New-York tribune., 1877-03-09
ALBANY.
PROGREss OF LEGISLATION.

| THE POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE sUPEk-
| INTENDENT or PUBLIC WORKS DIsCUssED-ihE
BILL THEREON READ THIRD TINE IN THE SEN
| ATE-rHE wooDIN CHARTER IN A NEW FORM.
| rFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TPs rRiBUNEJ
ALBANY, March SIN the Senate and in the
Assembly Of the State Legislature the whole time OF the
session was consumed to-day in debating two important
bills The bill respecting the salaries and duties OF the
Superintendent of Public Works the one under con-
sderation the Senate After the bill had been read
through Senator Schoonmaker moved that the section
| requiring the Superintendent to give bond to the
amount Of 100000 for the faithful performance OF hS
| duties be changed as to read S2ooOo lnstead oi
| 100000 Twenty-Five thousand dollars was the
| amount "a the bill from the Assembly, Dut
in the Senate Committee on Canals had been ihcreaSeu
TO 100000. Mr.. Schoonmaker said that as the super
ntcndent hadn't the power TO disbrse any money inc
| sum Of S2J 5000 was ample security. Senator Cole
Chairman OF the Committee on Canals SAID that III con-
sequence Of changes that had made in the bill, the
superlntendent would have passing through MS hahdS
sum equal to that which passes through the hahds
OF the present directors OF the canals Ihe section hu
received the unanimous approval OF the comhbt'ee.
Senator Woodn said that the bond fixed az Slooooo
by the committee evidently because in later secoh
they conferred upon the superintendent the power 10
appoint the paymasters instead OF the Auditor as III the
bill passed by the Assembly. 1t was MS opinion
that the Auditor should do all the financial business
of the canals II would be iudcious and wise ior
the State separate the disbursement OF money oh o
canals from the administrative work. Thatwas the way
business managed in great manuiac oy' oeha.o'
Jacobs moved substitute the name OF the A"or iof
that of the Superintendent wherever the financial man.
agement Of the canals was mentioned. 1here was
already n financial head OF the Canal Department ana
new one should not be appointed the committee oh
Canals by their amendment, had invested the supcriu
tendent with more power than the people intended
should be given him when they passed the CONSTITUTIONAL
| amendment concerning his Office
Senator Cole replied that the chief object OF the com
mittee had been TO conform to the CONSTITUTIONS Inc
idea was that when the people gave 10 man such
powers as given TO the superintendent, V'eIe
should be 10 obstacle put in that mans way that WOMB
hinder him in the complete execution of his duties. IL
shouId not be put in any mans power to obstrct the
peoples will The people desired the concentration OF
power oppressed in the matur d bill II seemed Wise 10
be committee 10 confer OH the superintendent all the
mowers given so rs to guard him against the inter
| ference OF another officer The superintendent
| il the bill was passed, would control the
| financial management Of the canals, ana wonld
| undoubtedly seek to show at the cEd OF each
! year that lie had expended only small amount OF
morcy in keeping them in good order. Gov Robinson
had said that heartily approved OF The amehd
mrn Senator Jacobs sal that he thought Senator COLO
| had mi,representcd GOV. Robmsons meaning Senator
Spr, gIc member OF the Canal Committee, said that the
members OF tho committee had felt compelled to give The
supcrncndcnt the power to appoint the paymasers so
| IA to carry ont the commands OF the CONSTITUTIONAL
amendment It also the opinion OF the c0mmltec
that would be less expense 70 the state inc super
neuient had the right TO appoint the laymas'efs' lie
need not appoint salarcd officers, but one Of his own
men TO do the duty; whereas the Auditor would pe
cope;lel TO arpoint several saared paymastcrs. An
| ntcrpretatirn Of the Constitution in one way, IN MS
opinion would compel the Legislature To grant the o-
| ppriu,endent this power Senator SchoonmaKer sau
that 1t was a geTous machinery TO set up ~ cote"
the superintendent with the power to purchase ana 10
nav II was not safe for the State to have such an
| officer The disbursing power ought always to DC
separated from the executive power. IL was pri-
cipe in every department. of the government
Senator Harris said that he would cut OF the
| purchasing power also OF the Superintendent II
ho could Senator Woodn said that the Obvious intent
Of the Constitution was gyethe superintendent power
over the construction, care, management ana na'iga
tion of the canals, anl there was careful exclusion OF
! tie rOwcr to pay out money. The Auditor was the
proper person pay out money on tie canals Ine SEN
ate eloud keep the purse away from the officer VINO mas
such great powers In purchase Of materials and tie max
np of contracts Senator Stabuck said that he doubted
whether the Legislature rad any right to do anything
| bur fix the salary OF the superintendent.
Tton vote bcine taken the amendments made by the
| Canal Committee were almost unanimously rejected
ZIG hi was passed 10 third reading in the shape 1t
camc from the Assembly-thc Auditor as the nancaf
ruler of canals, and the bond of the superintendent
| II 80, 900
in TIE Assembly there long debate over Mr.
Fish, bill entitled An act TO secure hotter pubic al
niustrrtion within the City and County OF New-York
in fact portion Of the bill before the state
Legislature last Winter known the Woodin Charter.
I,s pr;ncipl feature section declarng that 10 sum
grpr than II 100000 shall hereafter be raised on the
hppis or etuc he city for the execution Of WORK
authorized Gy special laws, and for which no assessment
can be inn ossd. Another section provides that ali puD'c
| work shall be done by contract :,
FL. EcCcsiuc mOycd 10 aicuu the Dill so that u shaii
renurc u vote Of thrcc-fnurtts Of the Common Council
for resolutions ordinances requiring the expenditure
If money Mir Fish slli that II would be much safer 20
r.ourr n our-ffhs vote for all expenditures Of money
| - would prevent much cX;TaVG2ant expenditure. Mr.
| spIrUla and Mr. Mitchell f4y0el the ouI-lfths rule.
iir Eccie also offered another amendment TO the cf-
:e / that, labor the public works must he d0ne by
ays labor instead al Gy contract Mr. AlY0rd SAID That
| the moment a legislature should begin 70 leglSlite
10 placae tie hbUiing classes Ivy providing work for
Them nj higher wages taI Tie mafkrl fate, t9t
moment he should bid lasting farewell O The republic:
Nh ErrleSnr replied thar III was dcmaGogISm 10 stand
tp.lor the rights of $4,000 poor men who were being
round in the dust III tie grand Cy OF New-lork
mat few contractors might grow rlcl, tbch ne was
noud cf being cIGacOgut. Mr. Strahan strongly op-
| Io.,l tln abortion Of Nr. Ecclesnes amendment.
Tho House rcasscmble at 1880 p. M, when by consent
The rung question abO { how the Work email dc per-
| formed was passed over
On motion Of Mr.. SpinOla tie consolidated stock was
made uayablr not less than 10 years and not more
than 80 ycars instead Of 80 years long discussion
VAS had but on the heat aud the lack Of yentila-
tun IN the chamber the committee rose ana reported
progress The bill vas tIen made Tue special order Tor
| tomorrow morning.
| GOVERNMENT OF NEW-YORK.
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