The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-02


paper regard Nth amazenem ana anxiety, ana,
IN my Judgment, such an issue tcoud be a det,I-
Uae1n and q shdnle.-CHARLEs SUMNER
ALBANY, April /, 1875.
An amendment to the Supply bill, giving DR..
Swinburne 800, 900 for the services of q steamer
while Health Onicer OF Quarantine, was passed
last evening by vote OF so to 80. This was done
In O hurry and while many members were absent
Those who returned after the vote was taken took
particular pains 20 have themselves recorded in
the negative To-day a motion was made by Mr..
Badger to recommt the Supply bill to the Com
mtttee OF Ways and Means, with instructions to
strike out the appropriation to Swinburne passed
last evening" On this motion long and curious
debate followed showing clearly that the minds OF
those who voted for the claim were Ill at ease and
that Swinburne's little bill was not 80 fair and
honest as the wondrously persuasive voice OF
Colonel Spencer made 1t appear. From
1854 to 1870, period OF six years, Dr.
Swinburne employed a steamer at Quaran-
tine, which, he alleges, cost him $4,000 q
year out of his own pocket The Health
Onicer has no salary, but his fees are reputed TO
be countless as the sands on the seashore and the
income OF the office equal to the revenue OF prtn-
cipality. The friends OF Swinburne commended that
he had as good right to the allowance or $4,000
year as tdTHOCHau or Dr. NanQerpOe, no
matter what might have been the amount OF his
fees. The foes OF Swinburne's claim insisted he
had no legal right whatever to demand compensa-
ton for the use OF steamboat which paid for ITSELF
and that, II he thought himself entitled to the
money, he would have come before the Legislature
at any time within these last four years. The de-
bate to-day showed that the champions OF SWIM
burne had suddenly grown weak in the knees and
1t seemed to strike them that the claim was more
OF an aiterthought on the part Of its originators
tnan steady conviction all along that the
State was DR.. Swinburne's debtor. Between
the two doctors-Swinburne and vanderpoel-
there Is alleged to exist very bitter feeling the
friends OF the former threatening that II the In
nuence OF the latter was thrown against the
passage OF the claim tnar the Quarantine ap-
preparations for the current year would be cut
down. Be that as 1t may, stories were dying
about to-day that while Swinburne scattered
around promises to pay among the members,
VanderpOel telegraphed his agent here to
ready cash to checkmare Swinburnes advantage
the Senate would have. inevitably, rejected the
claim. MIR. Badger, In moving to strike out the
claim. put the case clearly In SAYING
THE LAW IN THE CASE.
The law under which DR.. Swlnburne was APP
pointed expressly provided that the Health OfIlcer
and this formed part OF the contract between him
and the State. Since then change has been made
III
DR.. Swinburne In any respect. He referred to the
rumors which prevailed concerning DR.. SWIM
burne's administration At the time he was in office
that $50 was charged for hghterage fees wnen only
So was authorized. In other ways it has been
alleged and well understood that Dr.. SWIM
burne received immense amounts In the way OF
fees. II this were 40 he was compensated
this boat The claim that equity demands
this appropriation does not hold. Because o
change in the law tnaugurates different rule con-
M no ma q III n 10 ic M
reason why he should demand this sum. II 1t be
true Also tnat these exorbitant fees had been
asks equity. The chairman OF the Ways and Means
Committee had asked him what AMOUNT he had
s sssSS NJ IL soa ana sa ne had n ao an
that he had not been already fully compensated
before he receives this immense sum, for which no
Is payment OF $780, 900 for which the people OF the
State would receive no return whatever He
trusted that unless further facts were presented,
the House would vote TO strike out what seemed
to him an unreasonable claim.
Mr.. Batcheller said that 1t had been alleged that
other fees three times the amount he was entitled
to. and the burdens upon commerce were rendered
exceedingly onerous; so much so. indeed that the
Legislature was compelled TO step In and change
the administration OF the department..
Mr. Weed said there was no shadow OF Justice In
this claim. He did not understand even that DIR.
Swinburne claimed he had right to the amount
he asks He simply asks IL, because, as he alleges,
others have 1t. Since he had not asked Tor 1t
during the six years he was in ONCE he should not
ask for 1t now, He challenged any man TO bring
forward single argument IN its favor.
Mr.. Spencer said that DR.. Swinburne had run the
steamboat and spent his money upon 1t, and 1t was
plain that he should be reimbursed therefor. He
urged members to do right IN this matter, regard
less of the inslnuations which had been made. He
believed the claim right, and, Knowing that not a
dollar OF 1t would be paid until the Comptroller
had passed upon he thought that In the interests
OF justice 1t should be retained IN the bill.
Mr. Beebe said Or. Swinburne took his Office with
q distinct knowledge as to the perquisies OF this
steamboat
any such compensation. 1t Is the Congressional
back pay question over again, and ne was Of
this Appropriation we should evoke q similar
storm OF Indignation upon our action.
Mr. Lincoln said he had endeavored to ascertain
the facts concerning this claim. DIR. Swinburne
mad been before the Ways and Means Committee
no n saa y Il oe
because he thought 1t would be so shown in the
course OF the bill through the senate.
1t was near three O'Clock before the vote was
TAKEN and the result was the motion to recommit
and strike out was carried by los to s.
further motion TO strike $500, 600 from
THE CAPITOL APPROPRIATION
was made BY Mr. Prince and was pending when
the House adjourned.
Mayor Hunter, J. W. Kingsley, William Marshall
and other prominent citizens OF Brooklyn are here
lot the .ne M Ease
Bridge directorate. The Mayor and his friends
are In favor OF the bill, but they propose some
amendments with view 70 reconcile the conflict
ing claims OF the two cities and the stockhod-
ers. These several gentlemen made arguments
before the Senate Committee on Cities, and the
deliberations OF the latter must afterwards decide
by whose money the bridge shall be completed
New York should have something 10 say on TINS
question.
HUMBUG RAILROAD BILLS.
One Of the usual humbug railroad bills was up
for discussion in the Senate to-day and had Sc
we're handling. IL Is called Dan Conovers blu
and 1t authorizes the construction OF 9 ranla.way
from the foot OF Chambers street, North RIVER,
through certain streets IN the city OF New IoIk 10
the ferry at foot OF James slip and Roosevelt
street. ....
Mr.. Gross moved to strike out the incorporators
named IN the bill. He had looked IN the new YORK
Directory, and for the most part couid NOT nnd
their names in that work. me parues named
who inIest the senate chamber, the cloak rooms
and other anterooms OF the Capitol TO the annoy