The New York herald., 1877-03-07
The STATE CAPITAL.
Senator MOrrisSey's Bill for Municipal
Reform in New York.
A DEBATE ABOUT STREET CLEANING
Republican Senators in Caucus as to
Appointments.
ALBANY. March 9, 1877.


AS usual. the question OF tho proper method Of
cleaning the streets OF New York up tor discus.
sion in The Legislature II has tnrs up annually
for many years past and tho OF New York
worse cleaned to-day than they were before, o.
rather, they are not cleaned at all, except by Prov
dence and couple OF aged scavepgers al o few
conspicuous crossings on Broadway.
II Reformcr Cowdin's bill to-day that started
the debate in Committee OF the Whole. This
bill leaves the control oi the street cleaning where m
in the hands OF the police, tut with the provision thas
tho cleaning be Let out to small contractors by police
precincts, aud that the individual policeman has
eye 10 SEQ that tho contractors do their WORK. IL
looks pretty plan, and has It's recommendations IN
ali respects except in so lar as allows the control Of
the bureau 10 remain in the Same hands that
have demonstrated one OF two thines-an uncommon
degree Of incflciency or OF corruption. Mr. Cowdin
advocated MS bill IN his customary clear aud forcible
manner Mr.. Mitcneil opposed II and In a very
est speech denounced tho present management OF tho
bureau as tho worst that ever dsgraced any city.
Most Of the streets had not been cleaned since last
october. snow, Ice aud mud mad boon allowed TO rc.
move themselves. Dirt reigned supreme, and the
health OF the people was Ia peril.
He quoted from editorial N tho HERALD to show
how the leading organ OF the metropolis viewed the
system Of street cleaning adm Mustered by police,
aud finally ended his speech by Introducing bii up
proved nuu recommended Dy tho Mayor Aud Comp.
roIIcr providing Tor an independent Street Cleaning
Department, with commissioner to DO appointed by
tue Myor aud responsible to the Mayor. and holding
Office duriu. and Tor tho same period oi time This,
the speaker hold would give tho citizens Of
having the street cleaning properly performed, ~ the
Commissioner would DO responsible 10 the Mayor aud
tho litter to the people. As II Is ut present there
nobody responsible and nobody knows who directs
the expenditures for street cleaning purposes Before
sitting aown Mr.. Mitchell read and handed In u long
list OF charges against the street cleaning men
COMPASS AND CHART REFORM
lFtldu uced ft.tlu
to be an outline or guide or The joint conmitteo by
which TO tramo measure Of general reform in the
government OF New York city IL Is sort Of skeleton
charter with many gap Lett TO be led In. IL would
appear Us II the author Of the bi after making himself
thoroughly acquainted with all the needs OF the city,
had sat down and dashed OIL q hasty sketch
OF ali the salient points OF tue subject his mind,
rally nigh. Some such bill. bet more complete, is
what We may expect from the joint committee When
II gives US The fruits OF It's labors
THE BILL
Tho following is clear synopsis OF the bill or plan
IL creates two bureaus In tue Department Of Public
Works. First-A bureau OF docks, ~ have sole
charge OF Tho construction. repair and Maintenance
VI all docks piers, Slips warvcs and bukhcads IN tho
city OF New York; but snail have power TO change
tho Exterior lines o piers and Duixhoads The second
Is bureau oi street cleaning, 10 hAvc al the
rights now possessed by and to perform all the
duties OF the existing Bureau OF Street Cleaning.
Tho cleaning may hereafter, In the discretion OF
the COMMISSION of Public Works. be performed un-
der one more contractors for period not exceed
ing Que year. Tho bill abolishes the Department Of
Docks aud transfers al papers and powers 10 the CON-
10 the renting and wharfage Of piers, &c, trans
erred TO tue Department OF Finance which shall here
to the Sin king und All leases Of wharscs n,e,s ana
buiEheads shall hereafter be mado At public letting
All The powers and duties OF The Department OF Public
Parks relative to streets, avenues and the laying
out, constructing and maintaining Of tho same are
Transferred % aud vested In tne Department OF Pub
iic Works The Departments OF Parks shall hereafter
consist OF md be unier control OF person. TO 10
called Commissioner OF Parks, to be appointed bv the
Mayor aud hold office three years at the annual salary
OF 000 and shall have charge Of the parks squares
and pubic places There Is created Ia The Fire De-
partncnt bureau Of buildings when shall have tho
inVs which department IL aboiisncd. The Fro
Department. Is reduced alter the expiration
person. TO DO called Commissioner OF tho Fire Depart
ment. The bil abollshcs the Board OF Commissioners
transfers their powers and duties to the Police De-
partment II vacancy occurs In the Office ot .
ber or commissioner ol any Board, winch Board or
department composed OF more than person,
1t shall not be filed, except such vacancy occurs
the oiico OF the last existing member or COM
missioner, when the same shall DO filled by the
Mayor without tho consent or other action ot tho
Board OF Aldermen, aud DO for the term OF the
Mayor. THIS will not apply TO cDIco members The
terms OF office oil all other meubers OF boaros COM
missioners, or heads OF departments composing any
board or depart ent shall emo ut the expiration Of III.
teen days alter the term OF o1icc OF AN incoming
Mayor, and the incoming Mayor she'll appoint thci4
successors without the consent OF tho Aldermen.
The SeDate passed resolution 10 hold evening
sions Tuesdays and Thursdays af'er this week. Tho
That between tho two much business should be dono
within the month.
REPORT or TIL. CHARTER COMMISSION.
The report of the Charter Commission, OF which
Winam NJ Evarts was President. was received before
adjournment
SENATOR sKLKRRa EXPLAINS.
Senator Selkreg says he astonsned at the arti-
Gle IN the HERALD stating that he introduced bill
which a stab ut rapid transit Hc introduced it,
he SAYS the request Of interested IN rapid
trausit, saying at the time that ho should
not hold himself responsible for its merits,
nd mt ~ mt atfsfv n mud
animation he would vote against it He frequently
Introduces bills that arc handed him by other people,
responsibility Tor them. la this instance,
however, he was satisfied tho bill ia.
It's VINO had every interest in making Il So
He thinks this bill may have been coniounded with one
OF Senator Wagstans which - directed against rapid
transit
In reference to the subject OF sonator Selkrcgs ex
planation might mention the tact that an exactly
similar bill was introduced In the Assembly by Mr.
Ecceslne, and after quite brisk discussion TO ts
proper references, was sent to the Railroad Committee.
synopsis OF somewhat like IL was published in
the HERALD month ago, and II undoubtedly favored
rapid transit ms II barred the facility OF stopping tho
construction OF road even alter the granting Of an
Injunction.
NEW riRE DEPARTMENT..
The Assembly met this evening aud went into Com
mitec oi the Whole ON various bills the principal ono
beng tho b relative TO The retirement oil officers aud
members oil the New York Fire department Mr..
sp'noa proposed 10 amend by striking out tho clause
leaving " III the discretion OF the Fra Commissioners
to determine the amount Of the compensation u retr-
ing member shall receive. After a long debate. in
which Messrs Spinoa, Purdy Mitchell aud Ecclcsine
participated, the amendment was carried Other
amendments OF MINOR Importance were adopted.
COMMISSIONER JURORS
Mr. John Il, Deviin appeared before tho Committee
on Cities of The Assembly this afternoon, agreed
In favor OF certain amendments to the bill concern
the Commissioner oil Jurors which recently passed tna
Senate. rho bill was amended by allowing SIX clerks
at nn aggregate OF $4,000, and the salary OF the Com
missioner 5000 In place OF $1,000.
PisKs, wHARvEs AND HELL GATE PILOTS.
Tomorrow the Committee Oh Commerce and Saviga-
tion Will give hearing TO Mr. Dorman B. Eaton IN
his arguments against Gaaghcrs bill concerning piers
and wharvos IA New York city. discussion Will also
be listened 70 GU uydams bill In relation 10 tho He'll
Gate pilots.
| REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.
caucus OF rcpu ubcan Senators was set down ut the
residcnce OF Senator Harrs thus evening 10 consider
the 41th rule IN regard 70 NOMINATIONS IL
Is held by the President OF the Senate Dorshsi-
mer, Senator Harris and few other rcpub-
lican scnators, and all tho democratic