The New York herald., 1878-02-07
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Mr.. st. Johns Bill 10 Introduce System Of
Canal TOwage by Locomotives.
MONSTER PETITION.
Important Bills Under Considera-
ton in Both Houses.
EXCISE DISCUSSION.

ALBANY, Feb. Q. 1878.
The proceedings in both houses to-day, especially in
the Assembly, wore moro animated and interesting
than usual
In tho Assembly two significant resolutions, one
asking the Comptroller to furnish information IN
regard to the proprety Of continuing State con-
troll over the Onondaga Salt Reservation ana
respecting tolls foreign salt, the other asking
tho Auditor OF the Canal Department 10 give his
views 10 the Legislature as TO the propriety OF re-
ducing tho number OF wcIkhmasters and assistant
weghmasters and collectors also assistant and resi-
dent engineers now employed on the canals, were IN
troduced by Mr.. Brooks and adopted The resolutions
ARC respectively in substance as follows:-
Requiring the Comptroller to report what advantage
the State either to present or probable
bus ness, to any question Of State policy or
economy, in contirung State control over the Onou-
daga salt reservation or in the right to use the waters
for pumping from the Oswego and Erie canals and
also what amount OF income Is imposed upon foreign
SALT also II the effect OF the present toll on for
eign salt Is injurious to the trade of the city OF
New York with the West, and causing shipments via
New Orleans instead OF by canal. xAdopted.
Also requesting the Auditor to report TO the
House whether there may not be considerable
reduction in the number OF weighmsstsrs and
collectors, with their assistants, hitherto In the SER
vice of the canals and aso consultation with the
State Engineer, whether the services Of the engi-
neers, resident pnd division, and Of the survey
Ors may not bc dispensed with, with no detriment
to the proper and efficiency of the canals.
Adopted.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Cormack alludes at
length c Dr. Hayes' resolution to abolish tolls the
canals and make them free, and proposes that the
Legislature shall ask the Comptroller to give It thor
mat
liable TO be imposed upon every county Of the State
tor he support of the canals. Mr.. Cormack, who
halls from Delaware county, represents the interests
OF large number OF the Inhabitants OF the State who
suppose they have no interest In helping 10 maintain
the State canals by contributions out OF their private
pockets.
LOOKING AyrxR THE RAPID TRANSIT COMPANIES.
Mr. Thain called from the table his resolution, which
was referred to the Committee on C,tes to inquire
into the why the rapid transit railroad COM
panics IN New YORK city DO not appeur TO intend to
proceed with the construction OF the lines build
ms urther north than Fifty ninth street. Mr. Thain
laid that the people in Yorkville, Harlem and the
Wcstchester district, and IN the Seventeenth and
Nineteenth Assembly DISTRICTS arc deeply concerned in
he extension OF rapid transit further north than
hfty-ninth street, as many thousands o men doing
business The lower wards q the city His alarm
At the probable omission OF the rapid transit com.
IN article which he quoted from the Now YORK Epe,s-
ing Telegram, which shared in his apprehensons He
made fervd plea for the extension OF the routes up
Into his district, and finally, since 1t had been sug-
ycsed that the Committee on Cities not the pro-
per TO deal with this matter, he moved that IL be
Mopted
MONSTER MEMORIAL.
When tho time TO present petitions in the As
scmby this morning, two men, each seven feet high,
with beards reaching to their knees. perspiring and
sroan,ng heavily advanced up the main aisle. 70 .ns
oil the members. each bearing one end OF huge pile
Of petitions. wrapped around with tape and locked
together with chain cable, the pile measuring
" feet, 6x inches In length, loot In breadth
and ieet in thickness anu weighing exactly ~,754
pounds Assisted by several OF tho clerks and ny
or tive stalwart gentlemen from the floor Including
Mr.. Baird, Mr. Frank. Mr.. Purdy) they wero enabled
deposit their load on the desk OF the Speaker Who
in order by gigantic effort, toppI ed
one end OF II to the shoulder OF Clerk john
sou, announcing it as a memorial OF nity.Gve thou
sand three hundred and eighty-odd citizens OF new
York against the bill introduced by Mr. Grady to re-
peal the act creating and charterng the College OF the
CLy OF New YORK. The Clerk, overcome by his bur-
den and slancng reproachfuy at the Speaker, fell
backward nearly causing breach In the front OF the
Mr. Grady fnntcd and carried out Of the Cham
ber. while most oi the Assembly rose, shouting In
College of New York must and snail De preservedl
careful comparison Of the dimensions this petition
with the pyramid M o petitions Tor ana ssans. the
excited more interest than liquor And that Is saying
great deal
cURrAILING MAYOR ELY's PATRONAGE
Among the reports from committees OF tho Assem-.
bly, this morning was one In favor OF the bill giving
the appointment Of marshals OF courts in New York
city 10 the civil justices and the Corporation Counsel
oil to he Mayor, Mr.. Holanan moved
lay the report ON the table and to rive
his explanation for US they
concerned the deliberations OF the Committee on
Cities no was peremptorily ruled OF by she
speaker. HIS nOtion lost by Al nays against AZ
yeas, and the favorable report oi the committee
adopted.
A motion by DR.. Hayes to recommit the resolution
restricting the salary OF the Commissioner of
JURORS and The pay O his clerks ana assistants to
the Comm ttee Cities, protested against BY Mr.
Grady but adopted Dy the House. DR.. Hayes ex-
planned that the return Of the bill committee
was Intended TO enable ''slight. .ameudmont" to be
made.
INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES NOT HASTILY TO Crafty
THE GENTLEMEN VINO INVESTIGATION
Mr. Browning's resolution, which desired the Rail-
Road Committee Of tho Assembly TO investigate and
report ~ the House within twonty days the facts In
regard the coal combination 10 In a state OF sus-
committee, In executive session, Informally c0nsid-
cred the matter, Mr.. Browning having presented
10 II his data and Statements No line
of procedure was however, agreed upon BY the COM
on Tuesday next. BY singular fatality the timo
during which tue committee was requested TO report
expires Tuesday, when II will have possibly ad-
vanced Just far as to say whether us
matter AT all. IL ~ questionable II the Assembly Will,
ut MI Browning's solicitation, grant the committee
further time.
Mr. Fitzgerald, TOO, who rose to ask the Speaker
son River Bridge ut Albany has been attended to- was
informed by the Char that the House has received no
Information on that subject
uNDER CONSIDERATION.
The bilsthat is 10 say, the important oncs--beorc
several OF the first committees Of the Senate aud As
semoy, Or recently considered by them, the fol-
Iowng:--
All the New York city bills, including the Hayes
Fish charter, resurrected IRON the vault to which
Governor Robinson consigned II last spring. The
consideration OF these three bills the committee
has been postponed until weeK IRON to- morrow