Year: 1873

| ALBANY, Jan. 19-Beyond the organization
OF the Assembly the appointment Of the standing com


nittees OF the two Houses and the settlement OF the
question who is to be United states Senator for the next


six years. the first weeks OF the Legislature OF 1873
developed nothing Of special interest and have not


oreshadowed with any degree OF certainty what pro
posed TO be done in the future The unanimous verdict
thus far ia that affairs at the capital unprecedent-
edly dull. The crowd Of volunteer patriots who an
nualy come TO Albany to represent their con-
stituents in the Third House is thinner than mas
been known for several years. Since the withdrawn
of the army Of Federal oceholders who made their ap
here at the beginning Of the session TO sec that
the Assembly was rightly organized and the machine
set TO running the proper groove the streets and no.
tells of Albany have been nearly deserted by all except
residents and those having legitimate business before
the Legislature 1t would not be prudent 70 iner now
ever that this state Of things is to continue Already
bills have been introduced that calculated TO draw
hther formidable lobby when the time arrives for their
consideration before the committees OF before the TWO
houses.


Prominent among them is Of course, the new charter
or the amendments to the old charter for the city OF
NewYork. The Assembly Committee on Cities has


fixed on Wednesday afternoon for general hearing on
the merits Of the charter introduced by Speaker Cornell


and varously known as the Republican Committees
charter, or the " "Customhouse charter. The Com
mtttee OF Seventy has gwen notice Of its intention 10
appear before the Committee in opposition TO this char
ter, and IL will also be opposed by both wings OF tho
Democratic party, by the Liberal Republicans, and
even by the Customhouse Republicans who are so un
fortunate as not 10 be retained In Office under It's pro-
Visions charter that makes the inyidious distinction
OF ousting from office portion OF the potca rends VI
its trainers while il retains others, will have TO eneoun
the opposition not only of all Its political Toes
but OF large share OF those who should be its friends
It will be house divided against itself at the start and
Will be open to the charge Of inconsistency, favortism
he ION Of a charge


stency will be especially strong against the trainers OF
the charter and although politicians not accustomed
consider consistency much OF jewel there are times
when IL is Of almost vital necessity that they should
keep up an appearance Of it at least Stripped OF all


false preenses the sole object Of the trainers Of the Cor
nell Charter is to devise q method whereby NewYork
City, with Democratic majority Of 10000 or over, can
be put under Republican rule rather under the rule
of one branch Of the Republican party. To accom-
plish this object, and at the same time 10
keep up appearance OF nonpartisanshlp ana
retain the support of the Reform" element In New
York. has been the chief study Of the Customhouse poll
cians ever since the election. They were bound TO
have the offices at all hazards, and they hoped to get
possession Of them in way that would delude the Peo
pie into the belief that they took them not as politicians
eager for place. but dlsinterested "reformers To
whom the acceptance OF Office duty but by no
means pleasure They talked about their "respons-
bity for the future government of NewYok-as hay-


ing been the successful party at the electon-and hnted
occasionally that wherever there was responsibility
there ought also to be power. They did not mean oY


this to convey the idea that they held the old doctrine
To the vctors belong the spoils" OH no. Their only
meaning that in carrying out true reform there
must necessarily be change In all officials who served
under the Ring" and that In making that change 1t
! would DO in accordance with the expectations
] OF the people that those who had shouted


the battle cry Of reform aud been victorious In the fight
should be alone selected to Gil the vacant places There
could not Of course be anything partisan in this But
unfortunately for the Customhouse leaders, the man
whom they chose for their Mayor puts different inter-
probation the theory of the campaign which resulted
in his election His idea OF reforming the City Govern
ment is to select honest men to fill the offices without
regard to their party politics. He takes the Republican


leaders at their word that when they asked
him to run for Mayor their ticket reformer and
non-partsan they meant it. Here the whole difficulty
in nutshell The Custom-house politicians were all
the time playing partisan game, and only used Mr.
Havemeyer as a decoy, while he was all the time
in earnest; and, having won them their victory is
now determined hold them ito their professions He
asks the appointment Of all heads of Departments
in the City Government be placed in his hands alone,
and chat they be subject removal at his pleasure In
support Of this demand he the same argument as
the victorious partythat power should 90 with re-
sponsbiity They cannot conrovert the theory OF MS
argument, for they advance 1t in their own BEHALF ana
they cannot object to him proper man 10 exercise





is the that the Custom-house clique appear to be
In through the necessity they under OF looking
outside Of their own ranks for an honest man and
available candidate for Mayor. II is still an
unsettled point whether they were not equally
unfortunate in their selection Of candidate for Gov
ernor. So far he has expressed himself Gov Dix
appears hold the views as Mr.. Hayemeyer with
regard to proper charter for NewYork. Whether The
Republican Committee whose charter is 10 come up for
discussion this week. will consent TO modify their bill so
as to conform the views of their Governor and Mayor
Is question They would gladly do so II they could
make any arrangement bargain with Mayor Have
meyer, whereby IN making his appointments, be would
give them the control Of all the Departments. But
Mayor Hayemeyer is understood TO decline making any
promises bargains In advances and his recent action in
voting for good lawyer like Charles Shaw, council
to the Board Of Health, in preference to mere poll
tican and oice-holder like Mr. Davenport-and that,
too, in face Of the ct that Mr. Shaw Liberal Re
publican and voted Horace Greeeyhas caused the
Custom-house clique TO lose all confidence In their
Mayor They are reluctantly forced 10 the conclusion
that he cannot be trusted" Therefore is not proba
BILE they win yield the point in regard TO appointments
but will rather insist upon the provision OF the charter
which makes all appointments subject TO confirmation
by the Board Of Aldermen On this as well other
features the charter there is expected TO be fierce
contest the result Of which present is entirely mat
ter Of speculation.


There is quite the usual amount OF railroad legislation
In prospect, both for city and country. Existing rail


road corporations well protected in the Assembly
Committee Railroads, which is said to contain no
less than seven members who are presidents
directors salaried counsel Of railroad companies.
vanderbilts interests have been well looked after In
making up the Committee and, far as t Is concerned,
say he crayesthat OF being let alone vanderbilt s
said TO be content with what he mas got and 50
long can be protected against strikers he will
ask nothing the Il yislature IL they VIII let him
alone he will let them alone And yet u is rumored
that the Commodore Is be here this Winter for an