The New York herald., 1879-02-01
NEW YORK HERALD SATURDAY FEBRUARY l89TRPLE SHEET

The apProprlsions required be made for The
to the p.ops Of G said is ynrGSs IA s
gs,ia:s Of the appropriation made should be Oh
ss N the facts relating e the Differences: referred g
action being taken the circumstances may require and
Resolved Tha is Honor the Mayor of said city be aud
he hereby Required to 70 this House within
on ths saSiss. Of made for the oi
said city by the local authorities showing or tending to
ions Of the law have been Complied with; and cd,
to the appropriations said city are sufficient prohibit
the ncarrng Of liability for which the city could be
Resolved further Tha. the Comptroller Of said City be
within days art the extent Of all udsmsnts obtained
Sssn Of ssd y M s The The As 81, S
s Of. The a a sSis sas s stating ns s %
when the claim involved in the litigation incurred
ws 4S sSn Sy sS % Of all
,ortiss OF said city for the payment of since
the the claims in q said "Sssss sy and ID
paid from the 80 made were incurred IL sS
the claims incurred. Fourth ali facts within his
o
hi hST OF Ss sf s ass mott un %
Fifth whether in his opinion the provisions Of the law re
hbit the ncuring any liability which city shall
be held responsible in excess OF the appropriation made
Adopted
INVESTIGATING The CITY GOVERNMENT.
1t is probable that the people of New York will
soon be blessed with another Legislative investi-
eating committee. appointed for the purpose OF ex-
amining the local government Of that unfortunate
locality. The resolution will come up for adoption
in the Assembly next week. good deal of discus
sion has arisen among the politicians here as
to the meaning and effect of this latest
tropolitan raid 1t is understood that con-
siderable feeling exists around tho Soma
torial circle because promises made by certain
democratic member of that body to give appoint
ments in this city to the friends Of some country
bills last year have not been kept 1t is. therefore.
concluded that the prompt and unanimous vote
even an inquiry as to the probable extent of the
examination seems to indicate that the gentleman's
colleagues have not forgotten the broken promises
Of last year.
SALARIES SUPREME COURT JUSTICES.
Mr.. Bandfcds measure reetive to the compensa-
tion of Justices of the Supreme Court provides that
no Justice Of the Supreme Court shall hereafter re-
ceive any salary, stipend, allowance, payment
compensation Of any nature in addition to the salary
sa"' stse S''0 '0'''' 0u' 0' inc treasury 'A'
THE MERRITT PETITION.
Senator Murphy busy during the forenoon
talking with members who signed the petition asking
for the confirmation of Collector Merritt as to the
philosophy of their action 1t is given out that sew
eral Of these gentlemen were induced to reconsider
and telegraphed Senator Conkng the fact that they
signed the document under a msapprehension.
These were the two interesting features OF legislative
work to-day.
EQUALIZATION OF TAXES.
Mr.. Brooks bill in relation to the equalization Of
debt due or owing by any owner OF land is secured
by mortgage. the amount Of the debt shall be as
sessed upon the of the land trustee for the
creditor, and such amount shall be deducted from
the value Of such real estate. and the residue
Of such value only shall be s.,a assessed upon g
paid by such owner as trustee, for taxes on such
debt shall be legal set-of against such debt. Sec
ton 2. When for any reason real estate be not as
sesscd at it's full valuation such part Of the value
assessablc to the owner Of the land trustee
cording to section /. shall be assessed at the same
y,arcQY aOa Ee
upon the part of the value of the said land assessed
to the owner of the land according to section l.
CRUELTY TO ANIMALS IN TRANSIT
Mr.. Galvins bill to prevent cruelty to animals
while in transit by railway within the State OF New
road company to confine any animals in their cars
for q longer period than twenty consecutive hours
without unloading the same for rest water and feed
ing for period Of ut least consecutive hours
unless prevented by storms or accidents.
SMOKE IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
The Senate Chamber was like a smokchouse this
morning For the first time a fire was lighted in the
big, open marble hearth under the handsome stone
mantelpiece that ornaments the rear OF the chamber
When the Senators entered they found several big
sticks of wood cracking on the polished andirons
and clouds Of smoke pouring into the room and roll
ing along the paneled and carved oak ceiling While
the smoke might be very good to darken the oak aud
give to it the appearance of antiquity, which alone
room it dd not ut all agree with the eyes and throats
of the honorable gentlemen. Many hardened old
political gladiator was seen for the first time in his
life to shed tears. When the ice had been thawed
out OF the chimney it began to attend to its business
and enabled the Senate to attend to the work in hand
In the absence of both the and the pro tenn
president the chair occupied by Senator Jacobs
len seats were unoccupied, the gentlemen having
anticipated the adjournment and gone home
last night. The most important measure
appropriatins sscoooo to pay the bills outstanding
for work the Capitol and to keep the institu
ton in running order until spring. when it is
pected another and very much larger appropriation
which the bill was referred at the instance Of the
venerable Senator St. John, from Orange. reported it
favorably. and 1t came up for third reading At
torney General Schoonmaker had advised the COM
mittee that the bill was constitutional
and all except Senator Hughes concurred with
him. When the measure came up in the open Senate
Mr.. Hughes argued that 1t was not proper or legal
for the Senate to appropriate money for liabilities
already incurred at any rate without mentioning
inclined to agree with him. and offered an amend
ment setting forth the purpose for which the money
to be used. Senator st. John declared 1t
time to call halt in making appropriations until
the people could look around and sec how the matter
stood.
HARRIS ON THE DEFENSIVE.
Senator Harris explained that the new Capitol
Commissioners werc not responsible for the debt of
S3lOOO0 which it WAS the chief mission of the appro
priation to liquidatc. they were directed by the
State to have the building for occupation by
the present Legislature and they did ana in doing
contracted the liabilities in question. Senator's
Pomeroy and Edick claimed that the bill in proper
form. Senator's Hughes st. John and Sessions (repub
voting explained their position and then withdrew the
requests and voted afiirmativey. Their expana-
tions substantially the same. They were dis
satisfied with the manner IN which the work had
been carried generally, but felt that the build
ing had so far progressed IL must be finished. The
bill, with Senator Ecclesnc's amendment, was voted
unanimously. and was sent to the Assembly for
currencc. Altogether it was very unnteresting
session. the only bill having any general interest
that introduced being one to extend the powers
of notaries public.
ENGINEERs REPORT ON CANALS.
The expenses OF the Engineer Corps ON the several
canals in this State during the last fiscal year.
shown by the Auditors books. amount to the sum of
S29.423 80, as follows:-
Erie. SEA- A5 Genesee Valley 81 093
Champlan ........ 1,5l5 Chemung. ......... 1913
Black River ....... J9S Crooked. ......... 20
Oswego.. 'gf Erie repairs. 1880
Cayuga and Seneca $40 Champlan repairs. Isl
Chenango. 100 Oneida repairs 31S
Oneida Al