New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-15
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

FEW DEMOCRATIC reform BILLS"
WHY THE DEMOCRATS DO NOT ACT ON GOVERNOR
CLEvELANp's RECOMMENDATIONS AND DO AWAY
WITH CERTAIN OFFICES.
fFRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIDUNE.l
ALBANY Jan. 14-The democratic members OF
the Legislature may be said 10 be shlver-
ing on the edge of the icy pool OF
reform" into which Governor Cleveland has
beneyolently invited them TO plunge. In his mes
sage he recommended earnestly that the Board OF
Canal Appraisers, the Board OF Audit and the anal
Auditors Department should be abolished that the
Health Officer of New-York should be deprived of
his enormous fees that the Insurance Department
should be made less expensive, and that the
Harbor Masters of New-York should not longer be
permitted ito burden commerce by the exac ION
of charges which the highest tribunal in the land
has determined TO be illegal" Viii the Democratic
Senators and Assemblymen pass bills to carry out
this scheme of ecOnOmyi They do not seem to be
eager 10 do so. Thus far they have only intro
duced one, and that presented by Senator
Titus Of Buffalo who may be considered Governor
Cleyelands personal rep sentative III the Legs-
la,ure His bill aboshes the Board of Canal
Appraisers and the Board of Audit. establishing IN
their place Board OF Claims The members of the
Republican minority in the Legislature have been
more energetic. Senator Pitts has introduced bill
abohshlng the Canal AUDITORS Department. and
Assemblyman Scott bill abOlishing the Board
of Canal Appraisers and the Board OF Audit sub
stituting for them Court OF Claims
There is a distressing suspicion that the back
wardneSs of the Democratic members OF the
Legislature in presenting the reform bills is due TO
the fact that they have some intimate friends for
whom they would like to provide Offices. Such
wanton destruction of patronage such reduction
In tie number Of available offices as that proposed
by the Governor naturally causes anguish to every
truly patriotic mind ready to the State
for small compensation. 1t is not to be wondered
at IN at the Democratic Senators and Assembymen
fnd it Dpos ible, with such patriotic spirits tug
Ring at their coat tails: to rush to the front
required in regard to three of the boards which
Governor Cleveland suggested should be abolished.
The Canal Auditor and his eight clerks have had
liz lie to do since the Tree canal amen mems We're
passed. the terms OF a majority OF the Cana Az
praIsers exIi ire on January 20 and rhe members Of
The Board of Audit are eager to have their work
shifted other shoulders. The support of these Of
fees last year cost the State the following amounts
Lamar AlIalserb- o9o3e ~
Board OF Audit 1000 90
s6O,6s0 20
There will have TO be officers appointed 10 do
come of the work now done by those whose services
are e. DO dispensed with Thus under senator Ut =
bill Bureau is Established III the Controllers
Department, the clerks of which will execute some
o. the work now done by the clerks OF the Canal
Auditors Department. The Canal Auditors De-
partment is virtually merged In the Control
lers Department by the bill. Deputy Con-
troller Galllen estimates that 1t will be
necessary hire two three clerks to do this adj
ditional work. He fsvoIs transferring some OF the
clerks from the AUDITORS Department VINO Ia
miliar with its duties Ia the Controllers Depari
meni. The work of deciding the various claims
against the State now done by tue Board of Audit
aud ihe Board of Canal Appraisers, will be
concentrated IN Court of Claims. ms Court OF
Claims under Assemblyman SCOTS bill viii cost the
STATE yearly the sum OF $23.1OO. TO this sum
should be ADDED the 0 600 necessary support the
new Canal AUDITORS buroau in tue Con rollers De-
psrtment, If one would obtain just |
Idea of what the State will have to expend |
II abO ishes the Canal Auditors Department, Tue
Board OF Andit and the Board OF Canal Appraisers
The expenditure will be as follows:
Counsel Board of Claims ................ $4,000
JAree Judges Board OF Claims. 1000
Cbief Clerk Board OF ClaiDs. 400
Deputy Clerk Board OF CLAIMS. ............. 1000