The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1876-04-12
Contracts and Expenditures in New York
City-Limitations Thereto.
THE POLICE BILL.
Canal Tolls-The Sheet Of 1875 Adopted
in the House.

day. however, bill turned up In very peculiar
way. In Its original form II consisted OF but
one section, which provided that canal boats occupy
ing bcrths next TO any pier wharf or bulkhcad in New
York Brooklyn whilo receiving or dischargng
cargo should be charged cents per day.
"in all other cascs'' any cents day As reported by
tho Subcommittee Of the Whole it contained the iol-
lowing additional section:
srcroS 2Evcry vessel regularly and daily employ cd in
the Of passengers the city OF New
York place places the naror Of New York out
landing % any pier wharf buxhcad At such
hours fifty cents
Mr.. Foster, OF Wcstchestcr detected this important
change in tho BILL and his motion It referred to
the Committee of the Whole Since thcn il has never
been called up till this morning, when the Clerk read
its title among tho bills for u third reading
and was ready TO record the final its passage
when Mr.. Foster asked how II that the bill en-
crossed Neither the Speaker Clerk could OK
plain, and Il was taken for granted that the bill had
boon engrosscd by mistake. Undoubtedly this was
true, but this little incident only goes show how
necessary it is for lawmakers keep their eyes
wide open at this stage OF the session.
GREEN IN SENATE
The bill to give the appointment OF a successor to
Comptroller Green, whose term expires November 20
Of this year, to the next Mayor OF New York was
brought NY in the Senate to-day Mr.. Jacobs moved
that u be rccommited 10 tho Committee Cities,
he understood 1t had not received the approval OF
majority Of tho committee. II had not been voted
~ him. as ns.cs the opportunity was denied him
mttce. had agreed to assemble he found
they had settled tho question and adjourned
What he wanted to know was 4 majority o: the
committee had voted IN favor OF tho bill Mr.. Woodln,
who has taken charge OF the since il was de-
serted by Mr. Booth. said the bill was before the CON-
mittee In the usual way, and he supposed imma-
teria whether the whole committee had voted II
not
Mr.. srARBucK-But won't this appointment Of
Comptroller Tor five years by the new Mayor extend
into another Mayors term?
Mr.. wooplS-lt Will. and that, perhaps, is reason
why we shall have TO amend II. believe in tho prin-
cpe OF having the terms Of all the officers Of tho city
government expire ut the same time with the Mayors.
Mr.. Schoonmaker expressed the opinion that tho
Legislature had power to do any hing OF the kind
proposed in the b and Mr.. Starbuck doubted II tho
judiciary Committee would ever have made favor
able report upon it. Even II IL passed the Legislature
the courts could arrest IT, and prevent the attempt to
give life status TO the Comptroller IN the government
VI the city.
MIR. woodin thought tho Senators were aboring
under dclusion in regard to the bill. They had
sumed that IL was an extension OF term and arguing
from that premise. they were, perhaps. right. 1t
not an extension bu. simply provision 10 give the
next Mayor Of New York, altor his election IN
November power to appoint Mr. Jacobs motion to e.
commit TO the Committee on Cities hero put and
beaten by vote OF to IL and subsequent motion
commit to the Committee Judiciary also lost by
9tol3 II was then agreed to mako the bill special
order for the evening.
When the Senate rcassembcd in the evening the bill
being agan under discussion, Mr.. Sch0on maker said
that after reflection he had concluded that the
measure contemplated was clearly constitutional
Mr. Woodin replied that little reflection and read
ing authorities his had convinced HIM that his
own position stronger than he had made IL before
He quoted from decision OF Judge Sclden's TO show
that the power appoint Is egs latvc authority and
1t Is competent for the Legislature to destroy
an enactment providing for tho manner OF filing cor
tain Offices.
Mr. starbuck held that this was an i'll disguised at-
tempt at mischcvous interference in the affairs OF
New York city. and Ito Legislature had no right TO
take away the power OF appoin,m from the Mayor.
Mr.. Harris pointed out that the Senator from tho
Twenty nth (woodin) trying do indirectly what
the constitution forbids them 10 do directly. The
principle was dam sruus
Mr. Gerard did not see the necessity Of making all
this fuss in behalf OF Comptroller Green. There
lew honest and able mon in New York city beside
him.
Mr.. jacobs said that the republican party we're dI.
vided as to the proprciy of tho bill when IL
committee, and from all he could about the way
things worked no thought those democrats who had
concluded TO help republicans TO carry the bargain
were very badly swindlcd. He (Mr. Jacobs) OPP
posed to the bill on principle, and not from any per-
sonal motive.
Mr. Morrisscy said that II nc thought the bill con.
templatcd extending Mr. Green's office one day he
would vote for Il, but the people all desired that
when they elect a Mayor next ial he shall have the
power TO appoint new Comptroller. Hc might as
well be plain, ard he would declare that hc did not
propose to give the power 10 Taminany Hall to appoint
these officers. Knowing Green 10 be IN honest man,
and the choice lying between wickham and Green, no
Mr.. Rogers followed in support OF the bill and a
vote was then taken on schooamaker's motion, which
lost. The committee rose ana recommended the
passage Of tho bill to tho senate
IMPORTANT
The bill relating to the local government OF New
York city, which was long ago introduced by Senator
Woodin. extensively amended in the Committee GU
Cities. aud again amended to-day in COMMITTEES OF the
whole, was ordered TO y third reading The main pur-
pose OF The bill Is to amend the system
OF contracts and expenditures by the depart
m n's OF the city government u Is partly the work
OF Comptroller Green and the result OF his long expert
cnce OF the workings OF the departments The fourth
section, relative to improvements, Is amended 50 as TO
require the petition for street improvements to be
male by the owners OF IL least ono fourth or front
icet OF the property TO be improved Tho nth section
is amended 50 as to provide that no, no con,
the city BY the proper authorities shah
amended so as to enable eurccs for contractors who
have iaiied 10 carry out their contracts to protect
themselves cy completing the work according to tho
original The twentieth section amended
as Ia provide that no motion to vacate assessment
shall be mndc four month after such assessment shall
have been confirmed The amendment also provides
that halt the cost o. improvements streets $50
feet wide shall be borne BY the city. Section 26
devotin- the moneys collected by the Excise Board
to the Department OF Charities and Correction Is stricken
out Section -. which is new. provides that claim
not payable rom proceeds Of bonds sha, hereafter
form charge against the city, " the be
OF tn annual appropriation therefor, and judgment
OF jury shalt bc Obtained for any sum when no APP
preparation exists 10 pay the liability Section - ~
siso new, and provides that no action shall BE- main
taincd against the city unless tho claim shall be
presented in writing 10 the Comptroller nor until
thirty days shall elapsed alter such presentation
Section - provides substantially that against
the city shall before referee except for the purpose
OF taxing testimony In particular THIS section
docs not affect pending Section 80 provides
that section . chapter $40 OF the Laws ~ 1900 shall
not apply 10 cases IN which clam is made for more
than 500 and IN which less than $50 Is recovered.
Section 81 provides that all balances OF uncxpcndod APP
preparations shnll be made subject 10 the order of
tho Comptroller Section u OF the bill re.
ported provides that whenever the proceeds OF
the sinking Fund shall be than enough for the
interest The entire debt the surplus shall devoted
10 reducing TAXATION. The amendments the substance
OF which i here given, will all DO printed with tho
original bill
The Assembly Committee Cities this evening re-
ported avorabIy the Police b Introduced by Mr.. Pea
body. The committee have amended the bill In sevc-
raj particulars Ono amendment they have inserted
provides that the provision relative TO the grading OF
the force shall not apply 10 patroImcn now on the force
The commitiee have down the salaries Fixed IN the
bill as foIlows:-Supernendcnt OF Detectives,
from $4,000 per annum 10 $1,000; nspcc-
tors, from $1,000 10 $780, surgeons, from ~, 800
10 81 ECO The saiarics of the patromcn Of the rst
grnde be- Al OF 81 LOO Of the ancond