The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-31
Confirmation Of Clark as Superintendent
of Public Works.
CHEAP CANAL TOLLS.
Present Condition Of The Excise Trouble
Days Bill Amended.
icy TELEGRAPH TO TIE HERALD

Mr.. Edick made long speech denunciatory OF the
Governor and his action in the matter OF Supcrin
scndent OF Public Works. He asked to have tho ban
OF secrecy removed that he might publish his speech,
but it was refused and Mr. Edick voted Tor Mr. Clarks
confirmation. Almost immediately after tho vote OF
tho Senate the Governor issued Mr.. Clark's commits
sion.
CANAL
The canal committees OF both tho Senate and the
Assembly met this afternoon and agreed TO adopt tho
toll sheet OF 1877 for tho year 1878 and report their
decision tomorrow This resolution In favor OF low
tolls. which was strongly advocated by Lieutenant
Governor Dorsheimer before the Assembly CON-
mttee, and earnestly Endorsed by tho chairman
Of the committee, Mr. l. l. Hayes will be
good news TO iorwarders boat owners and others
whose interests are associated with the canals, who
thus informed two months earlier than has been
usual Of the basis OF tolls upon which calculate all
their contracts for the approaching season OF canal
navigation. 1t is now proposed TO pass law requr.
ing the Supcrntende OF Public Works report
monthly to the Canal Board the account Of his dis
bursements The House Canal Com mittoe will report
the canal appropriation bills tomorrow. They
authorize tax of thrcotcnths OF a mill for deficiency
Of tho sinking fund and make the usual appropriation
NO MORE sIsEcuREs
The difficulties which lie IN the way oil those lcgs.
lators who from time to time attempt to check petty
abuses appear to DO impregnable. Last year a
dial raised from tho fact that the Com mittee OF
Apportonment, OF which Governor Alvord was and
continues to be chairman, employed clerk and mos
sepger al salaries amounting to 81 200 although the
committee held but ono meeting which lasted five
minutes To-day resolution reported from
the Committee Expenditures Of tho House favor
OF two clerks and one messenger to that COM
mitce during the present session at the rate
diem rs that paid 10 clerks and of the Com
mtec OF Ways and Means Inasmuch as the Appor-
tionment Committee has received from the Assembly
arcquest, amounting to Instruction. to report bill
| I'm tim M n fhn
days, and rs many OF those days have gone by
already, AID since, moreover all the facts aud stats
tics necessary TO enable the committee 10 frame
bill supposed have been furnished and TO be In
order this demand for three extra employees for the
committee seemed to tho House at first piece of
Gus insocncc Several members, including Mr.. Moller
| Mr. SKINNER, Mr. Bergen, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Gilbert ana
Mr.. THAN, spoke against It, and Mr.. BROOKS offered
substitute providing that tho persons mentioned
In the resolution should receive pay only up TO tho
expiration Of the time twenty days. when the CON-
| mittee Is requested TO report. Mr. Brooks per-
| suaded 10 consent to an amendment offered by Mr.
Gilbert to the eioct that the pay shall continue at
| much per diem while the Apportionment COMMITTEE
keeps charge OF this subject. While thus consentng
he avowed his intention to vote against the resolu-
ton howsoever amended, and neatly provoked state
ment by Mr. Avord that since the committee had been
| simply requested" by the House to report bill
| WITHIN twenty days it might IN turn request the
House allow it delay beyond that time and 70.
port still later. The venerable member IRON Onon-
daga gave several plausible reasons, some OF them
even pat hottie reasons, why two clerks and q mossen
ger were needed by the Apportionnont Committee OF
which no is tho chairman. sop having been thrown
olerksnips 10 democrat both cierks-Mr. Ed
ward p. Fancher. republican. and Mr. David
messenger, Mr.. John b. SUBWAY, despa tched by
vote oi 70 odd NAYS against II yeas. This done
tended TO conceal tho truth that politics mad some
thing to do with tho favorable votes of democrats.
Some ,,. Of the latter based their votes ,,d 70.
on tho ground that II they should with
hold their assent to clerk hire by the Apportion-
mept Committee thoy might AFFORD that committee
! an ingenious excuse tor delay. But most Of tho
MEMBERS II IS presumed, were actuaod in their votes
| more by The opinion that Mr. Alvord's long and dis
uished service TO the state entitled him his ad-
vanced years to particular consideration than by
other motive.
| TAXPAYERS ARE THE SUFFERERS.
| In connection with this subject, which occupied
more than an hour OF the Assembiys time, II should
be said that the employ OF clerks and other
sistants by members OF tho Legislature entails an
nualy pretty serious addition 10 the burdens of tho
the Legislature (which numbers 81 Senators and 12s
members oil the Assemoly-in all 1907 was 323.
| Three hundred and twenty-three employees to wait
upon 100 legislators, and the sl2i, $685. In 1872
when what may DO called a reiormatory law in
the Assembly alone 49, and their wages amounted to
S7j22S. For years the average number of legislative
employees was lar IN excess OF tho whole number Of
Senators and members OF the Assembly,, ana from
1873 TO 1877 the numbers wero pretty nearly equal
tho cmpoy6s were about l2o IN number, and the ex.
pense Of employing them ranged from $62 900 to
$7350O for each session. The complaint made by Mr..
Brooks IN regard 10 tins matter has had
S SIaiu, in Washington. There =. has BEEN
shown that in tho United States senate, which
comprises sevcnty-six Senator's, there has been a
yearly charge 81 1870 Tor each Senator for
expenses, which expenses are known to include every
kind OF small steangs, including soap aud tooth
there 292 members. the oDtingent expenses on
account OF each member, embracing tho salaries OF
clerks and tho price OF stationery (Which include
jackknives, has amounted I, about $6l0 during zach
session These facts show that the vocation
on ,no Tower so M IN Inc New
servants OF the state and nation are constantly tempted
to authorize Tor thor convenience, l. useful
HAYES CHARTER.
Tho Hayes charter. with winch the Committee on
Cities Is now wrestling, Is an important one, ana will
be fought Tor by It's autdor ana against by its
mics Tor the next three months with vgor and some
venom. The following arc It's most important provls
Ions
Of the city; he appoints all heads OF the
men,s, who 90 into .hise with him aud 90 GU, with hin
2 mo heads of departments chosen BY tho Mayor
independent OF the Board OF Aldermen,
g. All the depart single headed. except the
Depsrtmcnt Of Police In which twp commissioners r, ar,
included that department aud II s thought necessary tc
Of one republican and one democrat.
the M Sc once %ns % %p Al" h0'a' oil
D. in TO the legislative department. OF the cit,
financial measure. and iourhfths vote 10
override tue Mayors veto.
ASSESSMENTS PROPERTY
Tho Committee OF Ways and Means OF tho Assembly
which Yesterday nsdcred AIR. holahan's bill to IN
crease the nun per oil State Assessors will on Thurs
day consider aud probably decide upon II executv,
session. THIS dill, or Mt least measure similar TO The
proposed III IT, is OF great importance not only u
New York city, bat 10 other parts OF the STATE The
first regard TO the Board OF State Assessors
passed IN 1859, when the Commissioners OF the Lane
Office and three State Assossofs were appointed /,
compose a Board OF Equalization, whose duty u IL /,
equaze the state tax among the several counties
Gx the amount o assessment OF real aud personal
tate which taxes arc levied IN each county. Thu
Board OF Equalization. thus mado up OF from nine u
eleven members, OF whom only three arc state As
SCISSORS, has power, Notwithstanding any report OF th
local assessors from any locality 10 apporon the la
for that county arbitrarily. The OF lhree tat
Assessors Ia the Board 10 for what they arc worth
but II fact that within tho last lev years,
| 1873 New YORK city had among the tat
ASSESSORS thus form part oil the Board OF Equali
eaton, and that some Instances other im portan
sections OF tho State have had their crests
matter entirely unroprescntcd There four
departments the state, IRON tbr oil which, xcud
ing New York CITY anu county, the three assessors con
posing the Board Of State Assessors have USUALLY
been selected. Bot IN 1853 the tDird department
| Tod by ThOmns L.uMlra oil Ken