting it to the people, and II they
chose to vote it down, well and good.
The Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections
-Messrs Cole Tobey, and Bradley-made their
report to-day on the contested seat Gaze from the
Xth District. The majority report, signed by Cole
and Tobey, is in favor of giving Mr. Madden the
seat on the ground that the Supervisors OF Sullivan
County erred in throwing out the vote OF two dis
trcts which, If counted, would have elected
Madden. They choose not to go behind this palpabe
violation of law by the Supervisors, but decide that
Madden has o prima Jace title to the seat on the
record as soou as this error Is corrected.
II there are other questions to be decided
touching tho general conduct of the canvass
in that district they hold that they should be lnyes-
tipated hereafter provided Mr.. Abbott choose TO
contest but that Mr.. Madden should first be
accorded his seat on the case made out by the cor
rected returns. Mr.. Bradley Dem) presented
minority report in which he takes the ground tha'
the whole question as to who was actually eiecteu'
involving full inquiry into all the alleged lrauus
and irregularities of the canvass, Should De deter
mined by the Committee before Mr.. Abbott is
ousted from his seat. The reports were ordered
printed and Mr.. Cole stated that as soon as they
were on the tables of Senators he should move their
immediate consideration.
Senator Booth introduced bill to amend the
laws of 1871 80 as to increase the head money on
immigrants from 81 SO 10 81, and give the Commls-
sioners Of Emigration authority to employ agents
in the various counties of tho State at salaries not
exceeding $500 per annum. Mr.. Bennett introduced
a similar bill IN tho Assembly. The last report OF
the Commissioners Of Emigration states that they
have been unable to meet the expenses OF the bofa
since the head money was reduced ana asks
that it be put back to the old figure The
Governor also approves their request III us
annual message. similar bill was introduced
last wear and passed tho Assembly, but was KILLED
in the Senate through Influences brought to bear by
the ship owners of New-YOrk. The Assembly Com
mttee on Commerce and Navigation will hold
meeting on Thursday of this week, when those IN
terested IN the bill can be heard.
Tho Attorney General i'll answer to resolution
of the Assembly, sent in his opinion on the question
Connecticut shore, and the right of residents OF the
island to dig oysters within the jurisdiction of Con-
neeticut, He agrees with the opinion OF
the Deputy Attorney-General, Nr. Cadwalla-
der sent to tho Legislature last year. that
the boundary line between Long Island and Con-
necticut is the middle of the river, ana not az
low tide water mark on the Connecticut shore as
has been claimed but he gives II as his opinion
that Connecticut has no authority under the Con-
stitution Of tho United States to grant exclusive
rights to its own citizens in the business OF raising
or digging oysters in the waters Of the East River
I'm view of this opinion, Mr.. Prince will introduce
BILL or joint resolutions, authorizing the commence
meut of q suit in the United States Supreme Court
to test the questions involved.
Mr.. Spencer presented the petition OF Mr.. Haw,
r, and other citizens of the XXIst Assembly District
of New-York alleging frauds in the November cleo
ton by which H. w. Genet was returned from that
District, and claiming the seat for Mr. Haw. 1t is
the opnon of lawyers here that Mr.. Haw is too late
that even il an investigation should show that he
was legally elected in November, he could not now
claim the seat after having waived his rights and
allowed another election to be held in that District
without protest
Mr.. Alberger introduced Joint resolutions which
lie over under the rule empowering the Governor 10
appont five citizens of this State to act as Comm's-
slouers in the Centennial Exhibition without pay.
printed petition, which it is said is being largely
circulated was presented from citizens OF Washing
ton County asking for legislation which shall pre-
vent fire insurance companies from insuring, or the
insured from receiving, more than three-fourths OF
the value of the property lost by fire. The reasons
Qyep by the petitioners are that large proportion
of fires throughout the country are the WORK OF In
..nd;ar;ss and are the direct result Of over-insu