New-York tribune., 1912-03-15
SENATE APPROVES ''CRAB''
Joker NeStIeS in the Queens
County Clerk Bill.
GREAT POWER TO OFFICIAL
Board of Estimate Shorn Of
Right to Change Salaries
Other Legislation.
lBy Telegraph to The Tribune. J

| Albany, March 14.-Wthout' debate the
Senate passed to-day the bill OF Senator
| Harte making the Office OF the County
Clerk OF Queens a salaried Office. II was
supposed to be the ordinary bill changing
the County Clerks office from a fee 10 a
salary basis. AS a matter Of fact 1t is far
from being the ordinary measure. 1t is. in
fact, grab" and is perhaps as pretty a
bit of work in that line as the two years of
| Democratic administration have produced.
This bill gives to the County Clerk a
salary OF $4,000 a year in lieu of all fees
and emoluments. II provides that he shall
have power to appoint and remove one
deputy clerk, salary $4,000; one assistant
deputy, salary $4,000; one private secre-
tary, salary $500; one financial clerk,
salary $500: one deputy financial clerk.
! salary $4,000: one bank messenger, salary
| 81 900. and one counsel, salary $4,000. In
addition IL provides that he must appoint
| ffty-nne clerks, copyists and other sub
ordinates at specified salaries. ranging from
| 81, 900 to $500 a year Also he may ap-
point such other assistants and clerks as
ne needs at salaries TO be fixed by the
| Board of Estimate
The joker In this proposition is that the
bill fixes salaries for sxty-six places in the
office without the possibility of change by
the Board OF Estimate
Two other bills by Senator Harte were
passed by the Senate. They came from
the New York City administration and
would permit the payment Of assessments
for local improvements on the instalment
plan. The Senate also passed Assembly
man McElligott's bill permitting the Board
Of Aldermen TO fix the pay Of employees IN
! the labor class.
The Nelson bill providing for the organ
izing of a negro regiment Of the national
guard was killed In the Assembly to-day
by being recommitted. The vote was GA
to &c.
The Assembly advanced both the Schec-
tor and Yule bills erecting the County of
The Bronx. The Yule bill has a referen-
dun clause, and the introducer, after 1t
was advanced, withdrew it and put in an
other one. which is identical with the bill
OF Senator Stilwel which passed the Sen
ate yesterday.
The Assembly Cities Committee dealt the
| Sullivan Brooks land tax bill what is prob
ably its death blow by refusing to report
it. The bill proposed gradually to reduce
the tax on buildings in New York City and
increase il on unimproved land.
Assemblyman Murray introduced a bill
to-day requiring the Public Service Com
mission in New York City prior TO enter
ing into any subway contracts to submit
the question whether the railway shall be
equipped, maintained and operated by the
city to a referendum vote of the people
a decision Of the people in favor of mu.
nicipal equipment. maintenance ard opera
tion is made compulsory upon the city au-
thorities and the Public Service Commits
sion.
bill by Senator Wainwright. designed
TO meet the desires of those who want a
| trolley line on the Albany Post Road, pro.
| vdes for the construction of another road
and appropriates $4,000 out of the high.
| way bond issue.
Governor Dix signed to-day Senator Muir
laughs bill appropriating s2.5l9399 for the
use of the State Commission Of Highways
in maintaining and repairing highways
The Assembly passed the Seaker bill pro-
| vidiDg that the defendant in divorce actions
! shall not be entitled to any interest i'm an
insurance policy on the life OF the plaintifi
except where the defendant has paid part