The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-01-21
THE FIRST TILT IN ALBANY.
a SHARP sKIRNISH ~ THE SENATE
OYER the CRAY NUNS ACT


from jefferson county, as the prospective leader |
Of the Democratic side of the Senate In poti- |
cal debate, and one likely to become a formida-
BILE antagonist to woodin, who has so long led
the Republican majority. The debate was
opened by woodln on his bill, introduced at the
beginning Of the session, to repeal tho act OF
last session authorizing the Superintendent of
Instruction. I'm his discretion, to grant teachers
certificates to graduates OF the Gray Nuns SEMI
nary. or any OF ts branches, their nllnR in his
office d duplicate Oft their diplomas such grad
uatcs Alr. Woodin took issue direct with the
| Governor on his assertion in the annual message
that this act was repealed by a subsequent act OF
the session, which forbade the Superintendent to
grant certificates without an examination. lie
cited several authorities to show that subse-
/ qucnt act upon a different subject did not affect
| the rights granted by the provisions Of pre-
vious act, unless II contained special repe ilng
clause. II the Governor was sincere IN his be-
| lief that the act was repealed. Woodin urged
| tnat 1t was gratuitous piece Of impertinence
| for him u make any reference to II In hts mes
! sage. and lie argued that the manifest object OF
sion. and induce tho Senate to take no action
on the subject, and thus leave the Gray Nuns TO
| the enjoyment of their special privileges uhder
the act. lie expresses his belief that that act
| originated with persons who hnd not been
brought to light, and that II was craity laid plot
To initiate the Drst inroad upon the unscctafian
| character of our common school system. lle
attributed the facility with which II passed
|
| attention of any member of either House to It's
real character, to trickcry and design.
MIR. sELKREG's EXPLANATIoN.
Mr. Selkreg. as n member Of the committee
which reported It last year, asked leave to eN-
plain what he knew about IT. aud IN so doing
knocked In the head Woodin's plea that It
ton Of members. lie said the bill as originally
introduced N tde It mandatory Instead Of discre-
uonary with the superintendent OF distraction
to grant the certificates to the Gray Nuns pupils,
and thtt he insisted upon an amendment before
.sftft 81 O..
MIR Siar0uck followed in long and carefully
prepared speech, mainly devoted To fidtculing
Nuns act, and the cunning effort Of the Repub-
lcan party to make capital out Of II. lie save
duccd by a Republican senator, reported 10y a
Republican committee, and voted for by every
a Republican performance from beginning to
end, and lie, a. Democrat, had no part or
lug hand to his Republican brethren to get
them out Of the fix they had got them
selves into, and with this view should vote
for the repeal, although he considered IL
entirely unnecessary. lie agreed with the Gov
einor, that the bill never gave the Gray Nuns
any exclusive privilege and u II dld IL was sll-
perceded and repealed by the subsequent act
il was doubly dead and totally imperative from
the beginning. The senator rdiculed ilr very
humorous and effective way the trepidition that
existed in the Republican party, aud their ner-
yous watchtdlness lest the pious sisters upon
the -. Lawrence river, who run this Gray Nuns
seminary. should swoop down like wolves upOn
the fold. ard denoiish our irse school system
and destroy their liberties. lie spoke OF the
tremendous
can party. led on by President Grant, senator
Cnnk ing, and Speaker Blaine and backed by
sectarnn hate ana fanatcism. In conclusion no
SAID he should cast his vote Tor the repeali ana
, hoped his democratic cole ,snes would DO the
J same, an thus relieve tneir tsphblcan brethreh
from the terri Die mess they had got themselves
; into 10y their bunGerng aud careless legislation
. MIR Woodin replied that many liberal minded
Catholics had asked for its repeal and expressed
regret tuat II had passed as II gave occasion Tor
attacks upon the Catholic Church.
$ MIR. Jacobs then moved to progress the bill,
\ which was carried,anl Will probably be up again
! tomorrow. After the close Of the discussion,
Q senator Starbuck was surrounded by Democratic
Senators. who congtat ulated hin on ms success
In hts nrst tilt with the Republican premier VI
But the end Ia not yet. Senator Jacobs has
prepared a long speech. and the takers on both
SIDES viii have their say before the bi IS hnallS
disposed OF, each doing ms leyel best 70 make
I capital for his party out ot II. senator Woodn $
:. blood Is up, aud as he i prVyeroialy agood
l. fighter, he viii undoubtedly be heard from again
G IN answer To Mr.. Starbuck.
i In the Assembly similar bill was up in Com
. mittee Of the Whole, aud after an hours Discus
j. | SION was ordered TO third reading with not
, more than hall a dozen dissenting votes.
I UTILIZING CONVICT LABOR.
= MIR. Fish's bill for the employment Of convict
a ana pauper labor gave Iiso 10 long discussion,
q the principal opponent OF II being, STRANGELY
! plain that the Tammany and anti lammany
= | braves, who have been bidding for the labor
; Vote IN New ~ M "v,1 t os m1" is,
d city. Mr.. Fish Of Putnam and Mr.. Bureich of
IS Washington were the principal advocates Of the
e bin. ON motion OF Mr. Worth, 1t was amended
a So as to apply 20 Kings county and at tne re-
Y as to provide that all such convicts and paupers
e sh II lie employed In the institutions where they
= are confined. In this form It was ordered 20 q
r third reading The Dill makes 1t the duty Of the
= Commissioners OF Charities and Correction In
a the counties OF New York and Kings to furnish
mechanical OF other employment tor every able
| bodied convict and pauper confined In the seVe
raj institutions under their charge where II l:
not possible TO employ them prontablv in doing
l- the work Of the department, or manula turlnL
articles for the various puolc institutions, tht
, Commissioners may contract such conYicts and
paupers to the test advantage that VIII keet
T. convicts constantly endowed ana yeld th'
ie most revenue. When they cannot be employed
IN by contract or otherwise u advantage, the Com
'u mssoncrs are authorized TO iurnlsh mate
rIals, tools ana implements 10 enable these con.
A. yicts and paupers to be employed at somi
Il direcled 10 appoint as keepers persons VINO are
n qualified to teach them such trades as may "
D! Mr. Bergh's bill to prohibit the throwing
s of nails and glass into streets, and the salt
m ing of tracks, having been amended so as 70 b
ID .ssmby 70 aTain today. Mr. Gerry felt cerai
le that this must remove all objections, out he wa
IN mistaken. A sudden solicitude Tor the poo
n. railroad companies was manifested In pleading
at for salt, and the bill was amended 50 as 10 allo'
he the using of salt at switches, curves, ahu cross
ings, and In that shape was ordered To lhlTi
a THE MASQUERADE ACT SIGNED.
Mr. Killian's bill, amending the Masquerad
law was sent to the Govcrnor' ana imInedialel
received his signature. Tho hli was amended
so as To make IL applicable 10 the entire state
ri in the counties of Now York and Kings the 20
lice authori,i les TO have control OF such balls
i, and the proper local authorities In the othe
'S counties. -, -.
~. MIR Higgins Of Kings, the Chairman OF th
by State Prison Committee, wishes II undeIstoo
he that II there Is to be any Junketing by his com
~, | mittee previous TO an investigations the stat
~ Will not be called upon TO pay Tor IT, me III
se | spectlon will be made to enable the commute
u to act understandingly. -,
IN The senate Committee on Privileges and EleC
* tions will require Col Cavanagh, contestant "a
.g Jaoobs's seat, to make the allegations In al
M | memorial more specific -
ge ue The Assembly COMMITTEE on Cities have agree
~ | to report favorably Suydam's bill TO repeal IN
'er Myrtle Avenue Improvement act which bafne
c2 | Slverman got through last year
10 Bills for an ending the brooklyn charter nav
IN been referred 10 the Kings county delegation
d" agree on some plan and report to the Commltte
Tonight the Senators and Assemblymen Al
dir enjoying the first Of the weekly hops IN the De
, van House. ,
he Senator woodin will tomorrow introduce
lch bill which aims to abolish the political power
Ter 1ammany Hall, by providing that no oorpot
wn ton or organization OF any KIND shall be PERM
'as ted to solicit or secure for any person ponuc
nd ONCE. The bill prohibits the levying Of polite
l. ulA AlaI "A