The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-04-04
TOPICS BEFORE THE LEoIsLArURE


ALBANY, April 3.-Business was suspended
for fifteen minutes in both Houses this morning
to give tho members an opportunity to shake
hands with Don Hamilton Fish. who is on q
visit to his son, Don Hamilton Fish. Jr the
rising young statesman from Putnam. In the
Assembly the distinguished visitor was intro
duced by the Bald Eagle OF Rockland in one OF
those slop-over speeches for which he Is 80
famous, and in the Senate n like service was
performed by Ham Harris. After the ceremony
OF handshaking was over. under the escort OF
Lieut.. Gov. Dorsheimer. Don Hamilton Fish
made an inspection OF the new Capitol building
Dr. Polar Hayes spoke in the Assembly In
favor Of his grand scheme for the construction
Of tunnels under the cities and villages Of the
State but which is aimed to facilitate the con-
struction OF tho North River tunnel. Mr..
Travis OF Westchester attacked the bill be-
cause there was no corporation or men behind
It that would build any tunnels. even II the
Legislature should pass the bill. But this OBJ
lection was speedily disposed Of by the declara-
tion by Polar Hayes that he was behind the bill.
and he would sec that the tunnel was built.
With this assurance that the Doctor would
| bring his fabulous wealth and mighty intellect
| into competition with Vanderbilt and the Cen
tra Railroad the House ordered the bill to
| third reading
| Deacon Richardson Of Brooklyn for an elevated
railroad on Atlantic avenue The truly good
| Deacon has haunted the Capitol since the first
day Of the session, laboring to secure the pas
| sage Of this bill. II is reported that he had
| very serious time in convincing the Railroad
| Committee that II was n proper measure. and
| securing It's report. II is said that he has Ia
| bored with individual members OF the Commit
| tee many nights until the small hours OF the
| morning before he overcame their scrunlcs.
| Then. since its report, he has been very busy
/ among the members generally. His long expc-
! rience about the Legislature having twice bcen
| Clerk Of the Assembly. and every session for
nehrly lYenty Years conspicnous meinDer nl
! this work. and the result Of his labor was made
| manifest today In the flattering vote by which
| the bill WIS sent TO third reading.
A bill 10 punish repeating, ballot-box stuffinR
and rowdyissm a. primary elections, , was
Immediately and sayagely by Old Salt, the
| Rockand Eagle. and members from Erie.
Niagara, and other counties. all demandinR
| that their counties should be exempted. Lucky
| Grady who desires me TO deny the rumor that
he IL n Chinaman also pitched into the meas
| ure ns unconstitutional and ridiculous. Mr..
Stephenson soon found that there was no
| railroad or other corporation behind MS Dill
AMI he good naturedlT promised to except all
| rural counties from the bill when on lis final
! passage. but even then tho House refused to
| order II to n third reading.
The bill to amend tho divorce law, which has
| already passed the Senate, was ordered to n
| third reading without objection. II amends the
| present law by providing that where decree Of
! divorce has been granted on tho ground Of
/ adultery the rour in which the Judgment OF
| divorce was rendered may modify the Iudg;
{
| upon satisfactory proof that the complainant
has remarked. and that the conduct OF the de-
iendant since the granting Of the divorce hns
been uniformly good. allow the defendant 10
marry again,
banks OF the canal, which was heralded ns the
solution " all the difficulties about freight dis
criminations by railroads. was reported ad-
versey from the Canal Committee. which report
was agreed to. and the bill Is now dead. II Ia
understood however. that an effort will be
made Tomorrow to disagree with the report.
and that IL will he charged that the measure has
been strangled in the interest OF the New York
Central and Erie railroads. 1t is certain. how,
| ever. that the boatmen who are most interested
The senate pissed the Syracuse Merchants
Salary bill. rs IL Is called. but which does moi
reduce anybody's SALARY. and only proposes to
reduce "A lew OF the employees OF future Legis-
| latures. or the famous Gldden bill they had
lcfl n section Of four or five lines requesting
state officials 10 reduce the number and pay OF
their employees as much as consistent with the
| public service. and this was also passed.
Ham Harris . scheme to tax the corporations
OF the state 20 raise money TO finish the now
Capitol. and Mr.. Jones's bill providing that the
Commissioners and the Governor shall contract
with some responsible parties for the compile
ton Of the building within two years at n sum
not to exceed 81. .5OO.OOO werc both reported for
the consideration Of the Senate. Il now remain
to be seen whether or not Ham Harris. 10y pac-
ing the patronage whore II will do the most
| good among senators and Assemblymen. will
he able 10 defeat the sensible proposition Of Mr.
Jones and carry his own scheme which means
A the expenditure Of ten or twelve millions more
Y and eight or ten years 10 finish the building.
Among tne blll- reported lhNorhhly IN tne sen
ate were tho following: Restoring Tompkins
Square 90 public park relative to tenement
houses in the city OF New York. and making the
onlco OF County Clerk in the city oi New York O
salarled Office
MIR. Jacobs in a resolution which WAS adopt.
ed, calls upon the Superintendent Of Insurance
10 inform the Senate what procee lngs. If any
| have been taken since june |. 1877. in relation
To the Universal Life Insurance. Company; also
any information he may have as to its present
! financial condition. together with the number
AMI aggregate amounts Of policies remaining
in force. and the present assets and liabilities
OF the company