The sun., 1878-03-30
STATESMEN HAVING A TILT.
BROOKS's BELL PUNCH RESOLUTION
PRODUCING 4 Lively IIGHT.
A Victory rcr the M"nctt LAW Mcn- Kcgu-
Int,ux the Control or the Canals Nr. fccie-
sinea Elevated Enilrood Iiii Nv. fish's
nerini-A Isiu from Mr.. Henry Hcrgh.

nerinl- ~ Hil from ttfur1
hLnASY, March % Don Hamilton Fish,
Jr.. opened Tho proceedings OF the Assembly
with speech. the burden of which WIS nm in
dignant denial Of an ntimation that he had
boon i'm any way connected with the conbna-
lion by which Insurance Superintendent Smyth
had been whitewashcd, a. inimatcd in des-
patch to the Times oi your city. Tho serious
ness OF tho charge was such that every one
hopes that Mr.. Fish will be able to prove HIM
self innocent. although the circumstances sur
rounding the proceedings alluded TO by tho
correspondent are Of such fish-y character
that the tall son of Putnam viii have to make
out pretty clear cnse 10 safety tn" majority OF
those who have watched the proceedings in con-
necton with this cuso. Had the correspondent
said that tho peculiar movements in conncc-
tion with the Elective Compirollers bill.
on tho morning when the vote in the
smuh case was taken. was open to the
suspicion OF nn arrangement with Tammany
Hall whereby bargain had been made OF some
kind. 1t ia very questionable whether MIR Fish
would have risen TO q question OF privilege.
But he has made. ~ Mr. Fish expressed II.
specific charge and as that is one Of those
things II is very hard to prove he no doubt
thinks il a good opportunity to discipline those
representatives, Of the press who he thinks are
in the habit Of crtlcsing too freely the actions
tl lnf nbnNilblt EtNlitufH III lilo ls'hlFlatul's
The whole uatter was referred to the Commit
tee on Privileges and Elections with iustruc-
tions to investigate to the truth Of the charge.
and II is to be hoped that Mr.. Fish will be able
TO show that he was not in the unholy alliance.
That he is n leader In tho scheme to dcfraud
New York ont Of her just representation in the
LEGISLATURE. with Avord and the other Rcpub
lican leaders. and that he is The Man at the
Wheel In all schemes affecting the political
patronage OF the city Of New York. have been
again and again alleged and it will next be In
order for him TO discipline the remaining cor
respondents who have been guilty OF this
offence. 1t may be impossible to show
his direct connection with the combination
by which Mr. Smyth escaped, but TINT such a
verdict Of Mi who have watched The proceedings
hero. As the unique Nelson OF Rockland ex-
pressed II, It is the only case on record, with
one exception. whore man had confessed him
not belong to him and dividing with his friends.
The exception was in tho famous case where
the exoncrated cuiprit accounted for the result
by the announcement that the Jury had some OF
Mi, Brookss resolution looking to the intro
duction Of the Moffctt liquor bell punch in the
city of New York led to one of the most exciting
discussions Of the session in the Assembly.
He"nse H free , whsEey and % %prohiSton S was II iuiiy
ventilated. Mr., Brooks In support OF his reso.
luton. showed how benphcially the law had
had exam ned into the matter ayerred that the
Iovenue from, its enforcement in the city Of
upon the debt OF the city. and II applied to the
whole State. would produce an income sum
cicnt to pay the entire expenses OF the state
debts.
leader OF the temperance men IN the Legisla-
turc MIR. Gilbert. thought that he saw IA this
pehrd ni" % hs 20 rns"iuton @ e Ths cnmmea aae nn
Cities-to whom the resolution was to be sent
ne sad ssxd was well kn9wn or majority lily of was
QUESTION Affecting The iranlc in iaaor;, Ths
those who drank the lluor. He attacked Mr..
Brooks for lending his influence 10 the liquor
dealers. who. he asserted. stood in need Of some
respectable man to give character to their bust
ness and help them out. " IT," said he, they
can get the influence OF such men rs the honor
able gentleman from Richmond. II IS worth
whole regiment of rcd noses such us those who
ihem." '''7'''u !" IT, anu ""0'0 ''''''0''' VI
SD Grady denounced the assault upon Mr..
Brooks and advocated the resolution. He said
that hlr. Gilbert had chara. a.tcrized Mr Brooks
~ rcd nose. when he was as temperate az that
Tni- was denied by Mr.. Gilbert in an indig-
nant manner and for Il time there was q pros
Finally. on the demand of Mr.. Gilbert. the
tirnogrHpher'S notes were read from the CLERKS
sisted that this was unpnramenlnry language
10 use toward another member. He proceeded
SON" rms. TO nS Syrrsh ase w1 Sern"ns MINI c
sale OF .lan2rsi Hnd TO- prgSent tne i,na,tment 9f
THIS. lie said, wis being done 10y the men Of
narrow views from the backwcols..
This aroused Mr. skinner Of geiferson. who
defended the men from the back kwOOds and OPP
posed the adoption of the resolution.
Then Mr. Brooks again got ne iloor; and for
with one OF his best Efforts. He arraigned Gill
bert Tor his lack Of charity toward those who
differed from him. though they were morally
ihls eapalS' II i seldom that the iegls.
thoronshy M rebaHed iqa as wr- % Mr Gber That
gentleman, however. is not easily frightened.
which was full Of nre. and closed 9,y declaring
that so long as his hnnd could WELD the sword
a.,ninst hr rum tranlc he should use H. no
matter who WAS hurt, and though the blade
bhnuid br"ome blunted by use.
The resolution was finally sent to the Com
mite on Cities. and Mr. Brooks scored the
The bin regulating the general management
OF the canals under Superintendent Clark was
reported from th" comnittee II defines the
powers and duties ot the Supcrintcndent and
IeIu,rrs him 10 make al the purchases Of ma
terlals, and gives b IN the employing Of all the
men, Tho pavmastcrs are to be appointed by
the Commissioners of the Canal Fund. II abol-
lsh"s All the engineers with the exception Of the
s5 e'sR sy he ensSe'IE SINE snd they to be %PR2n
ont Is required to make all rules for
the management Of the canals and submit
also u publish monthly statement OF materi-
;als A.. pur 'hasrdi After a long consdera-
tun tie committee decided not to give the Su-
permit dent the power to pay bills, but he is to
audit and approve them.
Another general bill for the reduction Of sal
aries IN cities was introduced by Mr.. Fish. The
Governor is given the power 10 remove from
once iHose who iailto make the reductions pro-
vidad Tor. In other respects II is nearly similar
to the hll introduced by him last week
blll intro luced by Senator Eccesine is said
70 be intended to enable the New York Elevated
Kniroad Company 10 go on and complete It's
Iold. II Is asserted that there are engineering
diHcultle5 on lis present route above 10th
street almost in possible 70 overcome and tho
company desires 10 change its route To Eighth
avenue above that uoiut To do this II will be
nefosanry To- rrvlNe the commission who located
tho route. This the bill docs and provides that
any corporation taking advantage Of this shall
complete Us road % the end Of the route within
one yenr from the passage OF the net aud shall
run night and comnuiatiOn trains
Ih,Io was long ulsenssi9n in the Senate
over NJ r. Wagst"ns blll amending tho Pool law
% a, 10 permit Of the selling Of pools on race
track, chartered under the laws OF the State.
Thorc vas Il slim attendance Of Senators and no
final action wns taken. though the ndiratons
hrp that the vote Will be n close one, Several