The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-16
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Important and Secret Conference OF
Prominent Democrats.
A NEW EXCISE BILL.
Retrenchment and Reform in All the
State Departments
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALp.l

ALBANY. Jan. Is, 1879.
Both houses of the Legislature assembled promptly
at eight O'Clock this evening. There was thin at
tendance in the Assembly. that body being about an
hour in session. The anxiety OF members was not
appeased as TO the composition of committees.
General Hustled, who difficulties in the alb
scnce Of Speaker Alyord. stated that the an
nouncement would not be made until tomorrow.
Mr.. Alvord is inlsposed. The usual speculation is
INDUCED in tonight to the cha rmanships Of the
committees. No.material change is made in the sell
ections previously published III the HERALp 1t
s pretty we'll understood that Dr. Hayes will get the
cliairmanshp of the Committee Cities, while
sharp contest is said to be still going the
formation of the railroad committee.
CITY
The principal features Of the Assembly session
were the introduction of three bills by Mr. Straian
one arranging the statutes to the conduct of
claims in the law courts against the city OF New
York. all the features OF which embodied in
Hayes bill of last year. The second empowering the
Commissioner of Public Works to lay out that section
of the city lying between Eighth and 145th and
155th streets and the third giving authority to tho
municipal authority to dispose of small strip of
land in the OF the Post Office to the United
States government 1t will be rccollectcd that this
proposition recently up before the Board of
Aldermen, when tho Corporation Counsel decided
that Legislative aid was necessary.
PUBLIC PRIVATE TRUST FUNDS.
Mr. Hamilton Fish introduced ain important bill re-
latng to public and private trust funds. 1t provides
Il shall DO duty Of all State municipal officers
all and other officers of corporations and of all
pacify. authorized to ioan money deposit public,
trust or corporate money or funds any
any individual firm lend deposit all such funds
shall United States gold coin check.
o ." tho" ss eIa BE-
ni,sd s states gold ssin standard seshs and
the time the or deposit shall have
A GENERAL EXCISE BILL.
Mr.. Stegman. Of Brooklyn. introduced general
Excise BILL which applies to all cities and towns Of
the State 1t creates boards of excise and regulates
license fees from $50 to $3.50 Mr. stegman states
that the best elements of the temperance and liquor
interests of Brooklyn in favor of this measure
CONTESTED SEATS
Mr.. Langben presented petition from John 4.
Brodsky contcsng the seat Of Daniel Patterson from
the Eighth district of New York city. similar Pc
titon presented from James I. Sighe asking for
the seat OF Assem- Irowbridge, Of the Fourth
district o; Brooklyn.
A SPECIE pAYaESr RESOLUTION
Mr.. Erastus Brooks. the democratic leader, led
off to-day by Introducing the following resolution
relative to the resumption of specie payment
Resolved Of the That the Legislature of
the great body Of The people q United
q. @ swn snS the
payment afers lapse OF nearly seventeen aud that
inistrasion in future proven, any the
calamity Of an unredeemabIe paper currency
PROTECTION MECHANICS
The Lien bill, also presented by Mr.. stcgman gives
annie protection to all mechanics in the collection
| Of their claims in preference TO other creditors.
SESSION LAWS.
! Aproposition is made By Mr.. Baker of Monroe, to
repeal the statute giving authority for the pubica-
| ton Of session laws in two papers Of each county
| throughout the state.
ExrrAvAGANcE IN THE SENATE.
The Senate met at eight O'Clock this evening with
| full attendance, and did not adjourn until shortly
before ten Aside from the bill relative to the water
! supply OF New York which will be found below the
only feature Of the proceedings which has any gem
| erai interest discussion over the resolution
introduced last week by Senator Goodwin
special committee of three to consider reduction
of the number OF the senatos employees and de-
made carefully prepared speech in favor OF such
retrenchment .'iven in this magnificent granite
| tomb" he said. where $10.0OOOO OF the peoples
money buried, the cry of the multitude for
| lower taxes and more exact official account
ability pcnetrates the heavy walls and reaches your
ears senators. and mine" becoming more particu-
| lar In his remarks the Senator went on to say
that the incidental expenses of the Legislature had
been increasing from year to year until IL was
| serious abuse He presented table of the number
| OF employees OF the Senate in every year since
| ls45 with the amount of salaries for each year.
1t appeared that since 1s55 the number of
employees has increased from twenty to sevcntyfou
and the amount paid has increased from s9,9l2 to
s53s5?. Tho Senator referred sarcastically tn the
fact that In the old Senate Chamber the three little
doors guarded by seven doorkeepcrs, who cost
the State $Sd q day. He alluded to the 'platoons"
OF emp,oyts engaged in straining their nccks
to study high art in the panclcd ceiling There was
an average of more than two employees each Sena
tor and the regarded this az shameful state
of affairs, while unemployed aborcrs and overtuxcd
capitalists of the state were clamorng for retrench
ment. answer their demands with this resolution.
said Senator Goodwin. and perhaps you will get III
return from the hand of some honest mechanic
. hammer and nails, with directions TO
them as doorkecpcrs." In the OF mis- remarks
the Senator paid high compliment to Governor
Robinson as ono who had saved and was still saving
vast sums of the peoples money.
senator Hamilton Harris said he was surprised to
hear the Governor spoken OF as frugal official when
last year he had favored spending $1,OUOvw for .
park at Niagara.
senator mccarthy said he in favor of rctrcnch
was s in the supply bill for the 6ig institutions
senator Ecclcsinc defended the policy of Governor
40, ars , "ahs nv snamsnsnt wa.
made TO the resolution by senator Mccarthy, aud 1t
was passed as amended. As adopted 1t calls for
lures, not only in the Senate but in every depart
mcnt OF the State
rrir WATER SUPPLY or NEW YORK cry
Senator Robertson introduced the following bill re-
lat,c to a water supply for New York city
sscrroS t-Ths commissioners appointed or 20 be sp
proceeding than clnim Is embraced may CON.
duct Their u" 10 any one ." ~ , e ,
they may in their POSTPONE the Of
time PRIOR to The sn%l determination Of tho prcesdnss
son oG To- be made 70 any one Of such cam
ants Notwithstanding the fact that tue examination aud
other claim claims ts still pend
ing open aud undetermined aud such action the part
ot the commissioners IN any proceeding now pending IL
! hereby ratified sud confirmed
src 1.-The Commit sicncrs referred 60 IN the ars section
may up specified claims and determine the
bc made thereon aud make separate report
therein specified he tho required in the aicre
said aud the subsequent action with reference thereto shall
be had in tho though other claims were
embraced IN such proceeding which. however, shall con
tinue all claims upon which such separate detcs
mnstion and report IL made.
she -The Commissioners appointed TO take lands aud
| exngush rights Lakes Ma.upac aud Kirk and tho
Muscot River in Putnam ana Wesecstcr counties may,
~ 80 claims embraced in such proceedings award
the absolute and entire exercise vt such
right shall be specified In their and may award
therefor modified and tho by tho
city ~ such modified compensation shall cntle ~
only OF such modified rght provided that
detern alton heretofore made 80 the limits ~ ce
walton aud depression shall be altered recommended
| but such iimi. shall remain nnalternble.
Ssc. 4Thc commissioners may dcer'n ne the compcnsn
tion be made whose claims may lie sub
mcd to them BY tho written consent both OF such
aud ot the Commissioner Of Public Works 81 the city 81