The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-10
The Joint Committees Report on the
New York Bill.
PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE MEASURE
A Large Reduction Of Elk.
pensee Contemplated.
PROVISION FOR A SPRING ELECTION
ALBANY. March ., 1877.

ALBANY, March 8, 1877
AS l anticipated Senator Morrisscy's bill rather
skeleton charter, introduced last week, was repro
duced in the measure that the favor of the joint
committee last evening While 1t is easy enough 10
frame bill 10 bring about tho millennium in tho city
government OF New York. and bills OF such pur-
pose and character have by tho million It 10
another thing to give IL legal body and efficacy.
AS the frame OF the bill stands IL commends itself 10
most people who take an in the welfare Of Now
York. Few will object hear that Is proposed the
Dock Department shall be merged in tho Department
OF Public Works, and that nl work now done by
the Park Commissioners, outside OF the Park shall
henccforh be performed by the Commissioner OF Pub
lie Works How the two houses may act when the
pressure of thousand interested politicians Is
brought to bear upon them in variety OF
ways Is another question. Tho JOINT committee starts
bravcly, many similar undertakings started out
before; but 1t be borne in mind that interests
strong deep rooted 1t is proposed 10 assail
and overthrow do not surrender easily, and that,
without being prophet Of evil II is well to bear in
mind that however triumphantly tho ship may be
launched there is guarantee OF security against the
breakers she may have TO encounter.
FEATURES THg BILL
Tho abolition of the Park Commission hardly
excite ALARM bearing in mind what machine of politi
cal intrigue personal ACKNOWLEDGMENT It has been
tended to by tho Department OF Public'Works
Everybody will recognize the propricty Of merging
the Department of Buildings that OF the Fire Depart
,nent which Is to have one commissioner and Super
ntcndent OF tho Building Bureau and the expenditures
limited to $50 900 year
This year the Excise Department asks an appro-
pration OF S54, 900 1t is proposed to It
the police and limit its expenditures to $4,000
Next Monday, when the committee meets, the street
cleaning question is to be again considered. Mr. Cow
din has one notion OF how should be dealt with aud
Mr.. Mitchell another, and both are members Of the
committee Tho unsettled proposition is that 1t be
left where II is, in tho hands OF the Police
Board, and that II be lot out by contract IN
small districts helm m"v feel worh
while 20 TO tho expense OF preparing all the neces
sary appliances in the shape OF carts 0rooms scows,
&c BY adding tho Mayor to the commission II Ia
thought the Will have an assurance that the
will be more honestly cleaned than they are at
It was Mr. Theodore Roosevelt, who has beon long
identified the State Board OF Charities and whose
experience in all relating 10 the momenous questions
OF pauperism and crime is superior that OF most
men living that suggested two in place OF three COM
mssoners for the Board Of Charities and Correction
one 10 look after the charities and alter the
rccton the third man being deemed supernuity.
Perhaps tho chief feature OF the whole Is tho pro.
vision ior a spring election which the HERALD iont
its advocacy TO tor SO long tmc and which
is now, though tardiy, SeSnh n 70 bear lru't "
is down in tho bill for next year, and better late
than never.
After much deliberation II is thought wisest TO lei
the Police Commission stand as 1t u.s. two and two, repro
senting equally and imparally both political parties
Three Or four small. bureaus in the Public Works
Department consolidated into ono and saving
thereby effected.
/. rs thought the reduction OF expenses by this bill
will DO FULLY twenty five per cent and II is easy to cali
tho result in behalf OF retrenchment that must
finally be reached in the course OF ten years hence
MARINE COURT
The abolition of the Marine Court that greatest Of
judicial excrescences, is recommended. though moi
nuhn had n IL.
han has tho architecture 81 this great
measure now in his hands G,i, h hvn Is ltd
supplied with the main IDEAS, ana he Is 10 DO ready
with the work by Monday next for presentation on
Tuesday to both houses 1t is to suggest
the details OF tho plan proposed as II must be evident
three conspicuous departments are merged into
Works. provision must be made under the Commas
sioner 10 whom all recgated for the conduct
OF each by competent and responsible su0ordnates.
The bill when set aloat on tho billowy waters OF
the Assembly, will no doubt undergo much ouieting
and times among the breakers. Butthe prospect
ahead Is bright in the extreme
KvIL DoINGs COMMITTEES.
Two committees, Commerce and Navigation and
Railroads. made each an adverse report TINS morning
bills that were fairly IN the interest oil tho pubhc,
but the House, with more wholesome appre-
hcnsion public opinion, refused to ndorse these
reports and referred them to the Committee Of
tho Whole. ono bill, introduced by Mr. Bulmcr, the
that he was .npproachcd aud offered $4,000 let his
bill 20 to Jericho, provided that the Thrty-fourth
Street Ferry Company, plehorc corporauon should
10 made to reduce its fare for foot passcn-
| GERS from four cents two. This bill
| discussed in the Committee Commerce
and Navgatou and three lawyers appeared on behalf
of the company. Finally IT was reported amended so
thin the should remain at four cents except be-
tween the hours vi five and in tho morning and
| five aud seven in tho evening This avaricious com.
| pany thought this much Of concession TO tho
public and through OF their creatures in the AS
scmbly, they succeeded In having tho bill recon.
| m,ttcd. To-day 1t was again reported, but adj
| yersey. Mr. Webb, Of Duchess, the chairman,
and Joseph Stern, Of Now York, dissenting. Mr..
Tiyhc. OF Kings, moved TO disagree with the report.
| was offered tho bride. young man OF no speaking
powers stood up tell his story OF that 81 0OO but he
was choked of by motion tor the previous question,
and was clear tho lobbyist OF tho ferry company
had hold OF some OF tho members, Tor BulIner was
choked oil, but finally the corruponists were beaten
| and the bill has still o chance to be discussed.
Tho other bill adversely reported was That requiring
tho Elevated Railway to charge Tor tho accommodation
of working people i've cents place oil ten the
hours vi five seven in the morning, ana the same
IT 10 charge only cents Tor tho whole length OF s
track to Harlem, and yet It Is only completed
| 10 tho Park. MIR. O'Harc, the only member
| OF the committee who dssentcd from the
report OF the committee, moved 10 disngrec ana MS
motion was carried So the two committees under
strong suspicion of being derclict 10 tho public In
tcrcsts, were hereby rebuked by the action OF the
| House. -
GLOW Is it, Mike 20 asked q man Of big Mike Hcaly,
'that two committees hand IN adverse reports hat
| the House refuses TO confirm ~
"Oh, well, 7" answered Nike, Ut is just because the
committees too much money"
BILL.
| Senator Baden introduced an excise bill that he
says has taken all Lc good and salient features Of
dozen other excise bills and has Tor its leading
incndaton to the German element of New York tho
dong away with the practice or even the apprehension
| OF arbitrary arrests.