New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-15
PRICE THREE CENTS
DEMOCRATIC PLUNDERING.
ALMOST DOUBLING DOCK BOARD PAY.
HAsTY ACTION OF THE AssEMBLY-THE SENATE RE-
FUsING TO CONCUR.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE


ALBANY, May 14.-Joseph Koch must con-
slider this the profitable week Of lobbying that he
did, He has induced the Assembly TO pass bill
increasing his term Dock Commissioner of New-York
from two years to six years and increasing his salary
from SO 900 TO 1000 That is clear profit Of IS 900
by weeks work In Albany. Mr.. Koch's increase OK
salary brought about by amending an apparently
innocent bill introduced by Senator Plunkitt defining
the term wharf property" When this bill was an
nounced in the Assembly, Mr.. Ives Of New-York Of
fered the following incongruoas amendment amend
ing section A of the Consolidation act:
The head of the Department OF Docks shall be called
the Board of Docks said board shall consist OF presi
dent who shall be designated IN his appointment 20
his appointment, and two persons who shall be called
Commissioners Of the Department OF Docks who shall,
the term OF six years from the time OF their appoint
ment and until their shall be respectively APP
pointed and qualified. The said president ana c0lninls-
sones OF the Department OF Docks shall each receive an
annual salary OF $4,000.
The proongs the term OF Koch and Mathews
from years six years. and increases the salaries OF
all the commis ssoners from So 900 $1,000 IL thus In
the cost of supporting the Dock $4,000
annually. Walter Howe warned the Republicans OF tho
Assembly to accept the amendment. IL has no re-
ation to the bill whatever he said and Is obviously
scheme to take money out OF the treasury of NewYork
City. The Republican majority OF this House has been
too willing pass such bills introduced by Democrats
here to increase the Of Democratic oceholders
in New-York We cannot afford party to pass a-
other one OF these salary yncreasng bills Notwthstand
ing this appeal eighteen Republicans voted for the
amendment with forty Democrats. The Democrats
made IL party measure and voted against 1t.
The eiRhteep Republicans who voted with the Demo-
Gratis were Barnum and Smith. of NewYork; Baker
and Hawkins, Of Erie County Demers. OF Rensselaer,;
Farnum, of Wayne Haskell. Of Madison Horton, OK
Chautauqua Myers, OF Brooklyn; Priddy, OF Cayuga;
Raines o. Ontario Smith, Of Queens Storm, OF Dutch
ess; Sweet OF Oswego; Tappan, OF Onondagai lyman,
Of Richmond; and Williams, OF chautauqua Forty-yc
Republicans voted against the amendment The bill was
then passed by similar vote.
Governor Hill to-day vetoed Mr.. Van Aliens bill In
creasng the salary OF F. II. Underhi stenographer OK
the surrogate's Court In NewYork, from $4,000 to
$4,000 The Governor no reason why an increase
should be this time especially he is informed
that this officer in addition to his salary has an extra
of several thousands of dollars arising from ha
connection with office He adds that he has received
letters from other stenographers In New-fork courts
protesting against the increase for the reason that 10
makes the salary Of this Office out Of proportion to
that OF other stenogaphers having equal work to do
The Governor then says:
At time when branch OF the Legislature mas
deemed Its duty TO sne aaS ns sae 10y
the city have of late been unduy increased IL Woulu
seem 10 be thoroughly inconsistent law which
increases 10y oneha the salary OF official Of that very
city II is by legislation such as this enacted drng
bnt In compiance With the personal opportunities OF I'm
teresed officials that large share Oh the burdens now
Complained Of have into existence. IL is suggested
that il there were legislative investigation into the the
burdens of the taxpayers OF the City OF Newiork and
more reduction OF these burdens the welfare OF the cit
zens Of the metropolis would be promoted
II would seem that the Governor makes dstinc5
promise in this message veto such bills as that in-
creasing the salaries Of the Dock Commissioners Koch
and Matthews The Republicans who voted against
Commissioner Koch's bill intend to hold him to this
promise when he to consider that BILL II shoud
pass the Senate. . a..
When the bill was announced in the Senate at its
evening session Senator Gilbert protested against an
attempt OF tine Democrats rush through the bill as
amended in the Assembly He pointed out the re Lark
len gthening OF their. terms and opposed tho
| adoption of the bill as amended senator's
Murphy and Plunkitt were comcally surprised
at Senator Giberts discovery. They expressed doubt
read the amendment correctly Yet as so ser-
GUS cha rye had made they thought that the bu
should be referred the NewYork delegation for exam
naton. Senator Murphy took the bill TO Assistant Cor
pOratiOn Counsel Scott of NewY0rk, who quickly con-
vnced him by comparison of the amendment with tho
Consolidated act that Senator Gilbert was right Mr.
positive that the terms OF Dock Commissioner
Koch and Matthews increased. Mr.. scott with u
term Senator Murphy then reported the bill BACK 70
Senator Robb said that the Dill was sun
Objectionable inasmuch IL increased the sal
aries OF the Commissioners AT last senator
Murphy moved that the Senate should refuse TO cocur
in the entire amendment made by the Assembly.
ator Murphy was adopted and a Conference Committee
was appointed. Senator Plunktt who is on the Con-
ference Committee, says that the o5ectOnaole amends
ment will be stricken out in order TO save his BILL
Speaker Erwin appointed as the conference conmtteo
on the bill engthenng the terms OF the Dock Conins-
souers. Walter Howe Krnse Barnum Church and ives.
The committee will oppose lengthenng the terms.