Year: 1877




Soan's committees In other years they have had their
wishes consulted and had their men placed where
they could do them the most good. sloans innovation
Of appointing tho committees without the advice and
without taking into consideration the feelings OF those
particular corporations has given mortal offence. think
therefore that Sloan, though he has made weak
appointments, deserves great deal OF credit for the
moral courage he has shown in defyng these COM
bned interests and telling them TO their teeth that
Of their creatures should receive any special
mark Of recognition from him. This is grit, and tho
Speaker has moro OF 1t. Mr.. Alvord is stl troubled
over his disappointment. and he chews six pack
ages OF fine cut TO that proved sum.
Gent in his calmer ana happier days.
What is 10 be done with him now It is hard to toll
There is vacancy, and to leave him against his will
on the Apporonment Committee is to leave him on
the rack For several it is to be hoped
thing may be done for Mr.. Avord that will bring balm
10 his wounded spirit, for with his great knowledge Of
parliamentary law, his intimate acquaintance with the
general run Of legislation and his comprehensive
grasp OF almost every public question lie can
be Of great service TO tho State whi!e from
The well known idiosyncraces of his character all
these qualities should he cherish the idea that he has
been badly treaed) may be perverted TO purposes of
obstructng legislation and doing much mischief


VOLUME BILLS





To-day half dozen were introduced affecting
New York city. This session will hardly
pass without amendment to the charter
that will bring order OUT OF chaos
and give harmonious shape to the city government
On this point enough republicans and democrats will
be found to unite to the passage OF bill that
without weakening the strength of either party will
tighten the burdens of the taxpayers and simplify to
somc degree the present complicated municipal
machinery Mr.. Fish. chairman of Cities has hopes
that result like this may be reached and he will do
his utmost to bring about combined action between the
best of both parties Tor that object by
aimed at reform


AN OLD TINE REFORM


Mr. Elliot c. Cowdin introduced an old bill under a
form-an excellent bill, TOO. lift could pass; and
why shouldn't II be made to pass II provides for
meeting OF the Board ol Estimate and Appor,ionmont
and all the heads OF departments together with twelve
reputable citizens at the City Hall to consider these
questions:--


What is reasonable and proper salary
for each and every city officer Except those
oil the members OF the Conference and OF
the judges and jusices) and of the several clerks
heads Of bureaus, court attendants and other saared
PERSONS and what the actual and proper number OF
officers and clerks for each office, court bureau
partmentY


The Conference shall classify all clerks two or
more classes, and their compensation shall be graded
accordingly The same method shall be adopted with
tho police and Gre departments, and when all
this has been done report shall be made
TO the Legislature upon which it is expected action
viii be TAKEN As the judges and justices ana heads OF
departments excepted In this scheme OF vetrench
mcnt, 1t must be taken tor granted that the motive
for omission the bill is that the Legislature itself
should consider the question of reducing the salaries
OF those who sit in judgment the salaries Of Others


BETTING HLECTIONs


Mr.. Hammond, OF Duchess county, after thinking
Bit has reached the conclusion that betting
on elections is q highly perncious practice from
moral II not religious standpoint. He has objec-
tion, he says to betting tracks, whcro
crcumscribed, but pool room betting in large
cities such exciting subjects as popular elections
has clearly demoralizing tendency. Accordingly
he introduced bill to-day, which provides
that It shall be unlawful for any person to sell
or bid off any auction pools, or conduct, manage
or in any way carry on any French or mutual
pool, or combination mutual pool, for tho pur-
pose Of betting upon the result Of any PRESIDENTIAL
Congressional State, county city or other municipal
election TO be hereafter held in this State, upon the
number Of s p0ea oy any haC g. oS
nor moro than $4,000, and Imprisonment, not
less than one nor more than five years.
Should the doors OF the pool room be closed It shall be
lawful for the Sheriff or magistrate or whatever other
Official may havc proper authority TO break In and
arrest the participants in the proceedings.


STATESMAN


Mr.. stephen J. Ofarc Is coming to the front this
year, though IN the last Assembly he was never heard
Of Till its closing hOurG To-day he sent two bills,
The first being entitled IAN act to regulate places OF
amuscments. The object of the ol is to adjust the
license lee upon the basis OF the highest price charged
for admission Where the highest price charged s
twenty-five cents the license fee shall be 800. For
additional but the license fee shall exceed
$500


His next bill relates to attorneys and counsellorsat
law in New York CITY The purpose OF this bill IS to
enable parties prosecuting in police and other crT
ina courts TO have the assistance Of counsel without
the authorization Of the District Attorney, which
heretofore has been required and in very
many cases refused. Very often man
IS arrested for assault and battery, and
and unattended by counsel, cannot establish his case,
when the merits really entite him to relief The Dis
trct Attorney has much business to attend to Of
more important character that the authorization be-
fore referred 10 is seldom granted II also permits
persons accused ana brought before officers acting
judciay, as ior instance the Police Commissioners to
be attended by counsel.


THE MAN PnIrASrn LOVE-


DR.. Hayes receives great many propositions for tho
smelioraton OF the poor and the Dur caton oil society
from benevolent and phlanthropc people. Among
these was one introduced to-day, In tho form Of
bill Tor the establishment OF free public odgng houses
for the poor The bill omts tostaic from what source
,ns nos money o these lodging houses but sup be-
inferred that the Board OF Apportonmcnt Is
expected to do the decent thing by the enterprise.
The bill provides tor the appointment OF three CON-
missioners, one OF whom shall be taken from tho
party in tho minority, and who shall be known as
commissioners OF Public Lodging Houses OF the city OF
New York, shall hold obce Tor the term of three
years anu without compensation. Immediately
upon the formation OF TINS board OIL Com,
nissioncrs tho Board OF Apportlonmcnt shall
designate unoccupied buildings belonging TO the
city OF New York at such places as may be deemed
best and these buildings shall be called public lodging
houses They shall be open at all times OF the day
until twelve o'clock at nighl, and receive all persons
applying for lodging without regard TO color or
The place females shall be separated from the rest
and shere shall many apartments as can be made
OF not less than fifteen feet square.


COMPANIES


Mr Peter Mitchell Will Introduce IN the House TO-
the first of series OF bills Intended to compel
the gas companies Of the State OF New York to report
annually TO the Comptroller oil the state on or before
the LIST OF February OF each the amount OF capital
stock, incomes and profits from all sources dividends,
shares and extra shares OF stock issued certificates oil
Indebtedness, Investments OF any KIND made IN