New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-24
ALBANY.
AFFAIRS AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

AFFAIRS AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
ACTION ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ANRDMKNTs-IEG-
IsiArION FOR NETWORK CITY-THK swINBURNE
ISLAND CONTROvERsY-ALBANYE NOTES.
IrRoh THE REGULAR coRREsrONDhsr OF THE TRIpUHEl
ALBANY, Jan. 23.-BOth Houses had up the COnsti-
tntiOnal amendments again to-day and the Senate
made final disposition Of the subject by ordering
all the amendments to third reading with the ex-
ception of Section of Article ILL.,. which strick-
en- ont by vote of % to q and also with the excep-
ton of the section of Article " giving to the Gov
ernor the power to appoint judges Of courts OF
record in cities of 100000 inhabitants and upward
Mr.. Lord lDem) opposed all the amendments IN
general. on political and other grounds, and found
fault with ex-Gov. Hoffman for calling the Consti-
tutonal Commission together, and for making it up
almost exclusively of lawyers. Mr.. Ganson tDem.l
the other hand. took non partisan view OF the
whole subject and was in favor of most of the pro-
posed amendments He deprecated craftsmanship in
a matter Of this kind, and believed that the polt-
clans road was getting to be q path filled with
brambes and thOrns and the delight OF wild asses"
In the Assembly the discussion confined to the
section Of Article ILL.,, all the other proposed
amendments except Article V. having been disposed
of several days ago. II was admitted by Mr. Prince,
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and by other
Republicans, that this section q mistake, and
ought to be corrected because if it adopted and
took the place of Section of Article Ill of the pres
ent Constitution it would prevent any redistricting
of the State into Senatorial districts until new
Constitution should be adopted But the question
whether the section could be stricken out with
ont endangering the whole article Mr.. Vedder,
Mr.. Beebe, Mr.. Weed, and Mr. Alberger believed 1t
could not, while Messrs Prince, Avord, and Batch
aIlor of fha IL
without taking a vote on the question
of striking out, the whole article was re-
ferred back to the y Judiciary Committee.
The Senate having set the precedent and stricken
out the section, the Assembly will doubtless do the
same and the legal question whether the whole arti-
Gle falls the ground will have to be settled by the
courts. The impression appears 10 be gaming
ground that the amendments have been 80 perplexed
by the action of the last Legislature and 80 many
legal and constitutional questions arc IN
yolved, that the people will vote them all down TO-
gether Mr.. Sherwood of Broome informed the
House to-day that it was of very little consequence
what action they took as the proposed amendment
paying members $l5 per day would kill the whole
thing with the people and defeat the amendments
by 100000 majority II they had been content to
take SC per day the people might have stood It, but
by grasping for Sl5 they had lost all chance, and
per diem.
The Senate bill authorizing Controller Green TO
issue bonds redeem other bonds falling due came
mp for concurrence in the Assembly, when Mr..
Spencer moved an amendment which was adopted.
giving the power 10 tho majority of the Board OF
Estimate and Apportionment to issue the bonds in
stead of to Mr.. Green alone Mr.. Days bill giving
| to the Common Council authority over work to be
done on the Mornineside Drive and Riverside Park,
passed the Assembly without opposition. COL Spen-
cer who opposed it yesterday having stated TO the
House that it had been agreed among the friends OF
the bill to let il go to the Senate when such amend
ments would be made wOnld be satisfactory to all
after consultation with the heads of departments in
New-York.
Mr.. Vedder introduced concurrent resolutions,
which lie over under the rule, recitng the fact that
the Health Officer of NewYork and the Quarantine
Commissioners had persistently and willfnlly ig
nored the action of the last Legislature naming the
new island in the lower bay Swinburne Island"
and continued to call the same Dix Island" in
their official communications and reports, and d.
recting the clerks Of the two Houses to send these
reports back, with directions that they be amended
within ten days by inserting "Swinburne Island
wherever Dix Island " occurs. This matter Of
Swinburne vs.. Dix or Dix VS.. Swinburne, has occa-
stoned considerable talk around the Legislature this
session and not little bitter comment the action
of the Health Officer, DIR. VanderpOel, who is
accused of having originated the whole quarrel
on account OF personal spite against his professional
brother, DR.. Swnburne. 1t was during Dr. Swim
burnes administration of the Office of Health Officer
that the island and hospital were built OF begun, and
he claims the credit OF originating the idea and de-
visng the plans until the work under fair
Roadway. From the first, the island was called by
his name and so continued to be called until DR..
Vanderpoel assumed the position of Health Officer,
when he undertook to change the name to Dix
Island and indnced the Quarantine Commission
to pass resolution giving it that name.
In order to settle the question, the Leg
islature last year passed concurrent 1850
luton naming the place Swinburne Island but, as
before stated the Health Officer and the Quarantine
Commission continue to disregard the action of the
Legislature and to contemn its authority by calling
it in their reports Dix Island. The Governor and
the Controller msled by these reports also give it
the name of Dix Island. the one in his message and
the other in his annual report Ii is not Of much
consequence to the mass of mankind whether the
name of Swinburne or Dix is borne down to poster
ity in connection with this little artificial island,
but Mr. Vedder thinks it of some Importance that
the authority of the Legislature should not be
tramped under foot to crafty the personal spite OF
an individual. especially when that individual gets
all the authority he possesses from the Legislature.
The Judiciary Committee of the Senate presented
reports on IS bills committed to them, ID of which
were reported adversely. Among the adverse re-
ports is the one the bill to modify the usury laws
no far as New-York City is concerned. by allowing
II per cent interest TO be collected when there Is
special contract for that sum between the borrower
| and lender. The Committee were unanimously OPP
hon ipf ha lawa mil hey