The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-01-25
Lively Debate Over the RcappOrtiOn-
ment of the State.
WHO DELAYED 1T ?
A Shower of Temperance Petitions from
City and Country.
SAILORS BOARDING HOUSES.

renty the truo nwardness Of tho delay 10 appor
ton the State according to the constitutional provision
and the census OF 1875 Tho hesitation OF the Appor
tonment Committee had oecn marked 10 DO uu-
chartably ascrbed to the reluctance of republican
majority well satisfied with the present arrangement
Of tho electoral districts. Mr.. Brooks resenung the
inaction of the committee in 1876 and 1917 demanded
that now proceed under the plain injunction Of tho
recent constitutional Amendment For two years.
he SAID, that injunction has been violated
II Is incumbent on the present Legislature to
obey It, Mr.. Fish offered substitute TO Mr. Brooks
resolution calling upon the Attorney General Of the
State to give the Legislature his OPINION whether in
fact 1t has the right to pass apportionment bill in
compliance with the recent constitutional mandate,
aud, IN tho midst OF nuter OF surprise In the cham
Der, Mr. Alvord rose to explain.
QUESTION AUTHORITY.
He said there was great DOUBT indeed, whether the
constitutional provision, that the egisature OF 1876
should take action ia this matter, naving been neg
iecled and violated by that Legislature, any subse-
quent Legislature could consttutionaily act uron it,
The present Attorney General, Mr. Schoonnaker, who
was State in 1876 AMI 1871 had dstnct said
In the Senate tna in his opiniou the Legislature was
not empowered to make u reappor,ionment alter 1876
the year ia which IT was especially enjoired
LEGAL OPINION REJECTED
Mr.. Alvords anu Mr.. Fish's resolution were so CD.
posed by speakers, who all agi eed that It
useless to call in the Attorney General to confer
encc this question: that when tho vote was taken
motion made by Mir. Alvord 10 lay Mr. Brooks
original resolution on the table the motion de-
feated by vote OF II against 80. In tho OF
continued discussion Mr.. Fish warned Mr.. Brooke
that If insisted upon instructing the TO
report an apportonmcnt bill within twenty days he
and his friends might get bill which would meet
their views at all.
ANOTHER LEGISLATIVE sERvAXT.
In spite Of Mr.. Brooks opposition superintendent
OF tho Wrapping Department OF the Assembly was
confirmed To-day with the same salary as that re.
Ceived py the superintendent OF Documents.
BILLS IN THE ASSEMBLY.
Bills introduced IN tho Assembly to-day as
BY Mr.. F!sh-rhc same Finance bill introduced by
him last year providing for the compensation &C., OF
public officers the Guy OF New York, which was
vetoed by tho Governor.
Also bill abolsnlny the Department Of Buildings
in New York city ana attaching II to the Department
of Public Works.
By Mr.. Electromagnetic bill requiring the Eighth
20 ID north via Macomps Dam road TO MacomD,s uam
bridge Harlem River, and calling tor u'reduction Of
fares from Vosey street from ten " eight cents
respond with the present through lure the Third
PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE IN HOTELS.
BY Mr.. Berrgan-A most remarkable vii for the
projection o inmates OF hotels, which several
IOos OF tOoiscu aud cnjons upon hotel proprie
their duty uuder ~ 10 purchase ana Keep IN every
room enormous lengths oil rope laduers used az
lire escapes, manDer OF the construction which
prescribed with attention TO the interests OF several
classes OF manufacturers. Tue bill also c0mpols the
careful closure y! wellholos OF elevators by iron
doors, with rubber and other attscnments In OF
ire una likely 70 be criticised by every committee
man who has notions OF his regard u the pro.
lection OF human lilo In public buildings.
rHE ExCisK LAW.
The result OF the endesvor TO effect o modification
OF the Excise law cannot yet be predicted Mr. Days
BILL which applies TO New YORK city, may come mp
Tor consideration at any time in the Assembly per-
haps tomorrow. BON houses are leited with pe-
titions against and Tor an alteration OF the present
law 1t Is needless to say that most Of the appeals
Tor the Legislature to the law as Il stands come
from tue iutcrior OF tho State, where most OF the
rurals do not understand why man should DC al
tavern bar. Or. Crosby's Society for the Proven.
ton OF Crime active IN tina matter has up
petition, signed by some fifteen hundred representa-.
live men city Of New York. praying tho Lesis.
Iaturo 10 leave the present law intact Among inc
gentlemen whose names are affixed to this petition
A. r. Stewart Co., J. H. Stuart Caldwell
Ii. u. Claim Il Co., Dr. 81. John Roosa,
A. K. Van Mes. l. Co., George +. Fich,
Edward ). Janray, George H. Draper,
A. r.. Wetmore, William I. Booth,
Rev X. X Booth, Rev. X. II. McKn.
John H. Iaber John Stewart
Rev. J. Cotton smith, Elwood K. lhornc,
Edward ratum, Abram Wakeman,
q. II. j. Studley, W. A, Pond, Jr.,
H. X. McHafg, Rev. Arthur Brooks
Isaac V. Brokaw, Rev. A. Stewart Walsh,
BENJAMIN latham, William H. Schienenn,
Archer Pancoast, John l. NygatL
Al the same Time Nr Holiahap, Ot New York, pre-.
sents petition from New York, signed by $50
zcns, Tor very decided modification Of tho present
law.
LICENSED SAILORS BOARDING HOUSES.
The Senate held a half hour session this morning
and four bulls were introduced winch, III their titles,
show the broadness OF the legislative mind Mr. Goe-
bel brought in measure Tor the formation OF board
to license sailors boarding houses TO be composed OF
three persons 10 DO appointed sngy by The Chamber
OF Com nercc the Board OF Underwriters and the
Mar q IL m de
Tor the payment Of these gentlemen and their pow
ers, duties and functions are not defined. The Dill
says they are 10 license sailors boarding houses and
nothing more
REDUCING THE CAPITAL OF COMPANIES
Senator Jacobs introduced thru bill, when pro.
vdes that IL shall be lawful Tor any trust COMPANY
organized under the laws OF THIS State 10 reduce It's
capital stock TO nm amount which shall be equal to
the value oil the property aud effects OF sucn
papy over and above It's debts and liabilities aud
thcnceiorth the capital STOCK o. such company shall
be such reduced amount, and tho par value oi the
share thereof shall be reduced IN the proper.
on. In no case shall the capital stock DO lees than
100000.
The Governor has signed the new Capitol Appropria-
ton bill.
QUESTION PRODUCTION.
The Railroad COMMITTEE Of the Assembly has served
a notice upon Ass. ia IDLY Browning aud Others in
ierestoi IN The forthcoming investigation oil the coal
continuation, 10 furnish the committee with such
iacs may be IN Their Dosscssion bearing upon the
subject Mr. Prescott chairman OF the committee,
will be ab cct In New YORK tomorrow WITH tho
Committee on Privileges aud Elections, and the
Investigation cannot be entered upon before next
week. meeting OF tho committee will be hold
Tuesday next, when arrangements for the
inquiry viii PROBABLY be completed. Ii VIII be pushed
forward WIN as much thoroughness as Is possible
within the limited time allowed, anu considering the
indefinite character OF the instructions TO the
mittcc IL ~ understood that they viii be met
by the point iorcDy presented by Mr. Peck Of
Oswego that the Legislature rs without Jurisdiction
In the matter OF coal production ia Pennsylvania.
should be sustained the com mitco will probably
not have very arduous task before It,
CANAL TOLLS
Tho Speaker presented a communication from tho
Auditor OF the CANA Department transmitting reso-
luton Of tho Canal Board recommending the Legsla
to IN the rates oil toll on the Erie, Oswego
Cbamplan anu Cayuga and Seneca canals, as stated
In the accompanying toll sheet Referred TO the
Canal Committee.
THE GOvERoR's RECEPTION.
Tho Governors reception tonight TO the State
officers and members oil the Legislature Largely
attended.
MASSACHUSETTS, LEGISLATURE.
n yS-a