The New York Herald Newspaper, April 7, 1871, Page 3

THE STATE CAPITAL. Passage of the New Tax Levy Mea- sure in the Senate. EXCITING DISCUSSION UPON IT. TEXT OF THE BILL IN FOLL The Republican Minority Solid Against It. ‘The Amended Water Snpply Bill Passed in the Assembly. The Boss Limits Himself to One Miillion a Year. ALBANY, April 6, 1871. THE TAX LEVY 4 ‘was the great sensation in the Legislature to-day. It was generally expected in the lower House that it Would not be moved before the last week of the pession, When it could be rushed through with other ‘bilis of less importance when the hurry and flurry to wind up tne affairs of botn houses would, in a measure, prevent any great demonstration against 1t by Parker and his cohorts. However, Mr. Tweed Made up his mind to-day that the bill should be Moved without any dodge being resorted to or any gag applied to keep the republicans out of the way of its reaching a final passage, and so when he got the chance, which he did about noon, he moved the bill, and the Senate resolved itself into Committee of the Whole. Mr. Chapman, a republican, was Placed in the chair, The news soon became hinted about in the lower House, and the New York mem- ders, who have so much at stake in the bill, at once made a bee line for the upper region of the Capitol building. There was at the time quite A RUSH OF BILLS am the Assembly, and one or two little measures, in which several of them had no small interest, were on the Clerk's desk, which were to reach a thira reading before twelve o'clock; but their anxlety to see how the levy would be received at the start among the Senators made them, strange to say, for- get everything else for the time being. Ina few minutes, therefore, after the levy made its appear- ance for discussion the New Yorkers left in the Assembly room were few and far between. Those who did go to the Senate, however, did not remain Jong, for it only took a glance to satisfy them that, although the battle might rage furlousty, and even for a long period, yet that victory would be certain im the long rua to perch upon the banners of ‘ne Senator from the Fourth, It may be that Dot a few of them felt disappointed at this; for, deny it who may, I assert that several of the city members of the lower House would have been rejoiced to know, this morning, that the bill was sure to be defeated in the Senate, by defection of a democrat or otherwise, and yet who, when the bill reaches the Assembly, ‘Will toe the mark with as much appearance of loy- alty as its most enthusiastic advocates. To those members, then, who feel that the passage of the measure will rob them of the rich placer of old times, by which they never failea to make their stay at Albany 8 profitable one for themselves and their friends, the sight of the full row of seats en the democratic side of the Senate must have been ANYTHING BUT PLEASANT when they entered. Murphy was in his place, look- 4ng heartier and stronger than he has looked ina mouth past, and even Graham, who had for so long atime pucked his head against the party wall to satin bis place between Mc and chatting with everybody him, and, to all appearances, fully as to vote for the tax levy as though he had never heard tell of it before to-day, or cared whether or not there was any difference between it ‘and the most insignificant measure he was ever called upon to sanction. Once the few growlers of the city delegation had satisfied themselves that the of the bill was @ dead certainty they left lobby o/ the Henate and went their ways quietly. Parker was the frst Senator to attempt to kill the bill outright, ana this he did by moving to strike out the third section, and accompanied his motion with g@short specch. Creamer and Murphy championed the Lace tae ee a le, the oe eech, Its heavy array 0 res and stal ny rather. ug even Kennedy, who tried his best to show that two and two dia not make four, ‘When Creamer alluded to the fact that by THE NEW CHARTER passed last year $21,000,000 could be raised by the Various departments of the city, independent of the Legisilatu: new tax levy or no new tax levy, sevoral of the republicans looked ra ther aghast, as though each wanted to say to the other, *Dian’t we t Our feot in ity” and no one who had voted for it it like asking the question first. Creamer was algo very severe in bis depunctations of those re- publicans in th: country who, as he said, had en- deavored to misrepresent the bill, and declared that me was very sorry to see that the Senators who op- thé measure were opposed to limiting the raised by taxauon the coming year to $71,000,000. When he stated that as the case now stood the Commissioner of Public Works nad the wer under the new charter, did he see fit ‘use it, to raise the amount to $100,000,000, began excitedly to search among his books for a copy of the new Charter, evidently feeling ve “Boss’’ all the power Creamer mo Cal within that if 10 claimed it did his vote for the thing was ‘east rather in @ hurry, and at atime when ‘A BARGAIN couldn’t very well have been shirked. ‘There was quile AN AMUSING SCENE betwoen Wood and saint ag during the debate, when the latter charged that the old system of making up the tax levy by the Legisiature had ulways been the fraitfui source of gross ends. ‘Wvod asked him if the new makers were not to Diame for them. Marphy got nettled at this and replied that this session the first in eight years during which he had been on the majority side of the Senate, and that he had found during all that time that the iT portion of the evils that had from time to time crept into tne tax levy were made wo creep into Mt by tho republicans, “Didn't the democrats endorse them?” ‘ood, «Sometimes they did and sometimes they dla not,’’ retorted Murptiy. Both Senators looked rather puzzied at this point, and 3 general utteés went round the room as the democrats tried to look pious and the republicans sober. It is almost needless to state that no attempt ‘was made alter this by either party to lay the tax Jevy corruptions of the past exciusively at the door of the other. The two Senators probably feit that they had ventured upon dangerous ground, and that the old gaw about the giass houses and the throw- * of stones was not obsolete even in the Senate. pradiey’s amendment, which dragged in the char- ity question 80 defily, created a terribie liubbub, and the repoblicans did all they could to retar action on the bill by offering ail sorts of amend- ments. Bradley knew what he was about, and not only gave way cheerfully to Mike Nerton to patin the Oulldren’s Home in the clause, out frankly told the republicaus he'd accept every other awendmeut of the game character they desired to bring forward. When a vote was taken on this amendment, making 4 @ part oF the original bill, Sanford, a democrat, WENT BACK ON HIS CARTY, but eixteen to fonriee’ was enough to carry Itvand * go i Was made all vight. wrad ey, when le ofered the amendment, did so with the motive that the bill should b rred back to the Committee on Munl- cipat Atairs with lostructions to add tue amend- ment, This was done in @ twitkling of ap eye, ‘The DI Was at once reporied complete by the com- mute 2 second afterward, and Was Mually passed by a strict pariy yowe--17 to 14, The following is the ul mn fall; AN Act to make provisinns for the local governments of the ely ‘of New york. Toe State of New York, represented ta Senate and Aneembly, do ena * Sretton 1. "The Board of Supervisora of the county of New York ure authorized and requi-ed to raise by tax aon the estates, real and personal, subject to wxation In the city and county of New Vork, in’ the year J871 nd in the year 1872, the amount directed to be raised by the Bord i Honed in the third section of this act, which amount at exceed in iho aggregate in each of ively a sum equal to two per cent upon the faiates fixed for the year 1871 by the Com Taxes and Assexsinenis for the city and county of New asked tbe sum so gained m ench of raid years shall be paid ail oi xpenses 0 the ely sad county govern ‘or lepartiments nnd purposes for each of saul yeara, juterest on the debts tax je by sul Ny; and no liavilities be jurpose, in either of sald years, which shall , with the and. tue prive}pal nud intereat of the ine In puck year, make the agare- y and county governments, Yamousé Wo more than two the Ist Mayor uf thé city of few Yorks tne Commis. t of ina ran jenn acces ‘it poosion of of June, Tey iee je NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 187).—TRIPLE SHEET. s0 much of said unde! ‘thousand eight meet id fix and the sum to be thousond eight board shall hare the limit and transfer appropria- = Ake i p aeagh the amount required fon eg urposes as they hain ‘to require the same. seit BRO. 4. No bonds or stocks of the city or county of New York yt those authorized to be issued by the ection of Seoeadgns Smee es cmet faxes of e current ar be hereafter issued except by the concurrence and "Nathority of s majority of the persons mentioned in the third section of this act (in addition to the authority required by law), and unless public notice has been given in five of dally news- in the city o! me and papers published lace when the sald persons mentioned in section three of ia act will meet to consider the propriety of issuing the Amount and kind of said bonds and stocks, and unless, & 0; joe of the amount and special purpose oi an be een first advertised, after such con- currence, for ten days in fire of the daily newspapers pub- ished in'the city of New York. Sq. 5. No liability for any purpose whatsoever shall be ereafter incurred by any department of the city of New York or oficers of the, county of New, York exceeaing in amount 1 ropriutions made for such purpose; nor the olty of county of New York be held ilable for any indebt- edness so incu jo judgment against the city or county of New York shal! {d unless an appropriation bas been Piball be entered up fail-ackione or proveedings 1a # an ‘ern Commonalty Bf the clty of New York are plaintiffs or defendants shall have a prefer- ence, and may be moved out of their order on the calendar. 8x0. 6. This act shall take effect immediately. Mr. Bradley offered an amendment prohiniti y appropriation by the corporate authorities o! New York to any sectarian school or institution, ex- cept foundling hospitals and several asylums, hos- pitals, dispensaries and homes for the friendless, the aged, &c., which were named at length in the amendment. The amendment was adopted by a vote of 16 to 14. Jacobs to-day again went for A PRINTING RESOLUTION, which asked for the printing of copies of the civil lst to the tune of $10,000 worth. It was, on motion of Littlejonn, referred to the Printing Committee, with instructions to find out how much apiece the books are worth. The pith of Jacobs’ remarks was that the members were liberal to themselves. He might have added that they always will be if the people's purse is always at their command, Among OTHER BILLS PASSED TO-DAY in the lower House was the amended Water Supply bill and that which limits the time in which suits can be brought against sheriffs to one year instead of three, as at present. As passed the Water Supply bill contains a provision, inserted by the ‘Boss’’ himself, ee the amount to be expended in any one year for the Croton water arrangements to $1,000,000, Jt will be remembered that this was ex- actly as the original bill stood, and that an amend- ment limiting the amount to $5,000,000 was after- wards inserted. Did the ‘Boss’ himself have to take water this time ? THE BLACKWELI’S ISLAND BRIDGE. The committee of conference on tne Biackwell’s Island Bridge bill have reached a conciusion and re- ported the bill, exempting the county of Queens from all expense in the matter, This result was reached through tne efforts of Senator Frost and Assemblymen Prince and Oakley. THE DELAWARE AND HUDSON CANAL. The bill to repeal the charter of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company, which was recommitted last night in the Assembly, on the motion of Mr. Weed, of Clinton county, is effectually killed, as it 1s not at all probable it will be reported again, ANOTHER NEW BOARD. The bill creating a Board of Taxation Apportion- ment was passed by the Senate, which the Mayor, fderaen and The Tax on Emigrantse—Joy Over the Pas- sage of the Tax Levy. ALBANY, April 6—11 P. M. This evening Mr. Frear’s bill reducing the TAX ON EMIGRANTS from two dollars to ¢1 50 was reported, ordered to a third reading and passed, all within the space of five minutes. Mr. Norton, in the Senate, introduced a@ biil in- corporating Emil Sauer, David Solomon, Herman A. Baltzer, A. F. Goodnow, H. A. Allen and others as the arbor Loan and Trust Company of New York, with a capital stock of half a million, with the privilege of increasing to $2,000,000. The bill to permit aliens to hold real estate was considered in Committee of the Whole and reported favorably without debate, THE PASSAGE OF THE TAX LEVY has created the most unbounded enthusiasm in the »**Boss’’? quarters, and Senator Graham 1s celebra- ting the event to-night right royally in the barroom of Congress Hall. NEW YORK LEGISLATURE. Senate. ALBANY, April 6, 1871. BILLS INTRODUCED. By Mr. MUBriy—Facilitating mortgage loans on lands ad- joining Prospect Park. Mr. CREAMER introduced @ bill to amend the revised statutes 80 as to place incorporated libraries on the same footing with other corporations as to making annual reports, and subsequently reported the bill. BILLS REPORTED. Incorporating the United States Mortgage Company. Authorizing surrogates to employ stenographers. ‘Legalizing executions by county clerks upon judgments by Justices of the peace and docketed in their offices, and the sale of property on such executions, Incorporating the Ocean Hill Association to improve por- tions of Brooklyn. Amending the charter of the Central Park Savings Bank of New York. BILLS PASSED. To incorporate the Security Deposit Company of New York; to incorporate the Poughkeepsie Bridge Company, for the purpose of maintaining a bridge across the Hadson river; to prevent the spread of contageous diseases in the city of New York; to incorporate the National Prison Asso- ciation of the United States; authorizing the rebuilding aud repairing of wharves and_piera in the efty of Brooklyn; pre- venting oostructions to travel inthe city of Brooklyn: to compel the New York Central and Hudson River Railroads ¢ the names of certain stations on the line of their roads; to incorporate the trustees of the estate of the diocese of Long Island. THE NEW TAX LEVY BILt. ‘The Senate took up the bill to make provisions for the local governments of the elty and county of New York, aud the Clerk proceeded to read it by sections. Mr. PARKER moved to recommit the bill to the Committee on Municipal Affairs, with instructions to atrike out the third section, and said:—“I consider this one of the most re- markable bills in the power or grants which it makes that has ever appearedon the files of the Benate, or, perhaps, upon the files of the Legislatare. To be sure, ft slarts with the suggeation that the Board of Supervisors of tbe county of New York, who ure elected by the people, are authorized and required to raise by tax the moneys necessary for the government of New York, but it goes on 10 say that, they all raise ‘the amount directed to be raised by the board mentioned in the third section of this act,’ thus making the Board of Supervisors, and through them the taxpayors, abso- Jutely subject as to the amonnt of the taxes they shall'pay to the requirements and the orders of the four gentiemen who are mentioned {n the third section. But there is a limit sug- tea in the bill that the amount raised. shall Sgpa to_two per cent upon the valuation fixed for uh ear 1871. We have bad several petitions and suggestions ‘or and against this bill, the press and the public secining to be divi nthe subjects. Thold in wy hand one of thore petitions, sigued by # large number of property owners, and which is supp emanated in part from tho cities It is beaded “Vetition of property owners In favor of the bi Mintting the taxes of New York city to two per cent upon t basta now fixed for 1871." This petition "wee made oout, & month ago, and the petitioners knew, or supposed the knew, the basis then Gxed for 1871; but from the bill aa it 18 beture us the word ‘now fe struck out, #o that it reads “two per cent upon the valuation of such estimates fixed {or the year 1N71." Now, after the adjournment of the Legisia- ture the assessments may be raised or even doubled; under the existing law it is enurely in Commiastonera of Taxes and Astonsments to increase the tions, #0 as to make the amount on which the tax ahall d as large as they nee fit, That 18 one of the objec- tions to the bill. But there is another, In the third sect it provides that within twenty days from the lst of June the Mayor, the Comptroller, the Commiss| ‘of Public Works and the President of the Department of Public Parks hail meet ae a board of apportionment, and after fixing the amount to be raised, and after setting apart so much of ft na muy be necessary for the payment of the interest on bonis and stocks of the city and county for the year 1871 and for the payment of so m of the principal i said bonds and ktocks as may become due within said year, and also ao much as may be necessary to pay tl roportio © the “Siste tax to be paid by” thee veins. and county of New York = within wald yes pball apportion the remainder thereof ameng the varione departments and offices of the city and county governmente e concurring voles of all the members ot sald boar ection gives to four men—only one of whom, I believe, was elected by the haps two, but that question 8 in dispuce—it give four men absolate power compel the Supervisors to levy, and the people to pay, wh: ever argount of taxes they seo fit. T beg leave again to 1 mind the Senne of (he, supa which were made when we first came together here, tl new go nt for the cliy of New York was to be organized upon the principle of Jocai self-government, and I subaut, gentlemen, that you have not got that principle {n this bill, Without caring to argue the matter at length J call yout attention to these provisions io this bill, aad ask you where fn it do yon God the prinelple of local seif-government on the principle of no taxa- {on without representation. I anbintt, therefore, that this Vill 18 all wrong and that it ought nut to be passed. Mr. Woov—Last year we passed @ bill for the purpose of government for the oity of New York, th Hill was asserted to be the repeal of the acts therefor passed creating commissioners for the government of that city, and the repeal was put upon the ground that by these commissions previous Legislatures bad forced upon the city of New York ® government aud had therefore de- prived the peoplo of tho right of local self-government, f stated at the time that althoogh L, with others, joined in re- pealing there commissions the time was not far of when tbo people of New York would apply (or commissioners to go era them again. [ cont owever, that I did pot think Fequest would” come #0'400n oF that it would come m thie form. this bi ft is Fyopoeea to create a commission to govern the olty of New York, in compariaon witb which the commissions cre: republican legisiature sink Into powe eas and | enpoe,, Do the members of this Sevate underatund what t Dill proposes? It proposes to give the entire raising of his thi revenues for the government of the city ot New York, aud the control of theto when raised, to four officials—“oftictala”™ who may now be men of intogrity and every way qualified to discharge this duty, But how do we Know that they will remain 60 Mr. CRRAMER—The Sepator states the men who now hold hore positions are probably men of Integrity and well qualt- fied te discharge the duties imposed upon them by this bill. New, | wish to remind hitm that these men are ty remain in office from three to five years, walle the provisions of this years, en now in office whether the men are good men or not, the prin in tho Taise sh in subumiing ne dertinicn ofthe cy ot Rew York to &commission—that form of government about which the fentiemen on the other side have made so much noise, and for supporting which they have so frequently devounced the republican party. seems to me, t! if we pass this Dill ft cannot fail the Executive veto, if the Governor adheres to the Prlnetples which he hes laid down in bis voto, of the ill directing the Supervisors of Livingston county to audit ‘& certain claim and to cause the amount to be coliected from the county, He veloed that bill because it directed the Board of Supervisors to levy the tax, saying that the statute bat ery properly gave to the Board of Supervisors themselves the pow. pase upon the property, and neces- sity of the appropriation and the levying of thetax. Now this all power and discretion from the Board Dill takes away of Supervisors of the county of New York. What is the necessity for the Board of Bupervisora? Why refer to that joard at all, when, by the very ‘tems of the bill, this joard of arr ia to’ direct the Supervisors what amount of money to raise? The only fe Teferring to the Supervisore js the constitution and the laws require that they shall upon this question. But the Bi of Bupervisors of elty of New York is the Board of Aldermen, «x officio, They are elected by the people. Why, therefore, should not they have this power—they who are directly responsible to the people ? Upoa what principle do you take away his power from thera and lodge {t in this low Board? How can m democratic Legislature adopt @ bill with such a principle? It is in direct opposition to the doctrines which have been announced as those which are to govern this at vw that It ts under the control of a democratic majority. Yt seems to me that this bill strike: the very foundatior republican in- gor ane Gomecratie Eereneeeet I fe as een urged here repeated jemocratic Sena- torn, that “the county of) News York. ahould have the same rights that are given to the other counties of the State. In every other county, so far as I know, the power of fixing the amount of taxation is left to the Board ‘of Supervisors, and they make the appropriation and levy the tax; and I submit {f should be so in the county of New ason disebi ty. tions to this bill; but it set stated should be sufficient to to reject it, Mr. MURPIry—I wish to ask the honorable Senator whether there is any law in existence which places this power in the Supervisors of New York, or whetier there has ny sucl Mr. Woon—Certainly, I understood that now the Board of Aldermen must make out the tax levy, although I suppose It Was to be sent to the Legislature to be approved. ir. Mu! induce the Senate ‘¥—Ah! that is a very different thing. They ly form an estimate which ix sent up here to be ap- proved. They hare not the power to fix the amount. That power has always vested in the Legislature, and the object of this bill, as T understand tt, 8 to vest that power in the city of New York itself, Perhaps the form in which this bill pro- todo that may be objectionable, but certainiy the facts of the case do not support the ground taken by the honora- ble Senator that this power has ever been exercised by the Board ef Supervisors. Mr. Woon—I do not remember that I said that it had been ex by the Board of Supervisors; but {do nay that it ought to be unless some good reason to the contrary can be shown, From time tmmemorial the New York tax levy as been sent tothe Legislature to be approved, but the joard of Supervisors always estimate and tix the ainount to raised, and if itis right and proper the Legislature ap- rove it, At the same time I suppose that the Legisiature ave the power to interpolate other items if they choose, But will vote now with the gentlemen upon the other side to take that power away from the Lezislature and give It to jupervisors of the county of New York, if they possess requisite qualifications to discharge the duty properly. 16 levy. haying be be sent ture for approval it should be remem- when it comes here it is always under charge and control of the delegates from the city, who are elected directly by the people, and therefore, elther through the Board of Supervisors ‘or the Logisiainre, the levying of the taxes for that city and county has always heretofore been under the control of the men elected directly by the ople. Pee arks of the th the ir. CREAMFR—I think that after the Senator from the Seveateenth (Mr. Parker) and the Senator from the Thirtieth (Mr, Wood), a vote should not be taken upon this question until some of tne positions which they have assumed shall have been controverted, and the diicul- ties which they have raised explained to the satis- faction of Senatora who are asked to support this measure, opinion the progress of this bili since it In mi war introduced by Ihe Senator from tue Fourth (Mr. Tweed) and the criticisms that he hus received at the hands of polit!- crane, statemmen and editors have been yomething extraordi- nary.” Here {sa bill, the object of which is to restrict the ex- penses of the government of New York so that they shall not exceed for the years 1871 and 1872 respectively twenty mil- Mons of dollars, In other words here is an effort made by the men who are responsible for the government of New York to put down the brakes upon all sorts of municipal extravagances, and yet we are met with the cry from opposition here and from the np party press ibroughout the State that it ia the most anda- Cious attempt to grasp unlimited power that has ever been made since the adoption of our State constitution, or, in fact, since we began to live under a republican form of gov- ernment. It seemsto me, sir, that where schemes are on foot for ihe purpose of spending extravagantly the moneys of the people they prosper and receive the unanimous vote of the legisiative bodies and the universal endorsement of the press. It seems, after all, that corruption does win more than honesty, and that measures of municipal reform do not meet with that encouragement from the press or from either party that they should at all times receive. Mr, Lew18—Will the Senator from the Sixth district (Mr. Creamer) support an amendment to this bill limiting the amount to be assessed or collected this year to $22,000y Mr. CREAMPR—That 1s already in this bill, asl shail ex: pinin further on, Now, who has the power {o levy taxes in ew York? Do the Senators who have spoken against this DILE Do the members of the republican party or of ihe demo gratic party who are opposed to this billever ask themselves that question? or can they answer {t? What amount of taxes can the ofticers of the government of N. that city and county under existing law? What restriction i that jaw upon the expenses of that. cit) tion! York levy upon y and county? Can Senators answer the ques- ? Why, Mr. Chairman, under the law, as itstands, the municipal corporation of New York city have power to ex- mr ‘millions, a hundred millions, aye, five hundred ml- jons of dollars if they see fit, and yet, when they come here ‘and propose voluntarily to’ p! these restrictions upon themselves they are met with this factious accusation—| ‘are attempting to grasp unlimited power. WOoOD—Will the Senator permit a question ? ir, CREAMER—Cheerfully, sir. Iam desirous of giving Senators all the information | can-upon this subject, Mr. Woop—Does the Senator from be th (Mr. Creamer) assert that the law which provides that tie tax levy of New ‘York shall be submitted to the Legislature was repealed vy the act of last winter ? Mr. CREAMER—I say that the act which the Senator him- self voted for last winter gives to the Commissioner of Public Works, together with the Mayor and Comptroller, power, as a board of estimate, to expend # hundred millions of dollars, if they cnoose to abuse their powers to that extent. Mr. KENNEDY-—Suppore the Commissioner of Public Wor id the other officials have the por to contract debts for the city of New York to the amount of a hundred millions of dollars in a single year—how, except through the ure, are they to get the money to pay them Y ‘REAMER— if the Senator will refer to the law be will eee that it confers upon the various departments of the cit; government created by the w ct + Which was ourk for unanimously by republicans and democrats of both branches of the Leginiatare, power to make estimal ‘Those estimates are to be submitted to the Board of Apgro- priations, which is composed of the Mayor, the Comptronér and the head of each departmen' id itever amount they agree upon as necessary forthe support of the various de- artments is by the law consideres arpropristed, and the joard of Supervisors are authorized and directed to raise that amount. Mr, KENNEDY—Have the officers of the city government any further power over the question of taxation than the power to send their estimates bere to be passed upon by this A. CREAMER—Why, the Senator (Mr, Kennedy), after his long experience on ‘the Committee on Municipal Affait Ought to know better than to ask such a question as that Does be not know that even previous to the passage of th new charter the items in the tax levies sent here to be pass upon were not more than perhaps one-fitth of the whole amount expended for the government ot the city ? Mr. KENNEDY—I ao not know. sir, that the tax levy of the city of New York does not include all the items of the ex- nses of the city. I know that it does not inclnde the in- jereat on certain bonds. ' acetal med na ie the things that it does include. ‘Mr. KeNNEpy—It does not include, either, certain other items that I could name; but it does include, and has always included, the expenses that are inciaent to the government of the city nd county, Mr. CHRAMER—The Senator has got down now to inci- dental expenses. If be will read the tax levy ef 1888 he will Giacover that the Legislature, appropriated only, 1,600,100 out of an expenditure of $28,000,000 for the city aud county overnment, Now, to show the po js vested in that corporation to-di Legialature, 1 will read a few of tho J wie the ave power to raise the money. Our portion of the Sate tax ie $6,500,000; police, $90,000; achoals 82,150,000; charities, $100,000; Fire ‘Department folerest on debt, i. 000; ‘salaries of Judielary, &c.. 760,000 ‘As, 1,000,000; street cleaning ‘under Besides thes i there are expenses of Parks and Public Works, in- Here I am able to write ‘out, without reverring to the books, an aggregate of $21,000,000, Aad, besides, there is the reserved power that exists in various pet title under the act of last year. As hy Iready sald, the course of the gentleman on the other aide in cts of last year, wert, that unde here last year the corporation of N e power to expend hundreds of millions ually, and that the object of this bill is to put The Senator from says that If we pass this bill eto be levied may miliar with the manner in re imposed then he would know that be je mistaken in that statement, The Jaw requires that the books shail be made up previons to the Ist of January of each year and then that no correction bail be made in them until the Both of April, and that no change shall ve taade in them until the 80th of April, and thac no changes shall be made wnless upon the sworn affi- its of parties overested, and I tell him that in nine. buo- dred and nivety-nine cases out of a thousand where changes fare made they are made not by increasing the a mets but by striking them off the books altogether, The y ed this yoar will be much’ | Fr to expend money that ay, mitbout coming to the fe items for which they contr: 5 the Departments of Docks, curred under previous laws. York wit of dollars ai some restraint apou them in that respect. the Seventeenth Mr. Parker Which taxes value of the property a ‘as last year. k the Senator whether the Power to increase tue amount of idivi- IU the S0th of April ? ts a We bave not the power at this day; the otice shail be given that the bucks Mr. CREAMER law requires that public are open for correct! © Mr. PARKRR—Willyon not bave the power between this the uth of Apri! to incroass tie assessments Mr. CRRAMER—No, sir nt? and he. ch a bill the enormous amontt of personal property that had pre: yed taxation, #0 ae to lighten the burden on real x were REDE (0 every Name In the business each jndividua: on a certain say. % by the passage of this bill (which con: for two yedra) the agerogate amornt of 16, 0U0 wither thia nda bere, we ask to wealst us in farter that they hich conferred taxes ‘hat can be raised wiil hot exceed year or neat year, Now ,we ask ourf Benatora who are opposed to us perfecting our city government gave us last year. Under that NOwers upon the officers of the city ‘government for Pou Mor tive years, it. ts impose to bring about change in a day Repodlicans and democrats in that city must xccept the situation. There is 00 power to change it. You, gentlemen, on the other sida, gave us the eharter that we are hving under as much as anybody else, It passed this body by # vote of 00 to 2, and the other Both parties voted for ty and House by w vote of 1l0to ly ie. New York surely a bill giving the corporation of power to make such large expenditures met your ap- proval last year, this wk which is amendatory of th and which i# designed to restrict thet power expenditure, cannot fail to receive your approval port this bill becaure { be.ieve that it Is eminent bf reform which has been Introduced bere in respo Gemanda of the people of New York by thove who aponsible for tl overnment of that city and who are trying it the best government possiole., [t je no matter pored ‘Charter last year’ or who wae to alter it then, Jt cannot be changed now. At the néxt election you secure the guber- natorial chair or not, you cagot thereby change our chi A repuoiican Govertior would bare no more power te mal chauge in the government of New York city than I woul "riders have been between the members from the cit a ‘That city is now aa {t onght to f government so far asthe management of ie @ city government ? aMep—It will Venta ip accordance with © cbarter, and of tho amended tax levy It will be raised by the various departments estimal nd submitting them to @ board, com- makin, tae, {4 oned Of their own chiefs with the Mayor and Comptroller, Sou'wluasever amount inay nares ‘on as becessary, ie Board | thorized and directed by the aw of Is the Senator satiated with the an- jad that that la correct law by of Supervisors are last winter to raise. swer? Mr. Woon—I am not sati any means. rt, CBRAMER—I repeat, that this !s ® measure of reform, and that it is necessary in order to give us the full benetit of the charter of last year. this bill; nothing that those whe and anxious that the public &l has been There 18 nothing secret about apport It are not willing often made here that this bill confers extraordl- coming from those who voted r uiving the power of expenditure 6 already {ilustrated. The Senator from the Sev- enteenth (Mr. Parker) makes the objection that of these four gentlemen only one is elected by the peopie. | But how are the Oflicers. who now make the appropriations chosen? In neagly every case they have been appointed by the Exece utive of the cily government. Now, in conclusion, I repeat, that J sual support this’ bill because it 1s calculated to reatrict the powers of theae city oflicers to expend the pub- lic money, and thereby to correct a defect in the law now. governing them, which allows them to raise any amount of money they may aeem necessary independent of the other branches of the local government and the Legisiature, Mr. Woon—The Senator has not stated what objection there is to leaving this power to the Board of Supervisors: instead of conferring {t upon these officers. to discuss the provisions of this Dill, but merely to state the reasons which justify me in my own mind in yotins for it, The bill, perhaps, is not exactly what I would like it to be. We havé passed & bill in regard to the city of Brooklyn of the same tenor, which js more satisfactory to me than this, but stil T know that I cannot’ have my particular views accepted in all respects, and therefore Ih looked at this bill to see whether there is m it which should command my support. I have always maintained the pro- priely of giving to the olty of New York the power of xing the amount of taxes to be raised for {ta own muntel pal par- New York is an exception to all the counties of the een en- o8es, Bite, From time immemorial i tax levies ha acted by the Legislature. Even when New York city of ovly twenty or thirty thousand inhabitauts the saine form was gone through with of coming to the Legislature for a law to” authorize the levying of taxes annually; and yet we have now in this State the clly of Breoklya, containing a population of four hundred thousand, whero ‘this matter of taxation is left trely to the local authoriti in regard to the other cities of the State. Now, as of principle, I do not see why we should make an exception against New York, and insist upon tixing ber tax levy here. But more than whit. In the course of iny experience here f have observed the great evils which result from bringing that tax iovy here. Year after year an eatl- mate would come up “irom the city authorities of the amount required to be raised, and when it came here that estimate was resarded as a kind of horse upon which all Kinds of riders were placed—special legislation in favor of individuals and corporations, So that the Tax Levy some- times went away from tho Legisiature loaded down with ha ilion or a milion of dollars more than the local au- iiies had looked for. ‘This isa very serious evil, and has ts Influence, in connection with the other reasons I have named, in leading me to make up my mind to favor any measure which would ylve back to the city of New York the ay to levy its own taxes ir. WOOb—I would ask the Senator whether any of those riders were put upon the Tax Levy except by Senator or mem- bers of the other House representing the city of New York? Mr. MURPHY-—I have been here ten years. Tam sbrry 80 long and this is the first time that I have been in the majo- rity in this Senate. All the riders to which I have referred were put on not by the party then, tp the minority here; but by the party which was in the majority—the party to which the honorable Senator from the Thirtieth (Mr. Wood) be- longs. rt. Woon—I ask the Senator if there were any of those riders which did not have the approval of the representation of the city of New York ¥ Mr. MURAY—I will answer the Senator by saying that some of the fiercest combats upon the subject of cute of New York. Sometimes they were united in their action uj that subject, but very often they were not. Now let us lo this measure iteelf, | Tt proposes to give to a board inthe of New York the right to fix the amount that shail be le for the different purposes of the city government. ‘The met bers of that board are four in number—the Mayor, who elected by the people, and three other city officers apnointe: by him—the Comptroller, the Commissioner of Public W and the President of the Department of Public Parka, objected that theso gentlemen are not ail elected by the people, Now, the charter of New York, for which most of the honoraple Senators on the other side voted, provided that these oilicers should be chosen in this =way—that they should be _appeinted by the Mayor, who was himsolf an elective ollicer, And who knows beiler’ than these oflicers what will be required for the purposes of the city government? This Board com- prises the highest officers of theeity, and to them better and Inore safely than to any one else can be commit: ted the important trust of estimating the amount of taxes which are necessary to be raised annually. That they, ure not elective ollicera ‘certainly. 18. not our fault, any. more than it is the fault of Senators ‘on the other side, who voted for the charter last year. But the Mayor himself is elected and if he makes improper ap- polntments to these oftices be 1s directly responsible to the people, who, at the next election, can thrust him from his po- Aition amd pit one in hla, plueé who will, make. proper ap- ointments, What does this bill do? ‘The taxes of New % last year, according to my recollection, were iy twenty-four ‘million dollars, Now this bill im- ‘an iron rule upon these officers by providing that hall not raise more than two per cent upon the amount ation for the year 1871, and it ia believed by those who know best that the amount which they can raise under this rule will be about twenty-two and abalf millions for this year and next year, and for all time to come. Until you alter tnis rule they will be restricted to that amount, and, therefore; ths is clearly a bill in the interests of the peovls of that city. Mr. HaNPENDING—I desire to aay but a word upon this subject, and it is this: Tare but little tn looking at this quea- tion how good the government of the city of New York may be; how eminent or how upright may be its Mavor or the heada of its various departments; admit, if yon this power would be safely vestea in the hands of the persons how ip office. The ground upon which I shall cast my vote Against this bill js, that it is antl-republican and anti-demo- cratic. The power to raise taxes is @ great power, and it should be ‘exercised only by the representatives of the ople. “If Tunderstand the theory of dur government, we ecame a republic because our fathers resisted taxation Without representation. ‘Ihe principle of this bill is not ap- lied to any other county of the State, In every other county The taxes are assessed’ and levied by the representatives of Prople-the Board of Supervisors, ' Even’ where 8 made out by the Legislature, it. fa made out the representatives of the whole people, and therefore power in safely vested. Bupit Is proposed here to vest this power in officers not elected, but appointed, and that, I say, 1s not republican. T submit that if you confer this power upon these men as @ yard and they abuse ft the peopie have uo means of righting the wrong. And again, there seems to be a certain impro- priety in the fact that one of the nals npon whom these powers are conferred by the bill ere in. judgment and votes the power into his own hands. For this and the ‘ali vote against this bill. Dy—1 desire to enter my protest against the passace of tho bill, and to state brielly the reasons why it joes not commend itself to my judgment. By this bill {t is made the duty of the Board to raise, by tax upon real and personal property, in 1872; the amount that shall be directed ‘0 be raised by the Board, provided for in the third section. But that sum, it 1s provided, sholl not exceed two per cent upon. the valuetion for 1871. Now the asseas- ment rollof New York is not completed until the 30th of ‘April, 1871. The Senator from the Sixth (Mr. Creamer) says that ‘the amount of the assessed valuation of real and personal property io that ity for this year has been slready letermined, I sav no, The value of the real propel New York for 1871 has been determined, but the right to-day to assess the personal estate of ‘that city as much as they think proper, in oeder to make that as- sessment conform to the requirements of the addition may be made at any time prior to So that upon the theory upon which this ss m state, real and personal of New York nd will not be fixed until the B0th of Te mag ve $40,000,000, and It may be bill of which the Sei Creamer) {s the engineer p of a large increase of the valuation of estate prior to the 80th of April, Of amount to be raised will depend upon the amount of the assessed valuation of the property of New York--real and Nersonal—and that will depend eultely upon the discretion of the four gentlemen, who, by the third sec- tion of the act, are created a board of apportionment a suihorized to, 6x the amount to be ramed withont gol through the formality of submitting it to exisiative body ‘whatever. Su Far aa I re ie no monarchical government in Europe that presumes to adopt tax levies arbitrariiy, without submitting them to a leglaiative vody. Now I am in favor of this tax levy going to the city of Now York for adjustment, but I am “in favor of its gotng there under a bill which ‘will submit to @ proper i com- posed of representatives of the people. am rank to confess that {t is an unwise provision of law or custom that sends the tax levies here to ve passed upon by the Legisiature by men who of necessity imunat be profoundly ignorant of rovst of the items that make them up, But the Senator from the Fourth says the city oficers have the right under the charter to raise the taxes how withont coming here Mr. CRRAMER—I_ ai that the power existed either under the charter or the tax levy of last winter, Mr, KENNEDY —Will the Senator indicate the provision of the tax levy of last year to which he referat Mr, CREAMER—Sections 45 and 46, Mr. HAXDRNBERGR—It not only gives them the power but it directa them to do it. Mr. KRNNEDY—My criticism of the remarks of the Sena- tor from the Sixth (Mr, Creamer) was based on his claim that that pewer was given by the charter passed last year. I direct- ed my remarks to the charter andto the other legislatic to which he refer the majority here is respor nible for that. Now, | am willing to vote for any me: that will send these tax levies to be passed upon by elective officers in the city of New York—ofllcera who are directly re- sponsible to the willing to send this enor- mone amount o by a board composed of by him, he bimacif be- the oly statement worthy o ade by the opponents of this bill fs that under existing laws conce ing the making up of the assessment roils of the city and county of New York. After the passage of the bill the aggre- grate amount of the assessed value of vroperty may be Conbled, 1f the commissioners see ft, in order to authorize the rais(ng of a larger amount of taxes, without violating the two per cent rale. algo charges me with Introducing the Dill to equalize the taxation on personal property, for the purpose of increasing the aggrega' perty taxable In the c je raised by ta: the ob; mnt to esentation of order to simplify the sku bere T have that bill, and am willing to bave the enacting out of it, 80 that it cannot be used ay an argument the meaning and design of the bill now before ns, Mr. HARDENSERGH—I desire to state in a few words the views that T entertain in regard to this bill, Ib has been stated here that it is a departure from democratic principles upon the ground that the great power of taxation shontd re near ag possible with the and to that doctrine L subseribe. ‘The city of Ne in our State so far as ite are concerned. I 0 vain for any Jaw authorizing to come here for adjustment or endorsement, and 1 assert pow that Itreat® hpon mere custom and common usage. to my friends and to myself, keeping that prinel: ini view, that when the tax levy of New York Comes to the Legisiatiire the real assessors of the taxes of that eity are for the most part Senators and Representatives from tho. weatorn jon of the State, who have no terest {a the local aifaire of New York. This bill does not far enough for me, but L shall vote for ft because it goes far as possibie under existing Jaw toward giving the ¢ of that great city the Fight to determine who shall nd levy their taxes Mr, Parker's motion.was loat. Mr. BRanuny oilered the following as an additional sec- tor “It aball not be lawful for the Mayor, Aldermen and Com- monaity of the city of New York, or the Board of Sapervi- sora of the county of New York, or the Board of Apportion- ment herein created, to propriate oF apply any portion of the tax herein aut to be raleed iu ald of y private Or sectarian achool, or to any in- mitution or enterprise that is under the control of any religious denomivation, or to borrow any money 00 the faith or credit of the dity, to be applied to any purpore; but the foregoing restriction shall not be held to prevent an appropriation by the said Board of Apportion- ment, from the tax herein anthorized, of one dolilar a week in addition for each foundling taken charge of and supported jn the Fonndling Asylum, under the charge of the Sisters of Charity, and excepting the provision ex- empting free Ubraries; hospitals, and churches, from nh ee od tn the 11th section | of jo make appropriations in ald o! 12.:—Five Points’ Mission, Ladies’ stociation, Orphan Asyium, coruer of Prince fd oe ig) Ag pass, Re a ‘omen’s Medical Hos; 0 Bt x oes a Aasociatior rancis Hospital, By "1 5 han Asylum, ety for the Rolie? oe Beast se Children of and som, BL” Joueph’s the "Bund Me. Heft acon. geo seat ‘a ra sion Society, the i for Reltef Ey - Svensa. the Hayside Tndustrial Home. the New York Doreas ll kuow, The charge which | | | | | | | as nainall | Roclety, the Home for the Friendlexs, the Ladies’ Chilstian Union,’ the Association for Befriending Children, the New | York Hospital for Diseases of the Nervous System, the Society for Kelief of the Ruptured tind in 4 Crippled, the Society for Indi- nth avenue, the Hosphal for and Paralytic Poor, the New York for tie following named ala- Rastern, the Yorkvile, the Eclectic, the Dispensary of ollege for women, the New naary, the Branch Homewpathic square; the ortheastern the New York Homew- gent aud Crippled ¢ Relief of Eye aud Ear Infirmary, cnsaries: ‘The New York, the Northern, the DeWitt, the Northeastern, ‘the Northwestern, the Hariem, the Manhattan, the New Medi P Tompkins ‘Dispensary, Nege, Dispensary, the Western Homowpathic Dis- tral Dispensary, the German Dispensary, , the Western Dispensary for Women of the New York College of Den- ustry, the Dispensary for Diseases of the Throat and Chest, the Orthopedie Dispensary, the Metropolitan Homcpathic Dispepsary, the New York Opthalmic and Aural Institute, pnd the other institutions and societies now provided tor jaw. rhe excise moneys derived from liconses for the sale of in- toxicating liquors since the oranization of the present Board of Excise Commisatoners' and the moneys hereafter received for such lirengea may be appropriated for charitable yur by the Board of Apportionment herein provided for, as they may determine from time to me. Mr. LORD sald he intended to move to trike out the word gest ” bits iakbumy said he had no objection. Mr. CHAPMAN wished to have the amendment printed before voling upon it. this side of the house York and Children, the Infirmar Mr. TWRED--Centlemen w uniformly in favor of making appropriations to all charitable inatitutions, without caring, whether | they are Metlodist, Epfacopuiian, Catholic or Presbyterian. - long to all those denominations, (Laughter.) I tolerationat in religion. believe thi can get to heaven without belonging to either o1 ligious denominations if he regulates his life by the and precepts of the Bible, Therefore, 1 believe in sup- porting all deserving charities, without asking what denom)- Ration controls them. If I am sick I don't care whether ft #- a Catholic, a Methodist or an Universalist: who nura me, so long as I get good care, (Laughter.) We on this side aro in favor of aiding all the charities. So now, gen- non the other side, offer your amendments, inserting wring chariti and we will accept them, Mr. CHAPMAN moved to have the bill and amendment laid principle on the table and printed. Lost, 13 to 17, as foliows:— YRas—Me Bowen, Brand, Chapman. Uarpending, Kennedy, Lewis, Miner, Parker, Scott, Thayer, Winslow, Wood ant Woodin—13, Navs—Messrs. Banks, Bradley, Cauldwo!l, Creamer, Frost, Genet, Graham, Hardenburyh, Hubbard, Lord, Morgan, Mur- , 6. F, Norton, M, Norton, Pierce, Tweed— mend was then adopted—16 to 15, EW18 moved to ament by restricting the amount of ised annually to $22,000,000, Lost, 14 to 17, as fol- Messrs, Bowen, Brand, Chapman, Elwood, H ending, Kennedy, Lewls, Minter, Parker, Scott, Thay Winsiow, Woou ant Woodin 14, NAYs—Messrs, Banks, Bradley, Cauldwell, Creamer, Frost, Genet, Graham, Hardenburgi, Hubbard,’ Lord, Mor: an, Murphy, C.F, Norton, M. Norton, Pierce, Santord and weed—17, ‘Mr. Lewis then moved to restrict the tax to $25,000,000, Lost by 15 to 16. Mr. CHAPMAN moved to amend by requiring the agreed upon by the Board to be submitied to the Bi Supervisors, who aball have power to reduce the same, by 1b to 16, followa:— ide ys Lewis, Mint ending, Kennedy, Lewis, Miniei Pilayert Winslows Wood, Woodin--16, NAYS—Messrs, Banks, Bradley, Cauldwell, Creamer, Genet, Grabam, Hardenbergh, Hubbard, Lord, Mur- F. Norton, M, Norton, Plerce and Tweed —16. Sanford an “Mr. Bradley's motion Mr. jount dof Lost Brand, Chapman, Elwood, Har- Parker, Sanford, Scott, Int of June the Board of of Apportionment, and bj Dill creating the Board, ‘The bill was then passed. THE REPUBLICAN RUMPUS. Meeting of the Republican General Com- mittee—The Republican Central Committee Denounced. ‘The. Republican General Committee of the city and county of New York held its regular monthly meeting last evening 1n the hall at the corner of Filth avenue and Twenty-second street, The Presi- dent, Horace Greeley, occupied the chair. It bemg known that many important questions would come up before the committee, and not know- ing what might be sald in the heat of debate, tne representatives of the press were excluded, and dur- ing the enure session were Kept waiting outside In the hallway. After the meeting was called to order the commn- nication from the State Central Committee to Mr, Greeley, previously published, was read. A desul- tory debate occurred, and the following resolutions were offered by General Cochran Whereas, the State Committee have, upon charges and petitions preferred, decided to break up this General Com- mittee and the twenty-one Assembly District Associations connected therewith ; and to organize another General Com- mittee and other District Associations in their places; and, ‘Whereas , the charges aud petitions on which their action is avowedly taken, have been shown without refutation to be destitute of foundation in fact, and an arrant pretence; and, whereas this General Committee {s, within the admission of the State Committes themselves, the Togular republican or- ganization of the city of New York, estabiiahed by the para- mount authority of the republican party of the State of New York in State conventions assembled; and its constituent Assembly district associations are, by the same admission, the regul only organizations of that party, created by the same paramount authority within their respective As- sembly districts: therefore, Resolved, That the determination of the State Committes to dinsoive the regular republican organization of the city ot ‘New York and to create another, without cause and without Power, ig an act unprectdented in its nature, withont justt- fication, incompatible with the principles and life ot the re- publican party and altogether a act of usurpation, unmitt- gated by either policy or necessity. Resolved, we, That the General Committer jon of the city of ork, to to usurpation of the State Commiitee, or to co-opérate in the same; but maintaining, in their Integr a to us by our fellow repudli th th ‘onven- rou cir Stat tions, do purpose and intend, now and hereafter, faithfully, fairly and honestly to diacharge the duties of our office. Resolved, That the communication read from the State Committee, addresxed to Hon, Horace Greeley and Hon. William Orton, be referred to the special committee of which Sinclair Tousey is chairman, with power. Tho resolutions were debated, when a substitute ‘was offered by,Horace Greeley to the effect that the State Central Committee had no right to reorganize the party unless authorized so to do by a vote of.the State Convention; but that, having the success of the republican cause at heart, they Wontd submit to the reorganization proposed by the State Committee and direct their chairman to co- operate with Williain Orton In effecting it, ‘The amendment being voted upon was lost, by a vote of 71 to 9 ‘The original resolution was then adopted unant- mously. The following was then introduced by General Cochrane, and was on mowon referred to the Exec- utive Committee :— Resolved, That the recent deposition by the United States senate of Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, from Senato- rial dignities, defines to the American eye, ‘with startling distinc! the outiines of this tragic tablean. It ts the 1th day of’ May, 1:68, The curt upon @ Senate chamber, a seated Senator and a stricken blow. The 10th of March, 1871, has come. Again, th seated Senator and a blow. Fiftee The Senate house and the man the sam the deed, ail else Waseem ye how fall then, beneath the blow sped. by vicarious ven; Resolved, That greatiy as the importance of ite commercial and agricultural value, and station, giving eoniro: over and’ access to the waters’ of the Caribbean Sea, makes its acquisition desirable to the United States, the vast cost of Wansplanting American civilization in (a semt-bar- barous island, and of maintaining it there agninet seditious ‘Assault and conterminous enemies; the largely increased ex- peuditure which would be required by w proportionately en larned } system of coast surveys, lighthonses, buo: fortifications, and river and r improvements, at a time when the land groans under toe weight of taxes, !mpored to \ctpal and interest of a national debt of over twenty- ndred millions of dollars, should cause us to hesl- Je the questionable methods and avenu w the énbject ia stated to have been approached so involves the queution of anuexation with others of leas favorable ar- pect that it were wiser, {n_ our opinion, tat Congress should postpone the project indefinitely. Resolved, That extent as we might the area of freedom tic tracts and trovical fields, yet we think that * now needs protection at hoine more than ex- pansion abroad. Resolved, That we approve of, the provistons of the bill in- ance now! Domingo in #4 naval troduced by Hon, Reuben E. Fenton into the United States Senate tor reforming the abures into which the Customs Revenue laws have fallen, that the people now burdened with heavy taxation have a right to expect that the ‘trictest. economy In the expenditure of the public moneys shall be observed by all administrations alike; an economy which, it is clear, does not comport with the system under which'a Collector of Customs and ® Surveyor of the Port of New York has each, upon occasion, been known to receive $90,000 per year for services which one-teath part of the sum would have amply compensated, THE PRESBYTERIANS. The Reformed Presbyterian Church Trial in Philadelphia—Tae Case Given to the Jury— Instractions by the Court—L mportant De- nm Conceruing Kights of Ecclesiastical Bodios. Pm PHIA, April 6, 1871. The great Church case, growing out of the suspen- sion of George H. Stuart by the Reformed Prestyte- Tian General Synod in 1868, was brought to a elose to-day in the Supreme Court. The case occuped the whole of the March term, and was conducted on the part of Dr. Wyile and Mr. Stuart by Wilnam A. -Judge of the Supreme Court, and Stewa ster and J. Sergeant Price repr Synod. A large nuinber of clergymen testified, put only one, the Rev. Dr. McLee, of New York, against Dr. Wylie and in benaif of the General Syucd, of which he 4s Moderator. Juage Williams, of Pittsourg, sitting in Nisi Prins, in bis charge to-day took the ground that decisions and decress of ecclesiastical bodies, whatever be their religious foree, have no civil validity unless they are in conformity with the law and order of the Churen itself, In the review of the history of the troubles Judge Williams decided that the congre- gation were competent to refer the validity of the election of 1868 to the board of trustees, and ented the General that the decision was final, if made tn good faith: that if that partofthe congregation identified with the Synod withdrew from the Church in Jane, 1868, because they were not entrusted with the control of the temporalites, they forfeited their rights as cor- orators; that the action of the Commissioners of he Synod im June, 1968, declaring those who had witharawn from the churcn the true congregation, ‘Was of no force, as it surpassed the express powers of the commission and was In violation of tie laws of the Church; that the action of the Synod in May, 1869, could not confer rights of corporatory upon those who had voluntarily withdrawn from the cor- the nee nearly fia previously; and that, in fine, he seceding ation lost their case withdra' too soon. e charge, Which oocu- pied over an hour in delivery, 1s pronounced an able and important one in its relation to ecciesastical vy lead jury has been out since half-past veo 3 WASHINGTON. Another Republican Quarrel Brewing. The Fight Over the New York Cus- tom House Spoils. Opposition to the Removal of Grinnell and Palmer. Shellabarger’s Ku Klux Bill Passed in the House. Mr. WasuHinoroy, April 6, 1871. Excitement f Executive Session of the Senate Over the New York Appointments— Mr. Grinnells Services to the Republicas Party—Another Set Back for the Adminis- tration. There was an executive session of two hours in the Senate to-day over the New York nominations, tut no vote was reached. Senator Fenton depre- cated the course of the Presidenc in removing capa- ble officers and good republicans, but he wished it understood that he had nothing personally against the gentlemen who were nominated to succeed Messrs. Grinnell and Palmer. He did not think the Policy which the administration had inaugurated with regard to the distribution of the federal patron- age in New York was wise, nor dia he believe that it would contribute to the strength or harmony of the party in New York. Both the oiicers whom it Was intended to remove had proved themselves eMcient and trustworthy. There were no charges preferred azainst them, either of an offictal or politl- cal character, On the contrary, there was evidence to show that both Mr. Grinnell and General Palmer had given ample satisfaction to the several departments under which they were ap pointed, Senator Fenton here referred to a letter | written by Governor Boutwell, speaking In high terms of General Palmer as an officer. Senator Conkling took the ground that the Presi- dent was the custodian and distributor of the pab- lic patronage, and that he ougnt to be the best Judge of the men to be selected. The President was directly responsible for their conduct; be sides, it was to be presumed that the President knew who supporved his administration and who did not, It could not be expected that ho would shower his favors upon his opponents and neglect his friends, This would be suicidal. He, had no doubt that Mr. Grinnell and General Palmer were good and efficient officers, but the President undoubtedly had cause for making a change. “He thought it the duty of the friends of the administra. tion in the Senate to support the nominations made by the President except there were objections as to fitness against the persons nominated. Speeches against the] course of the President in removing Grinnell and Palmer were made by Sena- tors Patterson, Wilson, Schurz and others, It is stated that had the Senate reached a vote to-day the nominations would have been rejected, All the democrats would have voved with Fenton, and asum- cient number of republicans who look with disfavor upon the action of the President would provably have joined them to produce the result. At all events, Conkling did not press a vote, and the indications were #0 unpromising that he moved an adjournment, ‘There was a paper exhibited in executive session showing that in 1868 Grinnell raised $150,000 for the election of Grant and Colfax. This was put in as a proof of Grinnell’s de- votion to the party. It is headed by Grinnell, himself, and then follows a list of gentle- men who subscribed at his solicitation, with the sum which each man subseriped set Opposite his name. In addition to this there was another paper showing what Grinne!! had persou- ally given the party and the administration, It amounts to a sum equal to all that Grinnell has ever received as Collector of Customs and as Naval Oficer, inthe way of salaries, The impression is that Conkling secured the adjournment 80 as to gain time for laboring among his brother republican in, While Attorney General F. Carroll Brew- | Senators, who showed signs of weakness to-day. Passage of the Ku Klux Biil~An Unwelcome Pill for the Democracy. ‘The Ku Klux bill a8 it finally passed the House to-day 19 regarded a3 a very strong measure, much stronger than the most radical among the epubli- cans expected to secure. It confers upon te Presi- dent ample power to use the muttary and to sus pend the operation of the writ of habeas corpus when he deems it expedient and necessary. When the democrats saw that they were being hedged in by 80 strong & measure some of them attempted to break the agree- ment made at the outstart, to wit, that aster full debate there should be no filibustering., El- dridge, of Wisconsin, led in this and made a motion to adjourn just as the final vore was taken, The Speaker, however, in view of the compact entered into by both sides, refused to recognize him, On the final vote the republicans marched solidly, even those who had during the debate spoken against certain features of the bill voting forit. When the passage of the bill was finally announced the repubilcans set up a triumphant shont of applause, and it was with dificulty that the Speaker restored order. The democracy are greatly demoralized, but even with their increased numbers they were powerless to prevent the perpetration of what they deem the latest radical outrage. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it will probably pass. In its present shape, Itis thought both houses wilt adjourn on Friday week. General Batler’s New Amnesty Bill. General Butler has prepared an Aimnesty bill, lib- eral in its provisions, which will relieve nearly all from political disabilities. Two or three classes only will be excepted. There are now, 1t is estima. tel, about 160,000 persons in the South disqualified from holding oMice under the fourteenth amend- ment to the constitution. It Is probable the bill will be Introduced on Monday next. The Herald as a Staudard Authority in the Senate. The MERALD is becoming a standara authority inthe Senate, A short time ago Senator Harlan quoted from it to show that Summer and Schurz were making for the democratic camp, and that St. Domingo was demoralizing the radical party. To- day Senator Davis, of Kentucky had read by the Secretary of the Senate the HERALD's account of the personal aifmiculty between himself and Ben Butler. This he made the text of a personal expla- nation, Which proved to be a new assault upon But ler, Garret corrovorated the HeRALD's report tn all its essential features. He did not think Butler called him “a damned oid fool,'? as siated by the HERALD, but he might not hive heard hima. Ali the pares to the affair agree that Batier spoke to Gar. ret in the manner stated by the HeRaLy. Assignments the Revenue Marine Service. The Secretary of the Treasury has made the following assignments of Second Lieutenants of the United States revenue martpe:— Lieutesant Walton, of the Resolute, to the Bronx, at New York: Lieutenant Rodgers, of the bronx. to the Reliance, at Pors Townsend; Licutenant slau- ae of tne Relief, to the Vigtlant, Eastport, Me; Licutevant Mackinure, who has by Waitiug orders, to the Resolute, at Key Wes:; Lieatenant Otls, who has been waiting orders, to the Rellef, Lieutenant Howard, Of the Nansemon, to the Nortierner, at Baliimore; Lieutenant Sturyis, of the Nortnenor, to tie Campbell, at New London; Lieutenant Bars- tow, co the Nansemond; Lieutonant Xilgore, of the Campbell, placed on walting orders. OEATH OF WILLIAM J. RISE, THE JOURNALIST. We regret to announce the death, at noon yestere day, of William 4. Rose, of this city, a well known member of the New York press. Mr. Rose wae ® gentleman of tne talents, an accomplished linguist and @ man of marked erudition. He had travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and Central and South America, and at ope time held officiai positions under the United States cee. For some years past he resided in New York, and Was at various tines connected with the principal newspapers, and latterly held a posi tion on the HERALD editorial staf, Soon after Burns’ anniversary he was stricken down by the maiady which carried him off. Mr. Rose a native of cereal and was counected with several of the most prominent fagules of that State,