The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-02-05
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Concurrent Resolutions to Make the
Canals Absolutely Free.
PROVIDING FOR THE DEBT.
Measures to Improve the Management Of the
Great Wafer Routes.
FAVORITlSM IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
ALBANY. Feb. 4, 1878.
Dr. l. l. Hayes, chairman OF the Canal Committee
OF the Assembly introduced In that body tonight tho
following important concurrent revolutions, intended
80 susnd tho constitutional prOtitsns in regard to
she canals and make the Erie ana other canals sbso-
luteiy irce:-
Resolved az the Senate concurl That section g. Of
article Of the constitution DO amended 50 as 10 read
as iollows:-
SECTION g. The first and second sections OF this
article having been July complied with NO tolls shall
hereafter be imposed on persons ana property trans
ported the State canals, but all boats navigating
the canals, and the owners anu masters thereof shall
be subject laws and regulations as have been
or may hereafter DO enacted concerning the navigation
Tho Legislature shall annually, by equitable taxes,
make provision for the payment OF the expenses OF
the superintendent and repairs Of the canals.
The canal debt contracted under the section hereby
amended, which, on tho lst day OF October, 1877,
amounted to $9,0l420o, shall continue 10 bs known a.
the "cana debt under article section oil the con-
stltution," and tho sinking iund applicable TO tho
payment thereof together with contributions 10 DO
made thereto, shall continue 10 be known as tho
canal debt sinking fund. under article section OF
the constitution and the principal and the interest
Of said debt shall be met as provided 10 the 9th section
Of this article.
All contracts for work or materials ON any canal
shall be made with ina person who shall offer 10 40 or
provide the same At the lowest price with adequate
security Tor their performance.
No extra COMPENSATION shall be made 10 any con.
any contract shall provo TO be unjust ana oppressive
the Canal Board may upon the application OF the con-
tractor cancel sucn contract
Resolved tif the Senate concur; That section 5, OF
article OF tho constitution be amended so Us 10 read
iollows:-
SHGrloN s. There shall annually be imposed and
levied tax which snail be sufficient TO pay the in
terest and cx'ngush the principal OF tho canal debt
mentioned in the third section OF this article, as the
shall become due and pay able and the proceeds
OF such tax snail In each fiscal year be appropriated
anu sol apart the sinking fund constituted Tor
said debt
Resolved az the Senate concur), That section 8
OF article OF tho constitution DO amended 30 as 10
read as oll0ws:-
SEcrloN g. The Legislature shall not sell, lease or
otherwise dispose OF the Erie Canal tho Oswego
Canal tho Champlan Canal or the Cayuga aud seneca
Canal but they shall remain the property Of the
State and under its management forever.
All funds that may DO derived from any lease, sao
othor aisp ositon OF any canal shall be- applied in
payment OF the canal debt mentioned IN tho third soc
ton OF this article.
Resolved (if tho Senate concurl. That the foregoing
amendments DO referred 10 tho Legislature TO bo
chosen at tho ncxt general election OF Senators, and
that In conformity with section l, article Is. OF tho
constitution they be published Tor three mouths pre-
vious 10 the time OF such election.
Tho following additional provision embodied IN tho
resolutions has been debated in the committee that
II appears that It will havo but slight opportunity 10
pass
But tho Legislature may, In Its discretion, impose
for the fiscal year begnn on the LIST day Of Octo.
of the real ana personal property in this
State subject to taxation for that year sum
Gent. with tho accumulatons OF The sink
Ing fund applicable thereto, TO pay In iu
both the principal anu interest OF the canal debt be-
foro MENTIONED and tho proceeds OF such Tax shalt DO
appropriated and set apart for the sinking fund
siiiuted tor the payment OF the principal aud IN tho
interest OF said debt In the event OF such action by
directing Ievying and assessmen Of such tax, mako
such provision for tho retirement OF the canal debt
as shall deem equitable aud just 10 the creditors Of
the State.
Laid over and ordered to be printed
TO ABOLISH DIVISION SUPERINTENDENT
Two important bills were introduced by Mr. Alvord,
both relating to the altered conditions OF the canals
under general superintendent Of public works. one
TO abolish the Office OF Division superintendent aud
Resident Engineer, as follows
To abolish tho Offices Of Division, Resident and As.
sistant Engineer GU tho Canals OF tno state IL abo
ishcs the Offices named and provides that all property
In possession OF the Division Engineer shall BIO nut IN
the custody Of tho State Engineer and Surveyor At
Albany, and that whenever, IN the judgment OF tho
superintendent OF Public WORKS engineering force
may DO necessary anywhere upon the canols he may
shall thoreupon detail ana assign for WORK such
engineering force as may DO necessary aud when tho
Superinte Ddcnt thinks such force dispensed with
he may dismiss It, notifying tho State Engineer.
THE wErGHMAsrER's OFFICE.
The other to reduce tho number OF canal col.
lectors and abolish tho Office OF weghmaster, as fol-
lows
Also bill to amend the Revised Statutes relative 70
the appointment OF collectors OF canal tolls, aud to
aboish the offco Of WeIghmastcr. IL provides that
the Canal Board shall appoint collectors of tolls
who shall hold Office Tor year. but may be removed
by said Board at any time; provided, however, that
such Board shAl only appoint the following :-Ono
each at Buffalo. Tonawanda, Rochester Momentum,
Syracuse Rome. West Troy, Whaena, Waterford,
Oswego and Boonvlle; and the said Board may
assign TO Buffalo and West Troy each many clerks
IN their judgment may DO necessary; to syracuse,
Oswcgo and Whitehall two each; TO all the other
Offices ono each aud the said Board may appoint
three inspectors al Buffalo, Two each at Albany W est
Troy ana Oswego; one each at Whitehall, Fort Ed
ward, Utica Gcncva, Lockport, Tonawanda and SYRIA
cuse; and they may appoint one boat Inspector at
Medina The saares Of boat inspectors shall not
coed $500 each The offices OF weighmastcr and as.
sistant weghmaster are abolished. Tue Canal Board
Is to prescribe rules to govern all these officers.
MUCH.
A bill introduced by Mr. Cosad seeks TO terminate
the publication Of the colonial history OF the State
tue last volume OF which cost some ST. 900 after II
was supposed that the publ caton had been properly
completed with It's tenth volume some years ago.
MORE EXCISE.
A now Excise bill was introduced by Mr.. BcrriQan
tonight and shower OF excise petitions desce nded
into tho Chamber Mr.. Borrigan's bill requires all
vessels, barrels, hogshcads, &C.. containing aie
liquors. &c, to DO Iegiby branded with their capacity
Hogshcads shall contain sixtythrce standard gaons
barrel shall be onc-half OF hogshesd and contain
THIRTY. one gallons. All OF tho vessels hail DO
gagged
PrBLIc SCHOOL RELATIONSHIPS.
Senator Sessions introduced bill to make the rule
In regard to hiring teachers IN union schools ma do
applicable to district schools Tho Law OF 1864 declares
that no trustee OF union school shall appoint as
teacher any person within two degrees OF kin.
-----