The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-20

Der or dock and wharf owners in New York city and
Brooklyn acting in league with certain harbor mas
tiers. port wardens and other officials, have for some
years past INDUCED in system of blackinail by
charging illegal fees in the nature OF wharfage The
Assembly occupied for a short time to-day in
discussing bill making such conduct on the
part or wharf owners msdemeanor, punishable
to be good one as far it aims TO protect owners
and captains of vessels from imposition in this re-
spect. II has not yet been ordered to third read
ing. but was simply progressed in Committee OF the
Whole. Mr.. Grady made unsuccessful attempt to
have it referred back 70 the COMMITTEES on Commerce
and Navigation, from which 1t had been originally
reported.
TAXATION or CHURCH PROPERTY.
Mr.. Williams has introduced a bill In the Assem-
bly, which repeats the exemption statutes as to church
and clerical property.
Mr.. Youngs introduced bill to perfect an amend
ment to the constitution relative to the supreme
Court. provides that section six shall be amended
that it will read follows There shall be the
existing Supreme Court with general jurisdiction in
law and equity, subject to such appellate Jurisdlc-
on OF the Court of appeals as now IS OF o tS be
justices now in office, with one additional Justice,
to be elected hereinafter provided, who
shall be continued during their respective terms ana
of their successors. The existing judicial districts
OF the State are continued until changed pursuant
to this section. Five the justices shall reside in
the district in which is the city Of New York and
five in the Second Judicial district and four in each
of the other districts The Legislature may alter the
districts without increasing the number once after
every enumeration, under the constitution, of the
inhabitants of the State The bill provides for the
Young, the D8llOtS ana DOAts on tuc pToposcu
amendment
BRIBERY AT THE
Mr.. Youngs also brought in bill TO preserve the
purity of elections. 1t provides that IL any person
shall demand. receive offer to receive any money
valuable thing a compensation or reward for
the giving Withholding vote at an election or
if any person shall pay. offer or promise to
pay contribute offer or promise to con-
tribute to another. to be paid or used any
reward for the giving withholding vote at any
election, shall make any promise to influence the
giving or Withholding Of any such VOTE or shall by
menace other corrupt means or device whatever,
either directly indirectly attempt to influence any
dete ur % 40 & sam nr dstrb or hinder
him in the free exercise of the right OF suffrage Mt
any general or local election held pursuant to law
i'll this State ana shall thereof be convicted such
person offending and convicted shall be deemed
guilty Of msdemeanor and shall be fined, I'M
prsoned excluded from the right of suffrage
cordng to the discretion of the Court before which
such conviction shall be had such fine not to exceed
$780, nor such Imprisonment one year. nor such ex-
clusion from the right of suffrage ten years.
Also to protect and preserve the purity OF primary
meetings, cancuses and convent ons of political
who shall by bribery, violence other corrupt
means device whatsoever, either directly or in
directly influence any person delegate or SUD
cal party OF this State, to vote in any
primary meeting, caucus or convention
of any such party. such person offending and con-
victcd shall be deemed guilty Of a misdemeanor and
shall be fined imprisoned. according to the discre
ton of the Court before which such conviction shall
be had such fine in case to exceed $780, nor such
imprisonment six months.
DUTIES OF ooRoSERs.
Mr.. Beckwith introduced measure to limit the
functions OF and create the Office of medical
examiner. 1t provides that from and after the cleo
ton appointment of medical examiners. herein
after provided the duties OF coroners shall no longer
relate to the investigation of cases of sudden or
violent Deaths to the and disposition of the
bodies of persons found dead nor to persons danger
ously injured by violence otherwise The number
of coroners shall be determined and fixed by the
Board of Supervisors in each county. They shall
the charge OF wrecks. shall and
execute process in suits in which the Sheriff s
party, and shall execute the Office of sheriff under the
same conditions and circumstances as it is now law
full for them to do. The manner of their election
and their term of Office shall remain the same as be-
fore the passage OF this act.
SUNDAY PROFESSIONS
Mr.. Edmann's bill to amend chapter 500 Of the Laws
OF 1872 amends the act as to make it read as fol-
lows:-"All professions and parades on Sunday, in
any street public place of any city, excepting only
funeral processons engaged in the actual burial of
the dead, and professions to and from any
place of worship in connection with
1igious service there celebrated. are forbidden:
and in such excepted case shall there be any music,
fireworks, discharge Of cannon firearms or other
disturbing noise; provided that in any military
Grand Army of the Republic funeral music may be
played while escorting the body. but such music
shall not be played within block of any place of
worship where worship is being celebrated
SUMMARY INVESTIGATION OF OFFICIALS.
Mr. Fish WILL at the first opportunity introduce
bill for the summary investigation of county and
municipal expenditures. which provides that if
twenty Ave freeholders in any incorporated village
town or city shall present any Justice of the SUI
preme Court affidavit setting forth that they be-
ieve the public moneys being unlawfully
r,ptly expended such Justice on ten DAYS notice
to the disbursing officer and the Legislative
body Of the locality shall direct a summary invest-
CATION into the affairs of the corporation complained
of and at his discretion appoint experts to
secute the investigation and publish the results of
the The officials or Legislative body COM
planned Of shalt afford facilities for the investigation
or be punished as for contempt The costs incurred
shall be taxed by the Justice and paid upon his order
by the disbursing officer OF the corporation nvest
gated.
MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY.
The Judiciary Committee of the Assembly gave
another hearing this afternoon in the matter of the
New York Mutual Life InSurance Company rebate
plan. Professor Elizur Wright. of Boston read a
long theoretical dissertation lite insur-
Lies rebate plan was wrong in policy and
actuary OF the Provident Savings Life Assurance
Society. He maintained that the reserve fund of the
Mutual Life was accumulated for and belonged to
the old or existing members, and that when the
pany drew upon it to pay Tor getting new members
il like the trustees of savings bank using
the deposits OF old depositors to secure new ones
with.
ON STRIPED STOCKINGS SENATE.
The daughter of prominent State official is lying
very i'll in consequences of poisoning by wearing
striped stockings. To prevent the sale of snch dan
gero,is goods her father drafted the following bill,
which was introduced in the Senate to-day
SECTION Amy who shall manufacture for sale
who shall knowingly sell or permit to be sold by another
ents injurious or dangerous to health for every .uch
offence DO aajndged guilty Of misdemeanor.
poisoned poisonous goods garments shall have right
~ achon against the hrm association
corporate body for whom such goods garments
were or sold for all damages sustained and
for exemplary damages
Size 3On the trial of any action auth by this
proof VI the of poisoned poisonous
goods shall be presumpve evidences Of know
ledge BY party prosecuted Of such poisoned poisonous
condition.
IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC SQUARES
According to promise made some weeks since
Senator Eccieene introduced nother bill calling for
the Improvement of public squares III New York.
The present bill authorizes the Board of Assessment
and Apportionmcnt to raise 100000 to be expended
during the present year in improving the public
squares or places along the line of Fourth avenue
between Sixty seventh and Ninety sixth streets.
DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.
A question in which the democrats in the Senate
by vote for the first time in several years
over the following resolution offered by Senator
Mccarthy
Whcrcas the Legislature of 1873 appropriated 5000 to
he expended under the authority OF the Comptrocr IN
aiming tho financial affairs and business administra-
ton OF any asylum for the insane. state prison.
ieformatory house Of refuge, other charitable
penal institution receiving appropriations from the
state treasury aud whereas the Comptroller was author
lied to employ agent to mako such examination and u