The New York Herald Newspaper, March 12, 1869, Page 4

4 BRIBERY AND CORRUPTION. The Railroads and the Lobbymen—Sharp Practice—Nearly a Million ef Dollars Expended by the Railroad Com- paules in the Lobby. Report of Senator Hale's Committec. 168. estigate Senate in An.Bany, Ma Mr. from, the select oommitcee w the charges af timproper legesias winter, subunithed he wiung rutreads 1: fo ths referee to Senate todape— TO TRE SHOTS ~ The seivek CuAWRNee ApPoniet pursuant: to the PesolUANIE PAS AE LA LSS, lo UQMEe and ascer- tain aaty of parties incerested in sap- { porting or eves AY Measures rei to rat | way companies have eiter (a. person ur by agent Atrectiy or indir raid OF oMfered to pay any | member or members of the Sewate during that ses- sion any money oF oiler Valuable thing to induence his or thelr vote or actioa in Senate or committee;” and the further resolution passed May 1, 1868, by which suid commitiee was authorized to sit during ‘the recess and to report to the next regular session of the Senate, respectfully report:— ‘That your committee entered immediately upon the duties assigned to them and have been engaged “in the investigation on which they entered at vari- ous times during the session of 1568, the recess of the Legislature and the present session, Your committee's attention has been called princi- pally to the great contest of last session between the friends and opponents of what was commonly known as the “Erie bill,” which resulted in the pas- suge of the act entitied “An act in relation to the Erie, New York Central, Hudson River and Harlem Railway companies,” passed April 21, 1863, Your committee first called before them and ex- amined some ef those who had been by rumor most widely designated as lobbyists or persons in attend- ance on the Legislature, engaged on either side of this controversy. Messrs. John B. Dutcher and Abraham Van Vechten, who were Known as oppo- nents of the oill, and Messrs. Hugh J. Hastings, Jay Gould, Jalian Williams and Dyer D. 8. Brown, who were amoug the advocates of the measure; also the treasurers of the Hudson River and Hariem rail- roads, corporations supposed to be interested in op- posing the bill. ‘These persons all denied any Knowledge or infor- mation, other thap that derived from common rumor, of the use or offer of any money or valuable thing, or any promise or offer of moneys for tue purpeses | in the resolution, ention of your committee was next called to e in the New York Tribune, charging that ont woes | “ | and whether he recetved money | | While the legal maxim, $$ rn eae “they.” and that “somewhere in that connection General Dives's 6 yas asked it On General Diven’s examination he was it he had any kno’ of money bene ee hands of Luther Caidwell by the Erie iway Com- pany. His answer was “No.” He was then asked if he had any information on that subject derived from any officer or agent of the com: . He re- puted fat he had been told by Henry Thompson, a director of the company, that Caldwell had re- | ceived a large sum of money, something like | $100,000, just before—a or 80 belore—the vote | was taken, and that he kept it and left the city. Mr. Caldwetl hiunself, after several w | efforts to procure his attendance, appeared before your committee on the day preceding the commence- ment of the present session of the Senate. In reply | to questions whether he recelyed any money from any omicer of the Erie Railway Company, to be used in securing the of the bil he answered in the negative, A question | whether he received money from such source for | any purpose he declined to answer till he could “turn it over in his mind,’ He also declined to answer till he had “time for reflection” the questions whether he knew of moneys being paid by any per- son, interested for or against the bill, to any one jor the purpose of securing the vote of any Senator, any’ person interested in opposing the bill, He said he could decide whether he would answer these questions by the next morning, and the committee adjourned to the hext morning to give him the desired oppor- tumity for reflection, Your committee were in at- tendance the next day at the appointed hour and place, but Mr. Caldweil did not appear, nor has he since been before them, and on inquiry your com- mittee have been informed that he 1s speading the season in some of the Southern States, Mr. Russell F. Hicks, whose name appears in this testimony in connection with Mr. Caidwell’s, was subpenaed, but did not attend, alleging 1 health as an excuse, Mr. Henry Thompson has since testified that he paid Caldwell at one time $10,000 and afterwards upward of $50,000, which was refunded to him by the Erie Railway Company, and which was for no specific purpose, unless to influence public opinion through the press, Mr. FE. Madden swears that he Was told by Mr. Gould that Caldwell had been to him to get money, as he pretended, for 8 Senator and Member of Assembly, which he (Gould) had perem torily refused. Mr. Madden also testifies that Cald- well told him, just before he left Albany, that he had seen ex-Senator Dutcher on the Harlein Ratiroad the day before. By Senator Nicks’ testimony tt will be seen that Mr, Caldweli clanned that the money he received from the “Erle party” was for his “services,” and that received from the “Vanderbilt party” was for leaving Albany. It will hardly be believed by the most credulous that so large an amount, more than men even of great bene and disiinguisned ability ordinarily acquire by a lifetime of industry, was pau by either of these parties simply for a few weel “services” or the short absence from Albany of Mr. Luther Caldwell. If these large amounts were paid to Mr. Caldwell for any lawful purpose and such purpose was ac- complished, or the money used in good faith, as was intended, there would probably be no hesitation on the part of those having kuowledge in furnishing proof of the facts. If, aa would seem from the evidence, these large amounts of money were di- verted from the purpose for which they were paid and appropriated by the agent selected to his own use, the fact that no proceedings, civil or criminal, ap- pear to have been instituted against the agent ratses @ strong presumption that it was paid for some un- jawiul purpose, In that case those who alone would be likely to complain of the fraudulent diversion might well fear that a crimimal prosecution would develop too much and show too many criminals, “in part delictu,” &., ee prove # serious obstacle to success in a civil action, Your committee think there can be no doubt that So large Suis must have been mtended chiefly jor unlawful and corrupt purposes, and, taking this in connection with the evidence of Mr. Drew and the evidence of the existence of s0 many rumors about the unlawful use of money, the conviction ts forced Senaior has taken money on both sides, and thas over $100,000 has been paid to influence corruptiy the action of other Senators in the premise: They | summoned before them the writer of this article, Mr. | Horace Greeley, to ascertain the evidence upon | Which it was written. The name of Mr. Thomas C. | Fields was given by Mr. Grecley as that of his in- formant. Your committee accordingly examined hima, and also Senator Mattoon and Mr. As Cole, Whose names were mentioned ley. Toward the close of the session a Senator who had formation that led bim to believe that a | ad attempted to get mouey from the friends | Erie bill, on the pretence that he could } cure iis vote, called the attentton of you: | to such information, in consequence of | enas Were issued, and alter some dit. | cof Mr. John Van Vaikenbury as testified to by niu, culty the was procured. are stated m the sub Other witnesses W veloped aud seemed to Pr been taken at vari nesses could be ot much of tt, too, ix simply of a negat Your committee, therefore, think it necessary m this report to state some of the material iacis proved and the bearing they Lave upon tue sudject | Mnatter of the investiguion, 2 first inquiry nuvurally suggested was whether | expenued by railway comp with tne inteut that st should be used for uns purposes? ‘Tue treasurers of the Hudson River and Harlem raiiroads both testify that no muuey was drawn from the treasnri their roads for purpose reterred to. = Mr. twe treasurer of tne Brie | 2 Rauway Company until July, 1868, aiso swears that | ¢ he had no knowledge of any money being paid ow of the treasury of that company for the purpose ¢ procuring legislation; put he testifies that Mr. Ei- dridge, the presiient of the road, Grew $500,000 out | of the treasury before the session of the Legisiature, | ostensibly ior purposes of litigation, which was | charged on the bovks of the company to Mr. dridge individually, and which had not b ac- | counted for when he retired irom the oftce of trea- | surer in July last, and that no money olher than that | had been drawn out of the treasury to pay the ex- | penses of the company at Albatiy. It is evident from the testimony that large amounts of money | were actually paid for various purp ses. Mr. Gou paid $5,000 to Lewis F. Payne and from Jay Gould to sign @ report i his favor, and person (ie thinks his name wes W “had turned squarely around and made a different Kir. v. D. G. Brown, of Rochester, report.” Your jed beture them Me. more than $25,000 and, he thinks, Karkpatricg, the © of tus paper, who testified ft, to counsel 000 to Payne A, not including payments by a agents. Mr. Thompson paid $. upwurds of $60,000 to Luche: refunded to bim by the Erie It ts clear, therefore, that lar, come from the treasury of the pany, which were expended for seme par Albaby for whach no vouchers seein to fh flied 18 the office of the company. The ov) expenditure cannot be learued irom the books of | company. The testiinony of Mr. Drew shows wh these funds may have come from. Wbether the crea- tiun of $0 large fund as that entrusted to M dridge in this instance, the expenditure of wh left evtirely to the discretion of a singie individual, and for wiich no vouchers or accounts are required, is usual with railroad companies your couumittee are not informed. It isa question of more imme- diate interest to stockholders of these companies. ing Mr. ridge being a citizen of and in another State, his attendance before your committee could not be coinpelled. He was invited by letter to appear and testify, but the invitation was not responded to. ‘The testimony jeaves no doubt in the minds of your committee that large sums of money were in fact Inrnished with the intent that they should be used. for the purpose of mfuencing legisiation yniawfaliy. In the omy cases In which your committee have peen able to obtain any direct evidence, the moneys ®o furnished were not in fact used for the purpose intended, but went to enrich members of the lopby. ‘The case of Lewis F. Payne furnishes a remark- able example of credulity on theypart ot the parties expending money and impudence aod duplicity oo ‘the part of the person receiving it. Payno was @ harbor master in New York, and 1 aa such receiving, as he testifies, some $300 per month, He bad never been im the employ of a rati- road company; had no profeasion hor any extensive general acquaintance or influence; sull he was paid the sum of $10, as he pretends, for afew aya’ services to Aiba in advocating the Erie bill, Thompson paid lit $5,000 in New York, and Mr. | Gonid, though he did not “take much stock’ indium, as he says (not having heard of Thompson's pa ment), gave lim $5,000 here to “smooth him o It will not be credited that these amounts were lum simply for services; they were obtained by lnm, | a# No one can doubt from reading the evider on the pretence that tith such a sum he could secure a Senator's vote. The testimony of Van Valkenburgh, with that of Mr. Thotupson aud Senator Palmer, conclusive upon tils point, and it was ouly on ascer: taining that the Senator referred to was opposed fo the bill and that his character for integrity ana | honor was 60 high as to render any effort at produc Sng @ clange in his views or action by pecuniary in- ducements not only useless. bat absurd, that the at- tempt was made to get back the money frow Payne | whieb gave rise to the angry controversy sworn to by Van Vaikenbargh, which led to bringing the hatter to the knowledge of the Senator, whose surprise | gud indignation at the discovery of so base ao at | tempt to make merchandise of his good name caused him to give your comunittee the information which enabigd them to discover these tacts, ‘The cage of Luther Caldwell ia still e extraor- diuary. Mr. Caldweli’s name was first mentioned on the testimony taken before your comuntttee "by Mr. Greviey, Who tesufied that MF. A. W. Cole had wtated that $100,000 was placed in the hands of Luther Caidwell and Russell F. Hicks to influence logisi Mr. Cole was then calied, and while hic did not profess to have any actual knowledge on the subject gave information which led your committee to cai! Senator Nicks a8 A witness. lie testified that ‘4 a conversation with Caldwell, in explanation of the fact that he had suddenly left Aivany pend ing the ErieAcontest, Mr. ©. liad told him senator Nicks) ti “the party Known as the (xnaerpait lh see egporttion to Ra tall, had proposi! 0 him to have him lente ‘Aibauy, that he had informed Mr. Gould of the proposition they had made him, ana that he 1 Mr. Gould that he was TT OA that they «(he Vanderbilt party) Hangeaey | ve him $70,000 M he would leave All ; What they did so, and he went away; that he had before recetved from the “Erie side” a very Itberal compensation for his ser- | tion ‘of senators m the | as having sold his | and | was asked If he had any other tstormation in re- gard to Mr. Mattoon, t0 which he replied, “1 do | not know that | aave especially. El. | of his conversation with Mr, Greeley, and said that charging that senator Mattoon had received $20,000 | grapher to Mr. Mattoon, who gave his version of the | tus action tw Un premises. (e and resoiution reciting that grave cuarges had ft. Apon vie minds of your comuuttee, a8 they think it must be upon those of all who peruse this testimony, that some persons interested, both for and agaist the bill, were furnishing money from some source with the intent and for the purpose of corrupuag and unlawfully judueacing legislation. We are next led to the inquiry whether snch pur- pose Was aciually carried out by the payment of money to aud ils acceptance Ly aby members of the Senate. ‘This inquiry, carried o: whose re; a by members of the body ad by the charge, is, of sy and diMeulty. Your suite, withowt any @ aguinst any Senator, that any r Tiey therefore adopied tie course first, the tors ot various newspapers in which charges, more or less specific, uud dee made, and then other persons who were referred to in the testimony or ot wise as having reeley, THe had, ew York 7ribune, used wis tor Foiger really mean vw Lion Us Useiess ? Does he hot know that quite a humber of his fellow senators have id their votes im the Drew-Vanderbult quar- rel, Some of them more thaa-once? Can he hot lay iis hand at once on the Senator who is cur- rently reported to have sold his vote and influence, first to oue side for $15,000 and then tothe other jor st editor cailed was M the Ni were in consultation 10 @report to some extent favorable Oo swwhch win eatlecetood to be the Erie or Drew side of the question. mornlay read a orth of @ pro- Pozed repo! Mattoon, which he understood them both ee which Senator Mattoon made no ion. The same day all the members of the committee met, Senators Pierce and Bradley signed their report. Senators Chapman and Humphrey signed theirs. Seuator Mattoon did not sign either, but expressed the opinion that both were ‘pretty strong,’? and he wanted to think of it, Wednestay, April 1, Senator Mattoon joined with “Senators Pierce and Bradley in making in aport suS- taining to the tullest extent the charge referred to in the original resolution, characteguing the conduct of Mr. Drew ie “disgraceiul’’—expreasing the feeling that KidRdge, Fisk aud Gould “were con- cerned and probably interested with Drew in these corrupt proceedings”’—charging that these acis were without “authority of Jaw,” and that the directors named had taken ‘advantage of their posi- tion and induence for purposes of private gain and emolument,” and recommending additional legisia- tion bo i se increased penaities for such oifences, The same day Senators Chapman Alumphrey presented the report read the preceding day by Senator Chapman as above stated, sigued by them- selves alone, as a minority report. Mr. Gould testifies that he was perfectly as- tounded when he heard that Senator Mattoon had signed tuis report. ‘On the 18th day of April, 1868, the “act in relation to the Erie, New York Central, Hudson River and Harlem railway companies’ was announced for its third reading and passed the Senate by seventeen SC UAANe votes, one of which was given by Senator fattoon. In the Supply bill for 1868 (Session Laws 1868, page 1,586) we find the item, ‘For J. Hl. Mattoon for ser- vices and expenses as clerk and assistant sergeant- at-arms of the committee of the Senate appointed to twee the affairs of the Krie Railway Company, ‘The course of Senator Mattoon while upon an in- vestigating committee, in repeatedly paymg private visits to persons whose conduct was the subject of investigation for the purpose of conferring with them as to matters before the committee, cannot be justified and has not excused. But the evidence taken before your committee upon a full examination of ail persons who were known to have made charges against him, and all who had been named as parties with whom he had had improper transactions, does not prove the charge that he was “paid or promised any money or other valuable thing to influence his vote or action in Senate or committee,”’ No evidence has been given nor any charge made affecting any other Senator, except that Mr. Drew also testified to a conversation with Senator Graham, from which he “drew an inference” that that Sen- ator wanted money or a promise of money. Mr. Graham himself denies the use of the language attributed to bim by Mr. Drew, aad wholly denies the imputation of seeking or asking for reward. personal It Cig that Mr. Drew had beiore difficulty both with Senator Graham and Senator Mattoon, and a long litigation with the latter. ‘The testimony taken before your committee shows very clearly the reckless manner in which charges attributing crimes to public men, and tnvolving ruin and disgrace to those charged, are made by persons connecied with the public press. The New York ribune, in a.conspicuous editorial, charged (interrogatively, but no less clearly than if the allegation had been direct), that one of the oldest Senators in this body knew “that quite a number of his fellow Senators had sold thelr votes in the Drew-Vanderbilt quarrel, some of them more than once.’ Upon examining Mr. Greeley, who wrote the article, it appeared that he had no infor- mation even as to more than one Senator, and that was derived from a man who stated it merely as @ rumor, of the truth of which he had no kuowledge, The writer for the Lansingbagg paper named a gentleman as having been guilty the crime of bribery upon no ground other than a statement of what somebody had told him be had read in the New York 7ribune, noteven taking the trouble w read the article referred Lo as authority, ‘The case of Mr. Join F. Mines, a correspondent of the New York Independent, Rochester Democrat, Brookiyn Union and New York Citizen, shows still more strikingly the utter recklessness of wrath with which such charges are sometimes made, Tus gen- tieman, then ap attache of the Senate, holding an oitice by the favor of the Lieutenant Governor, in which he performed no substantial service, except to draw his salary, after the adjournment of the Legisiature, wrote an elaborate article for the Ja- apenden, in whch among other things he said that the Legisiature of 1865 was the “worst as seimblaye of oMicial thieves that ever disgraced the Capitol o ire State.” While admitting that there were “honest and pure imen in the senaie, who had the good of the people at heart,” he Stated in this article tia they “were Ln « powerless mninort- ty.” It (the Legislature of 1863) “exceeded all is sors in corruption’-— »private venality by 1t4 eagerness for paviic piund Your conunitice having their attention called to this article, over the mitials of @ person whose con- nection with the Legisiature Was so mlimaie, not only from his officiat relations to the Senate, bat from the fuct of his having been tue Albany Correspondent ‘of several wewspapers, and also connected Lo some ned him before them Kd delaberace g examination, ih Whicl he was Ina fully as to,nis Koowledge, he was w state a fact within his personal know- ledge to sustain his allegations, or to give to your | charges. interrogated $20,000, msisung that ve must have $1,000 extra for his son’ is he not morally certain that more than #1uu,000 have veen paid to induence corruptly the ac- reauses ¥? to What Senator he alluded ute and influeuce Urst for $15,000 hen for $3,000, aad he repiled, “Senator Mat- and gave Hon. Thomas ©, Fields as bis au- or the charge against him, He could state no lacts in reference to any otuer Senator. Alter detailing his conversation with Fields, Mr, Greeiey Mr. ¢ ne Was ask: 1 have the tnjor- mation which you have—that he agreed. with the report on one side and then voted on the other side.” Mr. Fields was then calied. He gave his version he knew no facts relating to the subject of iaquiry: that he told Mr. Greeley that what he stated was mere rumor, and that ue did not mention MY. Mat- loon’s name or speak Of any fact as within his own knowledge, the Lansingburg Gezefe contained an_ articie, that be knew not noc write the arti B. liubbali, the . Mr. Aupball and ad US transaction, and did At that i Was written by dae kK of @ commiitee In the As- 9s afterwards cailed and ex- aut He Wrote the article, bat nowledge on the subject except What was derived from said he had got his information plished in the New York Tribune. imiseif Was sworn and examined at fied that he wad never, direccy or ved or beep offered or promised. any valuabie (hing to affect his vote or action In the premises. Your committee also, in view of the charges made agains} Mr. Mattoon, exaii many Witnesses with wference to the Interviews of that Senator ih tie parwes interested in advocating or oppos- th¢ Erie bill. it appears that Senator Matioon made @veral visits to different directors of the Erie Ratlroyt Compa: ter his appointment upon the investpatuig © tive, of which Senator Pierce Was clhirman. The atlention of Mr, Gould, General Diven,) Mr. bisk. . Drew and others was called to these ihverviews, and all the Witnesses so examined deny ty Koowledge of any payment or any offer ot prowlse of any payment to hin for any purpose. Mr. Drew testiies that In an m- terview with uim, before the report of Senator Pierce's committee was made, Mr. Mattoon “inti- mated #4 if be Would take money ff it was offered to him.” When asked to give the language of Senator Mattoon upon which ne based tils erence, he stated that “Mr. Mattoon said, ‘We cannot go there and live upoa what we get,’ and ali that kind of talk. fhe inference i drew was that he would take money if it Was offered to hia.” Mr, Drew also said that he had no greuod for supposing that Mr. Mattoon wanted money other than from tue conversation that he had teatided to, ‘The testimoty of Mr. Drew was read by the steno- conversation with Drew, and dented inost positively that be had in any way tutina.ed that he would re- ceive anytuingfor himseif or any ower person for A brief state nent in a chronological order of Mr. Mattoon’s comection with tne investigation may throw soume Ligit upon the question. On the oth day of March, 1465, Senator Pierce introduced a pream- made ta rterence to the managemen ¢ Katiway Company; that the apn manage- yinvany Was conducted by persons who dé use of their positions to de- ie and descroy the value of the stock of the pany, aod that the directors had issued a larger amount of the sock than was allowed by law, and providing for tos appointment of a committee jiree Senators to investigate such charges. This Preamble and resolution were adopted, On the foi- lowing day Senator Mattoon moved that the o mittee consist of ive instead of three Seni was #0 ordered, and Senators Pierce, Chapman, Hlumporey, Matwon and Bradley were appointed such commit On the 100 Mareh the committee thus ap- ported commenced ite investigations iu the city of wew York. On that day, or the day before, General Diven testified that Senator Mattoon called at the oltice of the Brie kailway in New York and saw sev eral diregtors, and, among other things, stated “what he regarded as the object and purpose of moving for the commitiee and what his motive was for moving for increase of the committee, and to pro- cure himself to be placed upon it; that the object of moving for the committee was mercenary, and that he (Senator Mattoon) intended no such use should be made of the examination, and he had procured his gon to be made Assistant Sergeant-at-Aring; that he was to serve without cost to the State; that he did not mean the examination should cost the state ‘anything, and he meant to seo that there Was fair play.” ading this inves Senator Mattoon had sever interviews with dhiterent directors of the of the krieR ay Lerten | some in New York and some in Jersey Omy: At one interview Mr. Gould testifies, he told of the committee had ‘Yiees; that they Wanted him to take his pay tn Cen- tral ial jrofd stock, but that he refused this and de- manded th joney, Which was to him in “all kinds of bils;” that he did by whom this money Was paid, but referred to ‘auderbilt party im tyat the 1 ty found ‘the thi was v'¢and urged that “some representative the road should go to Albany in justice to the comfutttee."” On Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, March 29, 30 Gud 41, Seuavors Chapman Humpurey gud Mavioon commitice the name of any person from who he } had received uformation of any such facts or in any way to aid your committee in their investigation. Indeed, this Witness stated that n he heard Tumors of corruption be “purposely investigated no further.” He “did not try trace ‘these rumors to facts.” With such” avidity did this writer for a professediy religious newspaper seize hold of scandalous rumors, utterly regard- less of their truth or falsehood, as the basis of @ “sensation aructe,”” written for pay. While your committee recognize the right and daiy of the press to criticise and comment upon the con- dact of men in public ite, they are satistied that such indiscriminate attacks upon @ legislative body, based upon wie rumors wud written by mea Who take pains not to ascertain the truth or falsehood of what they write, are not only unjust, scandalous and in every way repreliensibie, but tend directly to encourage and iuecrease the evil which they provess to desire Lo correct. Public accusers who purposely abstain from such investigation as will enable then to know the lacts, by maktng tndiseriminate charges aid in covering gulit where it really exists and di- | verung attention irom tose who deserve ceusure | and punishment. | ‘rhe result of the labors of your committee may be summarily stated thus:— 1. Large sums of money were expended for cor- rupt purposes by parties Interested in legisiation concerning ratlways during the session of 16s. 2 Lobbyists were tius eariched, aud in some cases received money on the faise pretence that che voles of Senators were to be thereby imfuenced, 3. There is no proof! of actual bribery of any Senator. 4, The newspaper charges made in the instances that were brougut to the notice of your committee were touuded on rumor alone and have been in no case Sustaiued by the evidence of the weiters or other proot. Your commitice deem it their duty, however, to express the opinion that under the law as it Row ex- sts it Is aituost impossible tu prove the crime of bri- bery where it has veencommirted. Botn the parties to the transaction (who aloue can ordinarily have knowledge of the commission of the crime) are now hhaple to tue same puuishment. True, the testimony given by one ou the trial of another cannot be used against the person testifying; but the witgess well kuows that such testimony necessarily gives the clue to evidence by wich he hituself can be convicted and panisied, The result is either a refusal to tes- baa, or remarkable forgetfulness or something Worse. Your committee theretore recommend @ change in the law as it now exists, by which the giver of # bribe, which ts accepted, shall be exempt from prod ecation. They recommend this not from any dispo- sition to pailiate the guilt of the party giving bripes, but because public ee ee thatthe of obtaining proof should be facilitated, and Unis cau be done only by exempting from punishment one of the guilty parties. The guilt of the party who, by accepting a bribe betrays a public trust and violates his official oath, us (if there can ve de; in of this Kind) greater than that of him who gives At all events your committee submit that the Legisla- ture owes it to its own reputation and dignity to adopt such measures as are best ada to remove every obstacle that now exisis to a full and thorough investigation a to the conduct of any of tls members, This change in the existing law, after much discasston tn the re- cent Constitutional Convention, was insérted as a provision iu the proposed new constitution, and has frequently been urged upon the Leguwlature. To reluse to adopt it would subject the Legisiature, with some degree of plausibili if not justice, to the charge of unwiilingness to expose itself to the risk of inviting evidence as to the truth or falsehood of the charges #0 often made against its purity and honor. Por otection of the innocent, who may be unjustly ac d from motives of malignity or revenge, it 1s recommended that upon triais for this crime the party charged be allowed to testify in his own behall. Your committee are also of the opinion that some legistation ts neeessary to prevent the deposit of large sums of mouey with members of the lobby for purposes of corruption and to prevent the use of the money of corporations by their directors, officers of agents, With intent to violate the laws against bribery, and with that view they recommend the adoption, with sucit modifications and amendments 4s lay seem proper, of the bill “for the more etfec- tual suppression and punishment of bribery” here- tofore introduced by their chairman and now on the files of the Senate, {t i4, perhaps, proper to state that Senator Fdwards, who was originally upon the committee, was at the close of che Last session excused from serving upon tt further, and that senator Nichols was then appointed in’ his piace, ee apectfully submitted, . All witeh is re Manca 10, 1409, THe ALLRGANY CouNTY MunpeR—ConvICTION OF Canrenren.—Attorney General Champlain was ab- sent from Albany last week, in attendance upon the Allogany Court of Oyer and Terminer. He was en- on behalf of the people in the trial of Davi Carpenter for the murder of his brother. Mr. A. P. Lanning, of Buffalo, was counsel for the prisoner. A strong effort was made to acquit Car. penter on the ples of insanity. After an ‘of six hours the jury returned a verdict of murder in the first inter was sentenced to be hung on of next April. The trial attracted @ | share of public attention mn the locality where ovourred, and the verdicr jury is cousidered @ just amdbooheone’ Onlons March 1a Ole, Rocheater Union, ‘The arrivals from Europe .yesterday were the steamship Pereire, Captain Duchesne, from Havre via Brest on the 27th ult.,and the Russta, Captain Cook, from Liverpool 27th and Queenstown ‘28th, with European papers up to date of satling. A general meeting of Italian republicans, headed by Mazzin{, ia announced to take place shortly at Lugano, in Switzerland, Anew journal is announced in Madrid, entitled El Desagravio, the object of which is to promote ue interests of isabella and the Prince of Asturias. ‘The Pope has commuted the sentences of death against Ajani and Luzzi to hard labor for life, and has also reduced the sentences of their accomplices. ‘The Prussian Moniteur of the 24th ult, published an ordinance convoking the Reichstag of Northern Germany for the 14th gf the present month. M, Pelletan, in the French Chambers, has presented an amendment to abolish the tax for the poor levied in the theatres, and to réplace it by the subventions inscribed in the Budget of 1870. ‘The tatian Correspondence states that an interna- tional commisston is about to be named to fix the point of junction of the railways which will meet on the French frontier, in the direction of Nice. ‘The Jtalia of Naples announces that at Pompei! there have just been discovered. two marble busts— one of Pompey and the other of Brutus. They are both of fine execution, and have been placed in the national museum, The Russian government is highly incensed at Count Bismarck’s speech respecting the conilsca- tion of State property, and te Emperor has tntt- mated to the King of Prussia that he hopes such an unjustifiable proceeding will not be enforced, The municipality of the city of Berlin has voted the sum of 1,000 thalers towards founding two new pub- lic Ubraries and a further gum of 600 thalers for their yearly maintenance. All the booksellers offer gra- tuitous contributions of books. All the Turkish ports have been reopened to the Hellenic flag, and the measures ordered against Greek subjects are abrogated. Negotiations for an effective resumption of relations between Turkey and Greece are being actively prosecuted, and the nominations of a Turkish Minister at Athens and @ Greek one at Constantinople will take place speedily. Her Royal Highness the Princess Obristian of Schleswig-Holstein, Princess Helena of Great Britain and Ireland, was safely delivered of a prince at six o’clock on the morning of February 26. On the 26th ult., in the sitting of the Chamber of Representatives, a bill relative to the expenditure for objects of public worship was placed sfter thg order of the day. The credit granted to the Bol an- dists and Jesuits has been suppressed, The budget of the Ministry of the Interior was adopted by 81 votes against 8. A bill for the abolition of amprison- ment for debt has been made the order of the day for the 27th ult, The news of the explosion of the Austrian sceam frigate Radetzky has caused the most painful feeling in Vienna. It seems that the accident occurred while the vessel was practising some evolutions, and that the explosion originated in one of the pow- der magazines. The Radetzky was of 1,826 tons, carried twenty-nine guns, and was built in England in 1855, About twenty lives have been saved in all out of a crew of nearly 400 persons. A fearful accident is reported as having happened on the afternoon of the 26th altimo in Bethnal Green, London. A number of workmen in the employment of Messrs. Lucas were engaged in repairing some brickwork on the Great Eastern Railway, when a heavily laden coal track passed over the place. A portion of the structure fell withoat warning and buried several men inthe ruins. The bodies of tive men have been recovered. After a heariag which has extended through tweniy days the long drawn ont action of Saurin versus Star and Kennedy has come to an end. On the 26th ult. the Lord Chief Justice presented the case to the jury in an elaborate address of seven hours in ieugth, and the yury retired to consider their verdict at half-paat five. Shortly before eight o'clock they came into court with a verdict for the piaintiff—damages, £500, ‘The Minister of Finance submitted on the 26th uit. to the Lower House of the Diet a bill embodying the financial arrangement with the city of Frankfort, in accordance with which the government grants to the municipality of that city the sum of 2,000,000 florins. He announced at the sane tume that the King would present the town with 1,000,900 florins out of his private purse, and hie ex- pressed a hope that this gracious act would win the hearts of the inhabitants of Frankfort. ‘The United States Mintater on the 25th ult. visited Manchester. tn reply to an address of welcome Mr. Johnson said that, although the terms of the pro- posed convention between the two countries might be objectionable, it could never be that two nations go enlightened could discard the principie of arbitration. He had been advised by the Atlantic telegraph that although a majority of the committee of the Senate were opposed to the convention they had not-yet made their report. Ata banquet in the evening Mr. Johnson denied that President Grant entertained hostile feelings Lowards Great Britain, ENGLAND. The Alabama Claims Before Parlinment. On the 26th ult, the Alabama claima were brought before the House of Commons by Mr. Torrens, who asked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any authentic information had been received ot the rejection by the Senate of the United States of the convention regarding the Alabama claims, and whether he could imform the House that the protocol regarding mutuai rights of nuaturaliza- lon hud been accepted... lie was informed that no authentic intelligence has been received at the Foreign Office of the rejec tion by. the Senate of the United States of the cou- vention regarding the Alabama claiius. International nage, Weights, Mensures and Maritime Law. At the second day's session of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which was held in London on the 24th uit, among the subjects introduced was that of asystem ef tuternational coinage, weights and measures, and also of maritime law, The Bradford Chamber proposed the followin resolution, which was adopted:—‘That, in accord- ance with the report presented by tne Royal Com- mission on international coinage, dated 26th July, 1468, her Majesty’s government be juested to take necessary steps for convoking or joining an inter- national conference, with power to arrange not only for international money, but at the same time fora uniform system of weights and measures.” Mr. Field, of Birmingham, proposed the following resolution: —“Whereas the Congress of Paris of 1856 has declared that ail private property on the high seas, of belli nts, shall be free from capture if placed in neutrat vessels, thus compelling ali mer- chants in future to ship their goods in neutral vessels only, and whereas this change tn in- ternation! jaw will disable Great Britain, when unfortanately agam at war, from cap- turing her enemy's private property on the ocean, as was her former practice, and will hand over the carrying trade to neutrals; therefore resolved, that the imperial, no less than the commercial interests of Great Brilain, as well as the advance of civiliza- tion, alike dem: the further change that shali de- ciare all private Lg aed on the ocean, of bellige- rents as Well as of neutrals, exempt from capture, unless contraband or breaking a blockade."’ Mr. Law, of Bradford, seconded the resointion, Ultimately the previous question was moved and carried, that closiag the business. Jon Bright’s Advocacy of an Ocean Penny Postage. On the evening of the 24th ult, the Associated Chambers of Commerce entertained Mr. Jonn Bright, M. P., the President of the Board of Trade, at a dinner held at the Westminister Palace Hotel, Lon- don; the chair was occupied by S. 8, Lioyd, of Bir- ingham, ident of the Associatd Chambers. Mr ht replied to the toast of “Her Majeaty’s Ministers,” and in the course of bis aera on peak, betel og MS to ry ocean penny postage. Two questions have been mentioned during the discussions which appear to me, and must appear to all, to be very important. he is that of the inws affecting bank- rapt estates, of which I shati say nothin: use for it | know the learned Attorney General may have the bill of government in his pocket. The other question is that of the charge tor post- age letters crossi the ocean, This is @ question of pennies; it does not sound very large, but in my opinion tt ts of the greatest consequence that fn ny Patt Kina an ‘oo to the . , hear. was not - hally invond ‘and it is only @ practice that has rae with our vast extravi ce, that Part it should look to the Post Office for a large revenue; bat the iblic §=—rhave on ht to e: that for they pay for their postage they sl the greatest posrible convenience ang eavnates. There i# no doubt whatevor that ‘as between and the United States and betwee! here the Austrailan colonies, and be- tween ‘and almost every other country, it would be for the Post Office to negotiate a aystem by oh letters @hould crosg tug gcewu (gg a young. The Minister of In the sitting of the Legislative Body on the 26th ult. the debate upon the contract between the cily of big and the Crédit Foncler of France was re- sumed, M. Rouher delivered a speech in defence of the course pursued by M, Hausemann, the Prefect of the Seine. In the course of his remarks he stated that the Emperor was not responsible for the administra- tion of the city of Paris, which was not a political, but an administrative question.” He admitted that there had been some irregularities, mentioning in particular the employment of guarantee de- posits. The most serious faui that bad been made was in exceeding by 50,000,000 the 100,000,000 of francs which the bauk for advances for public works had been authorized to issue. The Minister of State concluded by stating that he was not op] to the C! rs adding another article to tne first ps ph of ‘the bill, #0 as to authorize the city of Paris to contract loans tn a direct man- ner; but it would then be necessary that this article should be sent back to the committee. M. Rouher’s speech was received with much applause, and the urtcle was referred accordingly to the committee, Another Family Tragedy—A Ludy Shot by Her Husband and Son. The Journal @Imare-et-Loire of Tours, France, publishes the following details of a crime which was committed on the night of the 25th ult, at the neigh- boring commune of St, Avertin:—Mr. Patry, formerly a banker of Tours, retired some years back from business and took up his abode on a charming pro- perty called La Houssaie, which he had pul in the commune of St. Avertin. His family consisted of his wife, four chudren and two servants. The house is situated at the bottom of a garden, walled in on all sides. Mme. Patry slept in a room on the ground floor, accompanied by twoof her chil- dren, and her husband slept on the first foor with his two sons, one of whom 1s seventeen old, Between nine and ten o’clock im the evening, when Mr. Patry was on the point of pedals he heard an unaccustomed noise on the ground floor, which caused him to go down stairs, armed with his gun. What could have been the cause of the disturbance or what passed in this brief period as yet remains a mystery. Shortly after, however, a shot was fired, and Mme. Patry, who was then stan in the garden, at a short distance from tne house, fell mor- tally wounded in the side. A report is current that on going down stairs Mr. Patry surprised a stranger, who immediately made for the garden and cleared the wall into theroad. Two shots are sald to have been fired at him from the window above. Mrs, Patry was still dressed in her usual evening gar ments. Further details state that Mrs. Patry was struck by two shows, one taking effect in the side and another in the head, both being mortal wounds, and sure evidence is produced that two shots were fired from the up-stairs window at the time when Mr. Patry discharged his gun, The son acknowledges having fired oi two barreis of his gun ata stranger whom he discovered clearing the garden wall, The in- truder has been recognized, and will by his testimony before the court doubtless clear up the mystery that envelopes this sad afar AUSTRIA. Particulars of the Explosion of the Austrian Frigate Radetzky. {Vienna (Feb. 22) correspondence Loudon Morning Post. The first news of this catastrophe was received here by the naval section of the War Ministry about three P. M. on Saturday by a telegram from the commander of the island and fortress of Lissa, in which it 13 stated. that the optic tele- graph siationed at Fort Wellington had signalied the information that at a distance of about ten miles to the northeast of the island an Austrian frigate was blowa up.°The commander of the isiand instantly telegraphed to the vessels stationed at Trieste and Zara and to the commander of the squadron at Gravosa, to proceed at once to the scene of the accident; and the tron-claa frigate Ferdinand Max, as well as the gunboat Huin and the steamer Andreas Hofer, were immediately de- spatched to Lissa with orders to render any assiat- ance that was tecessary and possible under the cir- cumstances. A deputation of the corporation of Lissa also set out to the place where the accident had occurred, and on their return yesterday they telegraphed that of the whole crew and marines on board, numbering in all 364 men besides the captain, Oniy twenty-three had been able to save themselves by swimining. The Radetzky was under sail, on a crutse for gun practice, 2nd had no steam up, so that the acetdent could not have been caused by the explosion of the boiler or a cylinder, rding to the Meagre anthentic reports whieh ached the War Office aud the newspapers wet cartridges were being dried in the pow- der room. The ammunition had been un- packed and quantities of powder were lying about the floor, and the workmen were consequently commanded to enter the room only in felt slippers. They, however, came in with their boots on, withont putting felt slippers over them, The powder coming in contact with the hard soles of the boots, ignited from the friction caused thereby, and a terrific explosion sent the vessel and 40 men to destruction. ‘The list Of persons who have been saved contains the names of the naval cadet Karl Barth, that of the pilot Devcich, the first mate and two satlors—ail of them seriously injured, Five sailors are injured but slightly; the two quartermasters, the fireman and ten sailors escaped unhart, others perished; muissioned officers, seven naval cadets, two ply: sicians, and five engineers, wno had almost all of them been present at the battle of Lissa. The chap- jain was fortunately absent, and so was a young cadet named Fritz, who was three days before the catastrophe tremoved to the hospital at Poia. The marines on board were nearly all re- cruits, There were two powder rooms in the vessel—one in front, near the bow, and the other just uaderneath the oficers’ cabin. All the metal work la these powder rooms was made of copper, and the lanterns had panes set in of so-called Ma- rienglas (MUsCOVY glass). The Radetzky Was an iron-ciad steam frigate of 1,826 tons burden, with engimes of 390 horse power. She was armed with twenty-nine 30-pounders, and commanded by the naval Captain Adolpnus Ritter von Dautalik, of Vienna, who at tie batile of Lissa commanded the Donau. After her cruise the Radetzky, which had only been fitted out aud equipped on the ist of this month, was to proceed to Casteinuova, there to join the squadron under tie command of Kear Admiral von Pockh in the Boche di Cattaro. in 1848, when Venice was blockaded by the Austrians, two oMcers of tne frigat Venus— Coionel Paradis aud Captain Sehwarz—publishod ® letter In the Gazette of Graz, in which they soltcited contributions yor the purpose of forming a find—the Radetzky fand—with a view of pur- chasing a war vessel for the Austrian navy. In 1853 the government added the baiance to the sums collected, and the Radetzky was with that money bulitin Engiand. Th in 1866, and was christened Graf Radetzky. She was in action against the Danes of Heligoland, under the present Admirai Tegethoff, on the 9th of May, 1844, At that time she was commanded by Capt, Jeremiasch, who was weunded in the action by bombshell. During this engagement off Hel acannon ball ot the enemy sinashed the pot Field Marshal Radetzky, hanging tn the fore cabin of the captain, vo atoms. ‘The present accident is the second case of a ves- sel of the Austrian navy being destroved in the o sea by a powder explosion. In June, 1850, during the Franco-Austro-Italian war, the brig Tritou was biown up between Lacroma and Ragusa, { the 110 men on board, only Cadet von Rieaesel was saved, who is still serving in the Austrian marine as lieutenant, and a sailor named Amboek, who had just before been sentenced to be Notwithstanding the heavy chains, he Managed to ki himself on the surface of the sea by swimming till he was rescued. All the other Ped on board—among them also a sou of Minster ruck—were drowned. At that time it was sup- posed that an Italian, from political motives of revenge, had wilfully caused the explosion. A telegram from the commander of Lis#a to the naval sectiop of the War Office, dated yesterday evening gi the following additional detatis: ‘The explosion took place in the powder room abaft while the metal was being cleaned. Cadet Barth was near the foremast when the explosion took place, by which he was hurled into the sea. Quartermaster Kraus reported that he was in the corridor superintending the process of, cleaning. laid himself down'in the cor- ridor near the He was roused from his asleep by @ violent shock and the cry of ‘Vire |" Pushed to the hatchway, but the steps were an had to creep into the battery, when he saw the destruction of the hind part o! the ship, which was on the point of sinking. The water was rushing in from all sides, and M had just time to throw himself into the ~ through the port- hole. Ki at (uarte: a Taus is of opinion : Doge it, the Ca in the powder mom where the am- k, by incautiously strikin, munition been unpacked and cartridges spread out to.dry. A second from the commander of Lissa to the naval section of the War (Mice, dated half. past seven this morning, which arrived here av ten ive A. M., states that the fron- 4 “Max and the during the night The kel np the a of a identified as that of Pavessich, ite, ‘The twenty- of the lost saved Were at the the explosion in the partly on deck, Captain Dai and the officer dager, were on the commander's bridge. By order of the Bm & tel was sent to tue yomuuander of urgung speody traggs All | among them were seven com- | memory of the unfortunate who perished catenenngne wal ve Sed be Letters from state that iblic there are THE EASTERN QUESTION. Greece and the Conference of Paris. ‘Tho following ts the text of the memorandum M, Rangabé, the Minister of Greece at Paris, hanaed to the Marquis de la Valette with the note explaining the motives of his refusal to assist at the Conference assembled to appease the Greco-Turkish conflict:— 1, Causes of the contlict.—The Fowers assembled in confer- pte hag fp oh 01 ea is evident that the soi ic io i i world, was cal or by ations or ee ot ant ived in « spirit of But the incident did not take place; M.. the Greek Minister of ign of his answers to M. Pho- Bey exp: told = 4 ‘would have been im, true, remained without ly. Action was, therefore, taken Solved aud communicated. tue was provoked by an colved and comm: was an ultimatum which was not justibed by any new or 2. U'timatum.—Let us pass to the ultimatum itself ;let us examine its conditions, to see how far they aro ical. or just, and to what point Greece owed it to to reject —_ or could Popstar herself taker to —— the interests ‘These conditions were five in number :— “Fura Poind.—That Greece shall aasume the axprese oblige. tion to conform herself for the future to ‘ing les between herself and Turkey, and in general to international i RT MD eR Melber EP ime Ca Dt Second Point.—To punish, in conformity to the laws, those who have been guilty of attacks upon Ottoman soldiers or citl- . xena, and to indemnity the victims of these crimes. CS * * * . * . * . Third Point.—That the Cretan families should be allowed freely to embark to return to their homes, and that the Greek government should etiectually protect their re-entry into their . 6 Fourth Point.—That the ships the Enosis, Panheltenium be disarmed or, at least, be closed against thera, the Crete and the the Greek porte 5504 NS ad) Dio Fisth Point.—That the bands of volunteera now existin shall bo broken up'ana thet the formation of new oes aball be prevented. . ie gees RM a aah ra Biden via Mr. Rangabe replies to each of these five severally and then sums up as follows:— CONSEQUENOES OF THE ULTIMATUM. F But the Porte did not content herself to send to Greece an ultimatum ao {ll sup Bho also accompanied it by vio lent measures, which ha aaa of the situation, One of her naval oflicers gave the chase with hoatile intentions, inthe Greek Archi , to a mer- chant ship with the Greek dag, menaced with violent measures and biocked up one of the ports of Greece. The Greek subjects have been requested to leave Turkey in a very short time to the great injury of their material interests, and the Turkish forts have been shut up to the Greek ships, thereby Anflcts ing on our trade an tucalenlable loss. Greece has not had recourte to reprisala, Sha deema itis a duty imposed w her by justice and humanity to lessen as much as 10 the disastrous effecta of a conflict and not to make inno- cents suffer by them. She has that the 4 subjects established on her territory would continue to enjoy the protection of her laws. In conformity with the deciion of te legal advisers of the Crown, copy of which is hereby annexed, she recognizes that the Turkish Reer Admiral was entitled fo summon before the competent courts of justice the captain of the Enosis, of whose condact he complains. Having shown such a spirit of moderation, Greece has the right to insist that, before resuming her ancient relations of fnendship with Turkey, Turkey shonid authorise, on ber own side, the indictment of the Turkish Rear Admiral on the charges bronght against him by the captain of the Enosis; that she should give reparation for the treatment she hus inflicted on-Greeos; that ahe should indemnify Greece for all the great lossen she has aiffered from the measures ordered orte. ly, that she should give real guaranteoa fer hencefori behaving better towards the Grovks, and trent ing them on the same footing as the subjects of the other European nations. RESUME, . ‘To sum up those considerations ‘we shall say that Greece declines the responsibility of the immediate cause of the actual rupture, reservin to come back to the oldest causes, should question about them bo raiked. Of the five points of the uitimatum the two first, as iu the order enumerated in this memolr, have no impor= tance at ail; that the third fs admit Greeoe, entirely and without restriction ; that the two others are repulsed by the prinetples of international law, as well as by the national legisintion, Conaequently Greece could not submit to them « . points PRE a Se ea SRE Nl ERNE eSB SEES FSG RET Te AN KEES ES ETERS ELIE RE ACRES SEN 28'S Pe: me ‘a . g as untries. The ultimatum ought to be entirely withdrawn, iy, Ae unjust: ‘Turkey ought to defer to competent vourts of justice the conduct of the rear admiral and grant to Greece reparation and indomnities determined by an equitable examination, and Turkey ought also to euar-, antee that, 1n the future, she would treat the Greek subjects oat favored nation. On ite side formal on the same footing aa the the Greek government would promise, in the way-I, To put no obstacle to the departure of willing to return to their native country, not to allow any authority nor any Greek subject to oppoas such departure, and to severely punish all those who should attempt it. 2° Not to permit any oficer, non-commissioned officer, soldier or civilemploye of the State to take up arms on behalf of the insurgenta, 3. Not to permit that anv ship belonging to the State, with full armament or otherwise, should convey szumunttion and aesitance to the Cretane. 4. To suthorise se tt ntof the cay in EKnosis a} al com: platat oi the Tarkiah Rear Admiral, aT) THE SUICIDE IN IRVING PLACE. ‘Tuvestigation Before Coroner Schirmer. An investigation was yesterday held at No. 1 Irving place by Coroner Schirmer on the body of Henry M. Steele, the man who committed suicide by shooting himself through the braiu, as already fully reported in the HERALD. Mr, Jacob F. Bartow, brother-in-law of deceased, doing business at No. 107 Franklin street, made a Jengthy deposition, in which he gave the facts con- nected with Mr, Steele’s melancholy death, mainly corroborative of those already printed. While the witness’ was arranging the things of deceased the latter walked into @ closet where there were some decoy ducks on the shelf, and, poinung to them, remarked to Mr. Bar- tow, “Put them in front of the ferryboat on the river and see how many ducks you would shoot.’ A few moments subsequently deceased said that he would h ave taken his life the night before but for his fears of the next world; that he had made hia will and given all his [span to his mother, and that be did pot want his murderers to have it, from which the witness believed he referred to his wife, irom whom he was divorced, and his mother, ity Coroner Cushman examined the body and the right temporal bone crushed in and the brain protruding. opening in the skull was about two inches tn I ‘h and three inches wide. The jury fonnd “that deceased came to his death by suicide by shooting himseif while laboring under temporary aberration of mind, at No.1 Irving place, March 10, 1869." Deceased was thifty-tiree years of CH and a native of Baltimore. Below will be found a copy of a letter left by de- b ym for Mr, Bartow the night previous to his jeath i DEAR Bartow :—I have burned all and burn any that may come for me Thave about #400 at Opdyke's, $1) should be at Forstman's about mother, Billings has my will. MONDAY MORNENU. On the opposite side of the same sheet of paper ia written:— I fear T may go erany and kill myself, ao I write thi, foun letters and al i'Tue Brevoort House: NRY M. STEELE. THE GERMANS AND THE EXCISE LAW. A memorial has been forwarded to Albany, signed by Magnus Gross, as president, and Albert Goett- mann, as secretary of the German Democratic Ex- ecutive Committee, and by Dr. William Schirmer, as president, and Herrmann Schroeter, as secretary of the German Democratic General Committee, asking for the repeal of the present local or metropolitan Excise law, and for the passage of an act to be tn force throughout the State prescribing equal penal- ties and imposing equal, conditions, and leaving the exesution of the law and the enact- ment of minor ations to the local authorities, in the counties to Boards of Supervisors, and in the cities of New York and Brooklyn to the Common Council of each. This memorial takes, moreover, the high Froand that ® weil matured excise law shoul cae cas nee Th af the sale of all bev- erages an y quire and beer, so that the control of the licensing authority be extended over those places also where, under the guise of sodawater or cider, liquor is sold, and which class of places are considered among the most immoral and obnox! ‘The memorial further claima that offenders against the Excise law should be wee in the ordinary tribunals of the State and by reviouly made oath, The \. Pabstance, of which ‘onty ts here indicated, will bo Inid upon the deska of members of the Assembly in the course “forenoon, and wil formally bed Rd by. ‘ lent ey ry