New-York tribune., 1878-04-02
4 LBiNF.

EVENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
EFFORT TO BRING UP 1HE EXcisE QUESTION
CRUSADE AGAINST PRISON LABoE-SEw-YoRK
CITY CONTRACTS.
iBY TELEGRAPH TO THH TRiDrsEI
ALBANY, April 1.-The NcwYork members
OF the Legislature have not lost all hope OF passing an
Excise bill relaxing the celebrated law OF 1877 or per
haps even II they have hope they think II would not
be waste OF tino 10 show their constituents
that they made every effort 10 modify the present
Excise law Tonight they were all present. and had
brought together OF their country allies in the hoe
OF securing early consideration OF Mr. Hoahans TX
else BILL This bill resembles that Of Mr.. Eay, which
was recently defeated. Tho motion TO consider Mr.
Hoahan's bill at an carly day was defeated By the
lack OF two votes a twOthirds mpjority being re-
auired Late in the evening. when moro supporters
OF tho bill had arrived, Mr. Hoahan again nj
tempted 10 make his point. but was defeated
owing TO the success Of q motion TO adjourn
made by a Temperance member. Speaker lIuseds ears
had a Temperance leaning. 1t was generally believed
when considering the viva vote on the question OF
adjournment.
Mr. Burns one OF the Democrats who Il furious about
the prisons being made selisupportng by Mr. Pilsbury
introduced some time ago resolution asking that
cmnn 20 report conditions OF the contracts for farm
ing out labor and also another resolution ask
ing Attorney General 10 report whether the snpcrin
tendent Of Prisons has a right to make such con
IN the Assembly, and said that Mr. Pilsbury had no
reason 70 De ashamed Of the result OF letting out convict
labor but that the provisions OF the contracts were
wrong Contractors could hold the State 10 It's bond for
Ave wears while they could break the contract after six
months notice This was discrimination against the
State I'm his opinon one result Of the new system OF
managing the prisons had been TO throw 500 mcchan
ics out OF employment In Albany. The resolutions Of
Mr. Burns were passed out OF courtesy to him.
senator Jacobs introduced bill tonight, which was
read n third time by unanimous consent. changing the
name OF the Mercantile Library Association Of Brooklyn
TO that Of the Brooklyn Library
Dr. J.. l. Hayes offered resolution in tho Assembly
that the Conmissio OF Public Works of the city
OF Now-YOfk be, and Il hereby directed TO re-
mort to this House within Ave days list OF
tlr works prosecuted under special contracts or
agreements in that department without public
letting during Of the past six years whether III
yOyug the expenditure OF less than ~ OOO or larger
amount; the names OF tie persons 10 whom
such contracts agreements have been given
and by whom gwen; the WORK compeleh
and incompleted, and the amounts paid thereon,
aud the balance due II any, and remaining unpaid;
and tho said commissioner IA requested To include IN
such report his estimate OF the proper ana rcaOuablo
cost OF work. provided that the same could nave
done AT public letting competition after one al
ycItiseinent, ana his opinion 10 what amendments
are necessary existing laws to prevent the abuses
under special contracts without public letting Of which
the taxpayers complain. Tabled.
Mr. Stack offered, In the Assembly. resolution that
ten days. the OF all auditors, referees, special
guardians, executors and receivers appointed by him
from May 1896 10 the date Of his report, and II he
has appointed any person more than once he snail 80
OF ali allowances made counsel ana others named, to-
gcthcr with the persons names Tabled