The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-10
Lively Debate in the Senate on the
Question Of Taxing Clergymen.
THE POLICE PENSION FUND BILL.
Governor Robinson Investigating Charges
Against Judge Smith.
STATE PRISON CONTRACTS.
tsx TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
ALBANY, April Q, 1878
the Senate Committee on Cities gave hearing this
evening ON the Public Burdens Dill, which, Il will be
remembered, substituted and passed in the AS
semby in place OF the Salaries bill originally
0uced by Mr.. Fish. Among the gentlemen from New
York VINO assembled in the committee room
were Tax Commissioner Mooney, ex-Assembly man
Robert J. Strahan, ex-Corner Elnaer, ex-Poce Com
missioner DisbccSer, John D. Coughhn, President
Beers OF the Council OF Political Reform, ana Charles
j. Beardsley Messrs Allison, Assistant District At
torney Horring George Bliss, y. B. Potter and John
H. Strahan claimed the attention OF the committee,
all the membets or which were present except Sena-
tor Morrissey. Nearly all the New York Senators
and members of the Assembly entered the room
whic the argument was in progress.
Ex-Corsuer Ellnger appeared drst in opposition to
the bill and presented letter from Oswald Ottendorier
which was read by Senator Pomeroy, the chairman
MR.. oITESDoRFER's PROTEST.
New YoRK, April 8, 1873
Hon. T. NJ PoMERoy, Chairman Of Tho Senate Com
mittce on Cilies, Albany, N. y
SIs-Unavoidabie engage ments viii prevent me
from visiting Albany Tomorrow as intended to do
30 demonstrate some OF the provisions OF the
So called Municipal salary bill, passed in the ASSEM-
bly, ON Tuesday, The %, and which Is now before The
the liberty 70 cali YOUR and your colleagues, itrnt,on
10 some OF The provisions and defects OF this bill,
which, in my opinion, MAKE u the most dangerous
measure relation to our city that was before
thc Legislature during its present session. The
bull is called IN the newspaper reports the
is prevalent that it intends reduce salaries
alI or Inc OF city officials Tho TACT is that
the bill Is TAR from attempting 10 accomplish such
result IL provides simply that the aggregate amount
raised by tax such uhat Is, our) city for the year
less than the aggregate amount required TO raised
BY tax said city for the year 1878. This can be
ciy officials in the least 1T expected that
contr. to the State taxes in 1879 Will be about
other million the tax levy can lie reduced by
the passage OF bill now before the Legs
our municipal debt becoming due in the future ana
payable IRON tho proceeds OF taxes shall be redeemed
by the available means OF the sinking fund Several
bundrcd thousand dollars can be secured by curtaii-
Ing failing 10 make appropriations for necessary
tne streets OF the lower part OF the city ana the bal
ance II necessary can bcsprovided for by estimating
abe revenues oil the genera fund a. much higher sum
thau hey or will IN all pr oDabiniy produce
Thus II win be that the requirement 10 raise by
tax 900 less In the future than We do al present
viii abolish the sinecures nor retrench the salaries
Of city officials, which, no doubt IN some in
sxorbitant and out OF proportion 10 the
services which the recipients arc expected or able
TO perform. To secure economy in this direction
The bill should be amended 20 the effect
that the appropriations Tor salaries aud
fees to be paid directly or Indirectly from
The city treasury shall be reduced the iuture
crrtain amount or per centage OF the sum appro
priaied present Tor such purposes. Without sucn
or a similar provision. the promise that the bill will
ment is u fraud which cannot even Cam to be
DIT original The Same bait was used IN the Tweed
taxes 10 be raised in tho future in our city shall not
Exceed cent oil the assessed valuation OF the
,nxable proner,y This promise was ono OF inc most
effective means reconcile the opposition that
tor,ous instrument The results arc known, and II
ihe gsaiufe should allow itself 10 be caught again
in the trap they will not even have excuse
been misled by want OF experience.
But II the Beard OF Estimate and Aprortion-
menl should feel inclined to the necessity OF re-
6ucing the Tor the retrcnchment oil salaries and
fees the DILL contains no provision against tho mis-
OF this power on the contrary, II furnishes the
greatest temptation 20 sacrifice the interests OF good
and efficient municipal government TO partisan pur-
poses IL ~ to be remembered that our Board OF Est
mate aud Apportionment makes a provisional esti-
mate OF the appropriations Tor tho following year
while the final and definite estimate u
made IN December Immediately after tho
fall elections. What temptation ~ thereby ncid out
not only 10 absolute subservicncy OF all the
departments the wishes OF the Board the prep
sraton OF The provisional estimates, out 70 compel
them 70 contribute 10 tho campaign funds Of the
political organizations by the expectation that, in
determining the final estimate after the election,
care will DO taken to reward compliance with
the dictates OF the political macbine leaders,
or 10 punish officers VINO decline be
made slaves OF ambitious intriguers IL will be said
that suspicious against gen men In high pubic
positions should not be raised without substantial
proofs showing them TO be well founded. | 10 not
consider the present members OF our Board OF Es-
timaie and Apportionment as men who are not able
TO appreciate the importance OF their position
do mot intend TO nn IL in a satisfactory
manner; but neither arc they, in my opinion,
influences 10 when they would be exposed by the
passage OF this BILL They may DO gentlemen Of
respectabiiity IN thor relations as private ctizens
but for their actions as public officers OF them
least have different code OF morals. which dues
prevent Them from using their Official power as ind
Gated above. some OF decisions IN determi hing
the final estimates for 1877 aud ISIS could
be explained or excused In any other way.
dicui; IL not impossible TO remove this dagger
entirely for 10 increase The power of authority
always implies the danger OF its misuse. But 10
some extent ut least in this instance tho tempta-
ton could be obvated by an amendment making
u the duty OF the Board OF Estimate and Appor-
lionment TO meet Immediately alter the passage Of
Tho act. to revise tho appropriations Tor 1873 vd
to reduce the salaries ana toes for the later half
81 me present year ~ w''n ,ns paI
not unless they intend 10 misuse the power 10 DC
confcrred on them In the above mentioned mode.
object to such amendment. III thoy were sincere
aud earnest they would be glad 10 he relieved OF tho
pressure which their friends may bring to bear on
them II abe matter Is delayed TIL the election Is at
hand.
There are. nodoubt, other very objections to
the bill and other ao ndmenis the adoption OF which
would tend TO make u what II pretenus TO be- Ny
tenlon 10 call aud your colleagues sttcuon
10 two oil tue most .iarug aud dangerous detects Of
the bill and hoping that you Will give TO this matter
That earnest consdcraliou which It's importance Tor
The welfare OF our city Deserves remain with tho
OSWALD orrExDoarER.
Az the conclusion OF the reaa,ng Senator Pomeroy
snii that he saw no dllculiy IN amending tho bill TO
cet mr. o,tepdorfcrs objections and that he thought
10 should be amended.
Mn. ALLls0x's OBJECTIONS.
Mr. Allison, Of the Law arm OF Allison x shaw, New
YORK. also opposed the bill He opened by saying
that the measure before tho committee not
as the people Of New York desired. II was intro
ducea under the shadow Of another measure, which
was approved OF by the people OF New York
,uy aud by substitution for time seemed
destined to success under the reputation II had
acquired from measure In whose stead II put.
A glance, however, at the provisions OF tho bill
would be Sufficient, Mr. Allison inoueht 10 conyiuc,
The committee that scope aud intention tar
from what rad been and is desired. In namc
alone was this measure identical with tho one nrst
introduced A more dangerous measure than the ono
under consideration, Mr.. Allieon thought, II would
be i'm possible TO coniye, and as lar as bis knowedge
went none more liberal In lis bestowo OF power bad
ever been introduced. he asked the committee to
consider Tor moment tho magnitude oil the power
tbis bill conferred. -Four men were gwen at their
own good pleasure the power Of nxng and resu.