The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-10
Early Attention to the Interests
of New York.
"HAM' HARRIS on THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
Championship OF Free Canals
by DR.. Hayes.


its delegated duties The inauguration of "old Salt
the first Speaker in the New Capitol" was devoid
of any particular interest other than the facts of
crowded Assembly Chamber and the presentation OF
beautiful bouquet by Mrs. E. II. Phelps. OF White
Plains, to the venerable sage of Onondaga. Then
came the Speakers address. which terse and to
the point.
RELATIVE NEW YORK.
Mr. Strahan was the first to introduce q bill. on
asking unanimous consent. No one objected. and
instead Of introducing bill he handed up three
the clerk They wcre of course in relation to the
'Iocal government Of the city Of New York" The
materi points have been before the Legislature in
various shapes since 1871. They too embodied in
the woodin and Fish charter amendments. but
cred up with other immateral matters that Governor
Robinson was compelled to apply his scalping knife.
The first bill relates to assessments for local i'm
provements in the city Of New. York. throwing id.
ditional safeguards around the passage OF resolu-
lions by the Common Council for street and other
improvements. The other bill relates principally to
the letting Of contracts by the different departments
and the necessary to be adopted in advertising.
letting &c. The following important provisions ars
also reiterated:
No Judgment shall be entered against the city exccps
or IN, OF
provided upon proof that statement
sss;sa il "a g''%f ssn
Comptroller daily OF the aggregate amount OF
from s sue n ms ana
such liabiliticsare to be charged
The Office of Inspector of Weights and Measures is
abolished and the duties transferred to the Sealer Of
Weights and Measures.
The bills were laid over until the appointment Of
the commit ees.
DR. HAYES EARLY IN THE FIELD.
The member from the Seventh district Of New
York city, DR.. Hayes has entered early upon tho
important proposition which he championed at the
last session in advocacy OF free canals. The gallant
fight he made at that time will be recolected by the
people OF the State. His speeches quoted AMI
commented upon favorably everywhere. The res
an exact copy OF those introduced last session.
LIQUOR INTEREST.
Two bills on the excise question were introduced by
Messrs strshan and Langben The bill OF the latter
gentleman has been published recently III the
AEnALD II was drawn by sx-Judee Ditten r;a
York, only provides that whoever sells liquors, acs
or Bass beer without license shall pay fine OF
500 and be imprisoned for three months. 1t au-
thorzes the Board Of Excise to license to sell
to be drunk the premises at any fee they may fx
as follows:-Ale and beer less than $40
than 500; strong liquors wines. ale and beer, not
less than $3.50 than $250 and to sell either
500 nor more than $50 The bill is very long. aud
contains the usual provisions found in excise bills
DRAWING sKATs.
The Assembly spent hour this afternoon in
drawing seats. The BALD Eagle has his old po-
the back to the left Of the chair In the
seat in the front row, near Hamilton Fish. while
Erastus Brooks. the democratic leader in the House,
has placed himself about half way between the three
| republican leaders. Hustled, Sloan and Hayes.
THE SENATE.
lively little debate enlivened tho proceedings of
the senate. 1t originated with Hamilton Harris who
offered resolution calling for committee OF three
from each house to confer with the New Capitol COM
mssioners and arrange for festival OF some kind to
.why. we have already had splendid reception;
can do would add any briiliancy to it,
True" responded Senator Harris. in substance.
eve have had celebration but that was on the part
OF the citizens of Albany. Now what propose Is
! official commemorstion Of the opening OF the New
Capitol-something which shall go upon the record
| and pass into the archives OF the State"
| "What! exclaimed senator Hughes. ARE We to
hold jubilee every time room In this vast build.
roof Let us wait until the building shall be finished
| and then give blow out We have had enough
| for this time
resolution. He persisted manfuliy. however. aud
prompted H by Judge Robertson. Of WESTMINSTER
resolution offered by Senator Hicks called for
the number Of employees Of the senate and lower.
| ing the salaries Of those that were retained. Il
to fall upon deaf ears. and was quietly al
| lowed to go upon the table,
MESSAGE.
The feature of the proceedings the reading Of
| formal notices had boon nterchauged between the
Senate and the Assembly. to the effect that they
ready for business. the Governors secretary APP
peared and presented the message which forth
| with read out by Clcrk vroomans. 1t was listened
to with Int s,cr shs tsnon .gssd 'n anS
many members left their seats. AS will be seen by
the document which is given in another column the
Governor bore pretty hard upon the alleged extrsv.
| CANT cost of the now Capitol. When the Clerk had
finished rcading-the document requiring one
hour and ten manifestations Harris rose
! printed. His desk hcapcd with law books,
aud there was an esprssslon upon his face pas as
ceedns to speak to his motion, he said there were
statements in the message that he felt bound to
correct 1t was evident from the books at hand ana
| TO which the gentleman referred that he had come
prepared to make speech. In the hrst place. he con-
to s4.OOO,ooO did not refer to the new
Capitol did not refer TO the present building ~ All:
but to building which was proposed 70 DC crcc.sa
statutes in support Of this proposition. In reference
to the assertion that the building was unnecessarily
large. he sand that the matter had been widely ana
freely discussed before the plans were hnaliy ac-
ceptci every suggestion considered carefully
new building and its cost with the old one. The
latter built 10 hold tho representatives OF e00UO0
people, the former wns Tue crp.Ol =, ~ =,
! Of population the new structure was not any more
costly than the old The last point he discussed was
.ihe Governor snys there was no audit Of the COM
niisHioner's accounts. What does he mcan' Is he
exalted in his estimation beyond the statutes. or
IN he iunoraut of the law? Has tho Comptroller boz
come so unimportan that he IL to be treated by the
| Governor of no accotnt?'
II VIII DO remembered that senator John Morrisscy
was too Ill to DO sworn Ia last year. and consc-
quencc his widow could not obtain any salary for tho
| last session. senator Thomas Murphy who nils tho
seat lett vacant by Johns death. to-day introduced
resolution directing the Comptroller to pay Mrs.
| Morrsscy the sum of $1,000. which her husband
would have been entitled 20 for the session Of 1878.
||Hf.
MYSTERIOUS DIGGERS.
Four men were noticed dolving In old heap OF