New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-30
THE CITY REFORM BILLS.
FAVORABLE ACTION OF THE SENATE.

FAVORABLE ACTION OF IHE oENAi
,,r,srprs onprRrp TO A THIRD READ
ING IFTER DEBATE.
IrRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE i"'no-
AIB,NY, April Ex-senator Gibbs puShed W d
third reading in the Senate to-day all OF the rcIorpi
bills drawn up by the Roosevelt Committee oliS
the County Clerk bill. and that which makes 'he
Park Department single headed commission met
with opposition. Much of this opposition was que
10 the nopportune decision of subcommittee VI
,he Committee of Fifty-two now here to oppose the
Park Department bill on the ground that 100 inuch
power is granted by it to one man. The committee
hold thai no one man ought to control the opening
of all new streets above One-hundrcd-and-hlty-
ffth-st HowsOever wise the decision was IL was
made at an unfortunate moment.
OPPOSITION To THE PARK DEPARTMENT ELL"
The announcement by Senator RoDb that lnc l
COMMITTEES disapprOved the Park Department VII
inspired all the opposition to it that followed, ana
also strengthened the opposition to the county
Clerk bill 1t was unluckily the first one taken
mn and the announcement that the committee dld
not desire TO press the bill amazed the Senate
Senator Gibbs looked greatly surprised, and then
consented 70 putting aside the bill till be could
learn the cause of the committees action. When
he did learn. he declared that their reasons were
insufficient for opposing the bill. To his thinking
the IN asure was an excellent one, and ought 10 De
passed. Senator Daggett said that for many years
the newspapers of Ncw-York had censurcd the
PARK Commissioners for their constant quarrels.
All had agreed that il ought TO be a sngle-headed
department.
Senator DAILY said that il would he shameful not
TO reform the Park Department after the revelation
of its abuses which had been made by the Invcst-
eating Committee. lie warmly supported the DlL
Upon motion of Senator Gibbs the Senate ordered
the bill to a third reading. THIS too, despite a
motion of Senator Campbelrs that thebill should
be sent back to the Committee on Cities Senator
Campbell made this motion because he SAID: " me
Committee of Fifty-two" are opposed to the biii
The motion to recOmmit the bill received the votes
however, only of Senators Campbell, Murphy,
Jacobs Cullen. Kiernan and ii. Nelson ihere
was a decisive vote against it, and the bill was
then ordered to a third reading.
TIE sHERIFF's COMPENSATION.
Tire bill transferring from the Board OF Aldermen
10 the Board of Estimate and Apportionment the
task of auditing the bills OF the Sheriff was next
considered.
"What reason is there for this bill sad Senator
Campbell with an innocent ar.
IL will give the County of New-IoTk a chance
to reduce the amounts II pays to the SheT-
i for transporting prisoners and like services le-
Senator Daggctt said that he was once Sheriff of
Kings County. and had been compelled 10 pay
S35 600 while occupying that office, owing to the
errors of deputies He believed that the present
bill was faulty in that it reduced the Sheriils com
penSation to too low sum- When reform starts
"New-l Orkers have got 1t bad now. There Is an
Old saying that If you scratch TeloImeT yGh VIII
find-well, won't say. But will say that never
heard of a Sheriff of NcW-loIk that went cat Oh
office with any money!
senator Murphy said that he thought that the
bill would be unconstitutional II II applied TO the
present Sheriff. as reducing his compensation during
his term of Office. An amendment to that eject
was rejected, and the bill was ordered TO thuu
THE OTHER BILLS DISPOSED OF.
The bills which put the Register on salary, de-
priving him of his fees and pat the control of the
surrogate's expenses in the hands of the Board of
Estimate and Apportionment. were then ordered
10 third reading without opposition.
The bill which gives the County ClcrS salary
Of 5000 as a consolation for the loss OF TeOOoO
in fees yearly was especially opposed by senator
Thacher of Albany. lie criticised the REDUCTION
in fees that would be made under AsSemblylnan
Lewis's amendment, and argued that thc county
Clerks office would not be scli-suppOrt!u2. otna-
Tor Gibbs in reply read statement from W Nhceier
II. Peckham, WHO was one of those WHO drew up
the bill. Mr.. Icckham says:
The truth IS that the main feature of the bill Is wholly
good effects most needed reform II II should turn
that tho IN lion OF the fees has been too great lhe
can be easily rcncded The session Is wei & a.
yanccd and to am aid tlc h In matter or ue'+I Ike
that and thus necesitae its going back to the Assembly
wo nd respectfully submit to De unWise. ih- lees as
they now stand ana as ht ounce J., now a!Ill'leeu "9
unque,tonibly too large They are the cause ahI
source of the sc&ndtlousy large income OF the Once
submit that i better to nave if eNper' "h lHc
rates figured in the bill before yCu AID then leSisae
in the gh Of pertinent tan at this late day 10 FISK an
amendment.
Sena.or DAILY sad: "All there is in Senator
Thachers argument is mat the city Will have to
pay a few dollars deficiency. The incomes OF me
County Clerks vary from $oO,OOO 10 $SOOOo
yearly. think we can afford TO pay the deficiency,
If there is any; at least make trial OF tins new
system
The bill was then ordered TO third reading.