The New York herald., 1879-03-01
NEW YORK SALARIES
Considerable Talk, but No Earnest
Efforts at Reduction.
INCREASED STATE EXPENSES.
Special Committee TO InveSti-
gate the Roads.
POLITICS IN THE PRISONS.
ALBANY. Feb. %. 1879.

ALBANY, Feb. %. 1879.
This was really the first day of the session upon
which any particular excitement or interest was dis
played on the part of the Assembly in matters of leg
slative business. Several causes may be traced as
responsible for this disturbance of the hitherto Ian
guild waters of progress here. From present APP
the republican party in the State is likely
to split upon the Smyth agitation If matters are not
arranged satisfactorily before long as to appease
the independent progressive element of that side OF
the House. 1t may be set down fact from all
indications in Albany that the railroad. insurance
and other corporations stil behind Mr.. Smyth.
and that the "Old Guard" represented by such men
Us Speaker Avord. General Hustled. Mr.. Strahan and
colleagues, have ranged themselves under the ban
uer which filings defiance in the faces of that young
republican clement which fights under the leader
ship OF Messrs. sloan. Fish. Hepburn, wadsworth
and others as vigorous contingent of the
State republican army. 1t is not unlikely however
that some of the "Old Guard may strike their
coors in the face of the foe and train under the
new dispensatlon which placing George
b. Sloan in the Speakers chair. AS foreshadowed
In to-day's HERALD the agents and adherents of Mr.
Smyth were understood to be hard at work
behalf their chief and up to the assembling Of the
Legislature this morning the outlook Of Thursday
good DEAL At least they must have felt exceedingly
confident as at half-past one O'Clock to-day-just
half an hour before adjournment-Mr. Braman.
OF Albany, called from the table Mr.. Wadsworth's
resolution requesting Mr.. Smyth to resign his place
as superintendent of the Insurance Department. 1t
somewhat unprecedented for member other
than the person who had introduced resolution in
regular form to call up the document in this man.
ner. such duty belong in parliamentary sense
clusiyely in this instance to Mr. Wadsworth. But
the Smyth men thought they had a majority in the
Assembly to defeat the resolution in the hurry of
Fridays adjournment. Hence the movement of Mr..
Braman. The debate INDUCED in by Messrs. Sloan.
Terry, Wadsworth, Braman, Hayes and Others prin-
cipaly dealt with the parliamentary point as TO the
courtesy of interfering with resolution in that way
Members seemed to fight rather shy of the main is-
to Smyths guilt or innocence of official mis-
conduct. DR.. Hayes and Mr. Sloan. however. spoke
in contemnatory terms OF the principle OF condemn.
ing officials in legislative resolutions when they had
no opportunity Of defending themselves from at
tack Mr.. Wadsworth moved TO place the resolution
again the table, as he did not consider 1t proper
time to bring up important a subject The sprst
of a large majority of the House evidently in
favor of this action and Mr. Wadsworth carried his
point by Il decisive vote of "a to %. The policy of
the Smyth men in thus fastening the was bit
terly condemned after the adjournment of the House.
HK sAI.aAx QUESTION.
Dr. Hayes Committee on Cities held another meet
lny this morning to take action upon Mr. Strahans
so-called Salary bill. This is the first time the bill
has been before the committee in executive session.
upon it, and 1t laid over until next week. 1t is
very clear from the failure of the committee to act
consider it at all meeting the public
requirements or the expectations OF those
York city affairs. The strahan bill alone has been
before them for consideration Three sessions of the
committee have been given 70 Mr. Strahan each time
the session terminating with the public assurance
that the next session the gentleman would submit
to the committee further amendments to the bill.
This the committee has allowed him to
had concluded. He finished his work last
evening at seven o'clock saying that he had nothing
more submit. Practically. therefore, the bill
Mr.. Straan desired it perfected has never been be-
tore the committee until this morning. and as each
member has apparently very decided views about 1t
some time will be needed to compare notes and har
monte opinions The delay. therefore. it is asserted.
has thus tar been entirely with Mr.. Strahan, to
whom the committee extended the very unusual
courtesy of permission to come INTO their room,
take up his own bill and amend it at his pleasure.
Had he finished the bill a month ago 1t
Is conceded that 1t would long since have
been before the House. ln relation to this whole ole
Salary bill question 1t Is but fair to state that DR..
Hayes opened the campaign early in the session with
resolution instructing his own committee to i'm
mediately prepare proper measure This resoiu-
ton was tabled upon the announcement made by Mr..
Strahan that he would have salary bill ready in
FEW days. Instead OF this resolution of instructions
TO 20 upon the committee have had nothing but the
Strahan bill before them 1t is reasonable to suppose
that they will either shove this bill it in
the preparation of more perfect measure emanating
from Dr. Hayes committee itself.
EXPENSES OF THE STAT. GOVERNMENT.
Mr. Sloan submitted report, i'll answer to reso
luton OF the house directing the Committee
Ways aud Means to institute comparison of salaries
paid officials in the State departments In 1861 with
those paid. The committee found that there
has been very large increase and detail the salaries
and other expenses paid in the respective periods.
Letters had received from the several heads
of departments saying that it would be inexpedient
TO reduce the forces III their respective Offices
The committee think the salaries paid judges OF the
Court OF Appeals and the supreme Court
larger than they ought to be- They also think that
men capable of filling the heads of departments
also capable OF commanding salaries equal to what
they receiving. They are, therefore, 10th to
recommend any reduction. They believe the
in salaries 1861 Is greater than that
made the salaries paid in private business. The
committee OF opinion that the number of en-
p.oyes attached TO the Legislature ought to be- re-
uutcd as well as the pay. The report contained the
following table OF expenses in the different depart
incnts as taken from the Comptroller's books:-
departments. lsOl 1873.
Governor r...................... $500 S2l.gW0
Lieutenant Governor. .......... J6iy 5000