New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-16
NETWORK REFORM BILLS
REoRGANIzING THE DEPARTMENTS.
SEVEN MEASURES DISCUSSED AND PASSED By THE


ASSEMBLY.
rFRoM TIE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE rarBUSr'l
ALBANY April I5.-Seven Of the New-IorK re-
formatOry'bills Of the Roosevelt Investigating Oom-
mittee were passed by the Assembly To-Day Two
of these were in relation 70 the County Clerk II
the bills become law. be will receive salary OF
S15 900 in place of fees and the fees will be poured
intp the city treasury. The Register will receive
salary of $4,000 and the fees will become the
property of the city. The Surrogate's office Will
pass from under the control of the Board OF Alder
men to the Board of Estimate and Apportlonment
Two of the bills will affect the Sheriff. sOne OF them
repeats the law of 1888 in regard to conhning more
than one prisoner in cell of the Tombs. This gave
the Sheriff a pretext to put four prisoners IN the
cells AT Ludlow Street Jail and charge high price
for boarding them The second bill puts the ex-
pendtures of the Sheriff under the control OF the
Board of Estimate and ApportiOnment. The last
bill considered was in relation to the Park Depart
ment.
LITTLE oRJECTIoN TO THE MEASURES.
There was no practical opposition to the bills.
| Mr.. Roosevelt had carefully compared the en-
crossed bills with the originals before he permitted
them to be considered by the Assembly. linen one
after the other they were taken up and passed.
Assemblvman Van Colt, of New-York, moved that
the salary of the Register be $4,000 instead Of
| $4,000.
smile fitted across Mr. Roosevelts face as he
said: Mr. Speaker, this amendment doesn't merit
serious consideration. It would be an absurdity 20
| give any man doing work of this class S2o,OOO
yearly salary. The work is paid for at high rate
at $4,000. The work Is actually done by the
deputy the head of the Office takes the money. We
give HIM the large salary of $4,000 simply be-
cause of certain responsibilities. II should be SAID
that the Register has lost money in consequence
of these responsibilities for many years FIVE
thousand dollars would be ample pay for the
work: but we give the Register $1,000 insurance.
The sum of $4,000 additional would be simply
gratuty."
hope it will not go forth to the world that Dem
ocrats are Crabbers of large salaries" said Mr.. Hag
gerty earnestly. and permit me to say thar l
should think my lines had fallen in an exceedingly
pleasant place if could get $4,000 yearly"
Mr.. Van Colts amendment was voted down by an
overwhelming vote and the bill then passed
by a vote OF 92 to l.
AN EFFORT TO INCLUDE ALL COUNTY CLERKS.
The bill in relation to the County Clerk was
then considered. w. L. Smith, one of the Demo-
cratic leaders. offered an amendment extending the
provisions of the bill to all the County Clerks in
the State. In support of this amendment he
argued that If it was right to reduce the fees OF
the County Clerk of New-York, it was also right To
reduce the fees Of all the other County Clerks in
the State. The amendment was opposed by the
Democratic as well a. the Republican members OF
the Investigating Committee. Nh. Erwin expressed
their idea when he said that tie addition Of the
amendment would bring TO Albany all the County
Clerks in the state to oppose the BILL Mr. Roose-
welt also frankly said that the amendment would
| load down the bill
| LOWER FEES AsKUp FOR.
Mr. Lewis of New-York offered another amend
/ of
ment5 from fifteen cents to eight cents, on other
matters from five cents to three cents.
| Mr. Lewis argued that the County of New-Iork
ought not 70 make profit out OF the people who
did business in the County Clerks Office. The fees
now allowed by law were too large.
! Mr.. Rice pointed out in support ofMr Lewis's mo-
! ton that testimony had been given showing that
! the County Clerk of New-York received $4,000
! annually Some of this amount ought TO be re-
! Uittod and the fees lowered. Mr. Roosevelt re
piled that the $4,000 received il fees would be
| nsed in paving the salaries of the County Clerk
and his clerks. which were now charge on the
| county Nevertheless, Mr.. Lewlss motion 10 re-
! duce the fees was adopted by vote of y 70 36.
! The debate then turned 10 Mr.. smith amend
meut providing that the h.u should apply To an
the County Clerks IN the State McSsrs. Roosevelt
J WEIGH and Erwin earnestly opposed the ADOPTION OF
the Amendment, say Ihg that jue OH could NOT lace
the hostility of all tue County Clerks m the state IN
| the end the amendment was rejected by vote OF
! 40 To SO. The bill was passed by vote of lO1 to
! / The second bill III regard u the County Clerk
that IN relation 10 the compensation Of his clerks
| and the measure concerning the Surrogate were
/ also passed.
THE EVENING SESSION.
IN the evening the bill, relating 10 the Sheriff were
| passed There was u strong opposition offered to
| the bill making the Park Department "a single
| headed commission Mr.. kitte. of Newly 0rk
offered an amendment providing for three commits
sloners tn serve for two four and SIX years respec
| lively. to have $1,000 yearly salary each Mr.
Roosevelt said that this would be perpetuation of
the present bad system which had brought the Park
! Department INTO such Disgrace. Mr.. kittle's
| amendment was rejected by large vote, and the
! bill was then passed by vote OF 81 10 Il.
! There only remains % Toe passed of the reform
! bills that repeating imprisonment for debt.
! The Assembly then passed Senator GlDbss bill
increasing the salaries of the policemen of New
! York The bill was recalled from the Governor for
! amendment Police Commissioner Matthews has
| been here to-day seeing that the proper amend
meDts were made