The New York Herald Newspaper, April 7, 1871, Page 5

THE STATE CAPITAL Passage of the New Tax Levy Mear sure in the Senate. EXCITING DISCUSSION UPON [T. TEXT OF THE BILL IN FULL The Republican Minority Solid Against It. ‘The Amended Water Supply Bill Passed in the Assembly. The Boss Limits Himself to One ‘Million a Wear. ALBANY, April 6, 187. THE TAX LEVY a ‘was the great sensation in the Legislature to-day. ‘At was generally expected in the lower House that it ‘would not be moved before the last week of the session, when it could be rushed through with other ‘bilis of less importance when the hurry and furry to wind up tno 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 Dill, 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 80 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 m 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 anxiety 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 furiously, and even for @ long period, yet that victory would be certain im the long rua to perch upon the banners of whe Senator from the Fourth, It may be that not 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 a 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- ing heartier and stronger than he has looked ina month past, and even Graham, who had for so long atime pucked his head against the party wall to no satin bis place between Morgan and Uadlawell, laughing and chatting with everybody within reach of him, and, to all appearances, fully as to vote for the tax levy as though he had never tell of it before to-day, or cared whether or not there was any difference between 1t and the most insignificant measure he was ever called upon to sanction. Once the few growlers of the city delegation had satisfled themselves that the of the bill was @ dead certainty they left Jobby of the Henate and went their ways quietly. Parker was the first Senator to attempt to kall 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 cause of the democratic side, the former's speech, with its heavy of figures and statis- tica, rather staggering 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 Legislatu: new tax levy or no new tax levy, several of the republicans looked ra ther aghast, as though each wanted to say to the other, *Dian’t we + our feot in it?” and no one who had voted for it it Itke asking the question first. Creamer was algo very severe in his denunciations of those re- publicans in th: country who, as he said, had en- deavored to misrepresent the bill, and declared that Ne was very sorry to gee that the Senators who op- posed thé meastre were opposed to limiting the amount ¢o be raised by taxation the coming year to 371,000,000. 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, Kenney, began excitedly to search among his books for a copy of the new Charter, evidently feeling that if it gave the ‘Boss’? all the power Creamer claimed it did his vote for the thing was east rather in a hurry, and at atime when ‘A BARGAIN couldn't very well have been shirked. There was quiie AN AMUSING SCENE detween Wood and Murphy during the debate, when ‘the Jatier charged that the old system of making up ‘the tax levy by the Legislature had ulways been the fraitfui source of ends. Wood asked him if the new makers were not to diame for them. Marphy got nettled at this and replied that this seesion the frat 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 portion of the evils that had from time to Ume crept into tne tax levy were made to creep into it by tho republicans, ow tae democrats endorse them?” ‘Wood. «Sometimes they did and sometimes they dia not,’’ retorted Murptiy. Roth Senators looked rather puzzied at this point, and a general tutte: 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 probabiy felt that they had ventured upon dangerous ground, and that the old saw about the glass houses and the throw. | of stones was not obsolete even in the Senate. pradley’s amendment, which dragged in the char- Sty question 80 defily, ‘created a terrible hubbul and the repnblicans did all they could to retard action on the bill by Re MS sorts of amend- ments Bradley knew what he was about, and not col mare, way cheerfully to Mike Nerton to patin the Ouildren’s Home im the clause, out frankly told the repubilcaus he'd accept every other aweadmeut of 1 same character they desired to bring forward, When a vote was taken on this amendment, making 44% part oF the original bill, Banford, a democrat, WENT BACK ON HIS (ARTY, wut *ixteen to fonrieea wos enough to carry Itvand ‘ go it Was made all right. vrad ey, when he ofered the amendment, did so with the motive that the bill should be reierred back to the Comiittee on Muni- cipai ATairs Wilh lostructions to add tue amend- ament. This was done in a@ twinkling of ap eye, ‘The bili was at once reported complete by the com- mitiwe a second afterwatd, and was flually passed by a strict pariy vow—17 to 14. The following is the bul m fall AN Aor to make provisions for the local governments of the ‘elty aad county of New york. Tue peop eo! ave of New Yors, represented ta Senate and Asseinbly, do enact an followe Sketion 1. The Board of Supervisors of the county of New York are autnorized and requied to raise by tax Goon the eatates, real and personal, subject to vexation In the clty and county of New Vork, in’ the year J87\ #nd in the year 7872, the amount directed to be raised by the Bourd men- tioned in the third section of this act, which amot weed inthe aggregate {n each of suid iy ® aum equal to two per cent upon the valiation of such Wen fixed for the year 1471 by the Cominasioners of Faxes and Asvassnenis for the city and county of New SRG % From the sum #0 faixed in ench of sald years shail be paid ail the expenses of the cliy and c for all their departments and purposes for each of saul years, and also the futerest on the city and county debts, the prin- cipal of such debts falling due, and the proportion of the Stave tax parable by said ciiy and county tm each of said yoare respectively | and no Habiuion shall be incurred for en! of ears, Which shall , with th Biae tas for the pi ich year, and ribeipai aud interest of the elty and count ‘cbtn payanie in'ruch year, make the aggre: avtes of the the each of said the vatuation uy ty governments, for together years, sary pies the let of Juno, 1871, the city asked oo to more than two a a of the city of Now gigs peta gt te a as evatecereny eee *«Bosa?? Moved NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, APRIL 7, 1871.—TRIPLE SHEET. Inia ack 1a the year one thousood eight seventy-two, said board shall hare the rears ip tak end transfer appropria- ‘excess of the amount required be ry to such purposes as they eq same. Bxo. 4. No bonds or stocks of the city or of New ork except those aulhorised to be waned by hed ction of the Commi of the Sinking Fund and revenue bonds issued in anticipation of the taxes of the current year shall be hereafter issued except by the concurrence and authority of @ 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 the daily news- papers published in the city of New York, of the ‘and piace 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 & no- tice of the amount and special purpose of the bonds and turrence, for ten daye'in Sve cof the ‘dally. aewapapere Dub: 01 lays in five news) pub- Tlahed fn'the olty of New York. chet 8x0, 5. No ability for any purpose whatsoever shall be hereafter incurred by any department of the city of New York or oficers of the, county of New York exceeding in ropriutions made for such purpose; nor the olty of county of New York be held liable for any Indebt- edness so incurred. No judgment against the city or county of New York shall be pald unless an appropriation bas been made for the same, and no judgment shall be entered up hereafter against We city or, counly, of New York except upon by ® jury; and all actions or dings in which the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the city of New York are plaintiffs or defendants have a prefer- ence, and may be moved out of their order on the calendar. 8EO. 6. This act shall take effect immediately, Mr. Bradley offered an amendment hinitis any 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 list vo the tune of $10,000 worth. It was, on motion of Littlejonn, referred to the Printing Committee, with instructions to ind out how much apiece the books are worth. The pith of Jacobs’ remarxs 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, limiting the amount to be expended in any one year for the Croton water arrangements to $1,000,000, It 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 conclusion and re- ported the bill, exempting the countv 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 Canai 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, The Tax on Ewmigrants—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 twe 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 @ bill 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 quarters, and Senator Graham Is 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. MUBPHY—Facilitating mortgage loans on lands ad- joining Prospect Park. Mr. CREAMER introduced @ bill to amend the revised statutes so.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 auch executions. Incorporating the Ocean Hill Association to mprove 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 tn the city of New York; to incorporate the National Prison Asso- ciation of the United States; authorizing the rebuilding aud Tepairing of wharves and piers io the city of Brooklyn; pre- Venting oostructions to in the city of Brooklyn; to he New York Central and Hudson River Railroads the names of certain stations on the line of their incorporate the trustees of the estate of the diocese of Long Island. THE NEW TAX LEVY BILL. ‘The Senate took up the bill to make provisions for the local governments of the city and county of New York, and the Clerk proceeded to read it by sections, Mr. PARKER moved to recommit the bfil to the Committee Municipal Affairs, with instructions to section, and said:—“I consider this one of the most re- markable bills in the power or grants which it makes, that has ever appeared on the files of the Senate, or, perbaps, upon the files of the Legislature. To be sure, it slarts with the suggestion that the Board of Supervisors of the county of New York, who ure elected by the people, are authorized and required to raise by tax the moneys necessary for the overnment of New York, but it goes ‘on 10 ay that, they shall raise ‘the amount directed to be raised by the board mentioned in the third section of this act,’ thus making the Koard of Supervisors, and through them the taxpayors, abso- lately subject as to the amonnt of the taxes they shall pay to the requirements and the orders of the four gentiemen who are mentioned in the third section. But there is geatea in the bill that the amount r. be equal to two per, cent upon the valuation dxed for ear 1871. We have bad several petitions and suggestion: oF and against chi bill, the preas and the public aecining 10 be divided upon the subject. T hold in my hand one of thore petitions, sigued by «large number of property owners, and which is supposed to Lave emanated in part from the cities, 1h ig beaded “Petition of property owners In favor of the bil Mmiting the taxes of New York cfty to two per cent upon the asia now tixed for 1871.” This petition was made ubout a month ago, and the petitioners knew, or sup} they knew, the Danis then xed for 1871; but from the bill as it It before us the word ‘‘now” {is strack out, so that it reads “two per cent upon the valuation of such estimates fixed for the year 187) ter the adjournment of the Legisia- ture the assesements may be raised or even doubled; wader the existing iaw jt is entirely in the power ‘of the Commissioners of Taxes and Assessments to increase the valuation#, #0 as to make the amount on which the tax shall be raised as large as they nee fi, That 8 one of the objec: tions to the bill, But there is another, In the third section it provides that wituin twenty days from the lst ot June the Mayor, the Comptroller, the Commissioner of Public Works and the President of the Departmeutot Public Parks shall meet as a board of apportionment, and after fixing the amount to be raised, and after setting apart #0 much of it na muy be necessary for the payment of the intereston bonds and stocks of the city and connty for the year 1871 and for the payment of 80 much of the principal of suid bonde and stocks as may become due within said year, and also so much AS may be necessary to pay the proportt the = State tax to. be paid by the Tn ood county of New York within sald. year, hall apportion the remainder thereof among the ‘varione departments and y the concur! ‘This rection give vee of the city and county governmeute votes of all the members of sald board, to four men—only one of whom, I believe, was elected by the people, perhaps two, but that question isin dispue—it gives to these four men absol compel the Supervisors to levy, and the people t ever aroount of taxes they see tit. I beg leave again to re. mind the Senave of the suggestion which were made when we first came together here, that this new government for the city 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 in this bil, Without caring to argue the matter at length IF call your atrention to these provisions in this bill, and ask you where tn it do you ind the prinelple of local seif-government on the principle of no taxa~ ton without representation. T submit, therefore, that this Dill 1m all wrong and that st ought not to be passed. Mr. Woov—Last year we passed a bill for the purpose of creating a local government for the oit object of which Dili was asserted to be the repeal of the acts therefor passed creatiog comminsioners 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 and had therefore de- prived the people of the right of local self stated at the time that although L, with others, joined In re- pealing these commissions the time was not farof when tbe people of New York would apply for commissioners ern them again, I confens, however, that I did not thin pay, what Tequest would come #0 8000 OF that it would eom to ta tine form, By | this mill it fs proposed jon to govern the city o in comparison with which the commissions created by # isiatuire Kir alg if members understand what this Dill propoges ? It proposes to the entire ri revenues for the government of the city of Ne the control of them when raised, to four offich who may how be men of intogrity and every way qualified to discharge this duiy, but bow do we know that they will remain #0 Mr. CRRAMER—The Senator states the men who now hold these positions are probably men of Integrity and well quall- ppd he ed the duties imposed upon them by this bill. New, I wish to remind him that these men are t) remain in office from three to live years, waile the provisions of this cg | onl poaaviye ti beeg gentlemen now in off F. WOOD * ow in office may con! yal the ob; ‘thie bill Dave been ‘codent, fa there any reason wh: tbesyetepn i Ailastte ex ould b beyoud tue term of ibe tresent jacumbente 7 ‘Sai of New York, the | Whether the men are good men or not, the principle tn the same ; it is submitting the destinies of the any ot jew York to a commission—that form of government about which the entiemen on the other side have made so mnch noise, and for supporting which they bave so frequently denounced the repul party. It seems to me, however, that if we pass this bill it cannot fail to meet the Executive veto, if the Governor adheres to the rineipies which he’ has laid down in bis veto of the Bir directing the Supervisors of Livingston county to audit ‘@ certain claim and to cause the amount to be coliected from the county, He vetoed that bill because it directed the Board of Supervisors to levy the tax, saying that the statute very roperly gave to the joard of Supervisors themselves the power pase upon the vs rty, and the neces- sity of the appropriation and the levying of thetax. Now this bill takes cours 4 all power and discretion from the Board of supervisors of the county of New York. What is the necessity for the Board of Supervisors? Why refer to that Board at all, when, by the very ‘tems of the bill, this Board of apportionment {# to direct the Supervisors what amount of ‘money to raise? The only reason for referring to the Supervisora at all that the constitution and the laws pequice that they shall Py upon his question. But, the Board of Supervisors of the, ety of New York is the Board of Aldermen, ex oficio, They elected by the people. Wy, therefore, should not they bh: this power—they who are directly responsible to the people Upon what principle do you take away this power from them and lodge {t in this low Board? How can a democratic Legislature adopt a bill with such a principle? It is in direct th position to the doctrines which have been announced as joxe which are to govern this ature, now that ft is under the control of a democratic majority. It seems to me that this bill strikes at the very foundation of republican in- stitutions and | democratte | coverament. 1 tnelaty a has been urged here repeatediy by democratic Sena- tors, that ‘the county of New York — should avé the same rights that are given to the otner counties of the State. Tn 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 if should be so in the county of New York, unless there 1s some good reason why that power should be taken away from the Board of Supervisors, unless it is true that that Board does not possess suflicient capacity or integrity to dlgcharee that duty, a great many serious objections to this bill; but it seems to me that those Thien J have stated should be suficlent to induce the Senate reject Mr, MuRPHY—T wish to ask the honorable Senator whether there is any law in existence which places this power in the hands of the Supervisors of New York, or whetuer there has ever been any such law? ‘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 a roved. Mr, MuRPRY—Abt that is a very different. thing. ‘They merely form an estimate which is sent up here to be ap- proved. They have not the power to fix the amount. That ower haa always vested in the Legislature, and the object of this bill, as T understand st, i to vest that power in the city of New York itself, Perhaps the form in which this bill pro- poses to do that may be objectionable, but certainiy the facta 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 exercised by the Board of Supervisors; but Ido say that it Ought to be unless some good reason to the contrary can be shown. From time immemorial the New York tax levy has been sent tothe Legislature to be approved, but the joard of Supervisors always estimate and {ix the amount to ed, and if it is 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 I will vote now with the gentlemen upon the other side to take that power away from the Lesislature and give it to the Supervisors of the county of New York, if they posseas the requisite qualifications to discharge the duty properly. Again, when we speak of the tax levy having tobe sent to. the Legislature for approval it should be remem- bered that when it comes here it is always under charge and control of the delegates from the city, who are elected Girectly by the people, and therefore, either through the Board of Supervisors or the Lexislainre, the levying of the taxes for that city and county has always heretofore been under the control of the men elected directly by the people. Mr. CREAMER—I think that after the remarks of 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 araumes have been controverted, and the diflicul- ties which they have raised explained to the satis- faction of Senators who are asked to support this measure. In my 0 inion the progress of this Dll since it was introduced by the Senator from the Fourth (Mr. Tweed) and the criticisms that be has received at the hands of politi- atesmen and editors have been something extraordi- nary. Here is a bill, the object of which is to restrict the ex- penses of the government of New York 0 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 governmentof New York to put down the brakes upon all sorts of municipal extravagances, and yet we are met with the cry from the opposition tere and from the party press throughout the State that it is the most auda- cious attempt to grasp unlimited power that bas 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 the purpose of spending extravagantly the moneys of the peovle they prosper and recetve 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 assensed or coliected thia year to $22,000 Mr. CREAMER—That is already in this bill, asl shail e: Jain further on. Now, who has the power to levy taxes in ew York? Dothe Senators who have spoken againat this bill? Do the members of the republican pas 'y or of the dem« cratic party who are opposed to this bill ever ask themselves that question? or can they answer it? What amount of taxes Oficers of the government of New York levy upon aa ity and Fer: lena existing Lawts What restriction js placed by that Jaw upon expenses of that city and county? Can Senators answer the ques- tion? Why, Mr. Chairman, under the law, as it stands, the munietpal corporation of New York city have power to e: EE ‘millions, a hundred millions, ayer five hundred mil- jons of dollars tf they see fit, and yet, when they come here and propose voluntarily to place these restrictions upon themselves they are met with this factious eccusation—that they are autempting to grasp uplimited power. ir, WOoD—WIll the Senator permit a question ? Mr. CREAMER—Cheerfully, sir. Iam desirous of giving Senators all the information t can-upon this aubject, Mr. Woon—Does the Senator from the Sixth (Mr. Creamer) arsert that the law which provides that tite tax levy of New ‘York shali 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 ci to the Commissioner of Public Works, together with the Mayor and Comptroller, power, as a board of estimate, to expend a hundred millions of dollars, if they choose to abuse their powers to that extent. Mr. KENNEDY—Suppose the Commissioner of Public Wort ind the other officials have the power 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 Legislature, are they to get the money to pay them ? CARAMER—if the fer to the law he will eee that it confers upon the various departments of the igh was vot 3 overnment created by the new cifarter, whic! for unanimously by republicans and ‘democrats of both branches of the Leginlature, power to make estimat ‘Those estimates are to be submitted to the Board of Ap; priations, which is composed of the Mayor, the Comptrouér and the head of each department, and whatever amount they Agree upon a necessary forthe support of the vatious de- partments. is by the law considered approprigted, 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 thelr estimates here to be passed upon by this ir. CREANER—Why, the Senator (Mr. Kennedy), after his long experience on ‘the Committee on Municipal Affai gught 10 know better than to ask euch ® question as thal Does be not know that faa previous to the passage of the new charter the items in the tax levies sent here to be passed upon were not more than perhaps one-filth 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 itema of the ex- enses of the city. I know thatit does not incinde the in- erest on certain bonds. , ae KAMER—That is just one of 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 and Cea 6 Mr. CRRAMER—The Senator has got down now to inci- dental expenses, If be will read the tax levy ef 1886 he will discover that the Legislature apy re ‘only $1,600,000 ont of an expenditure of $23,000,000 for the clty and county overnment, Now, to show the power to expend miouey that f vested In that corporation to-day, witbout coming to th items for which they Our portion of the Legislature, I will read « few of have power to raise the money. State tax is $6,500,000; police, $300,000; schools, 2,150,000; charities, $100,000; Fire Department, $900,000 interest on debt, of Judiel ‘to. aa ‘as, 1,000,000 ; 8700,000; lamps ‘an treet cleaning ‘under Contract, $750,000, Besides these items there are expenses of the Departments of Docks, Parke and Public Works, in- curred under previous laws. Here I am able to write ‘out, without reverring to the books, an aggregate of $21,000,000, And, besides, there is the reserved power that exists in the varios ments under the act of iast year. Aal have re Trendy sald, the course of the gentleman on the other aide In opposing this bill, after having voted for the acts of last year, seems to me most extraordinary. Lagain assert. that under the acts passed here last year the corporation of New York will lave power to expend hundreds of millions of dollars annually, and that the object of this bill is to put some restraint apon them in that respect. Tbe Senator from the Seventeenth Mr. Parker) says tbat if we pags this bill the assessed value upon which the t re to be levied may be doubled, If the Seaator was familiar with the manner in which taxes are imposed then he would know that ne je mistaken in that statement, The law requires that the books shail be made op previons to the Ist of January of each year and thea tbat no correction abail be made in therm until the “80th of April, and that no change shall be taade In them until the 80th of April, and that no changes shall be made unless upon the sworn affi- duvits of parties Interest that in nine. bun dred and nivety-nine cases out of a thor are made they are made not by increasing the asarssment but by striking them of the hooks altogether, ve of the property assent than it was last year. YARKER-1 wish to ask the Senator whether the not the power to merease tue amount of indivi- muments nntil the Sth of April ? 3 have not the power at this day; the law requires th pic notice shail be given that the books are open for correction. ¢ Mr. PARKER—Will yon and the doth of ri! to Ine ot have the power between thie Ase the assomAmente / a? thie bill was introduced. and he- t department had any know edge tuat such a bill would bo Introduced, an earnest effort was made to enter the enormous amonnt of nal property that had pre- viously escaped taxation, #0 a# to lighten the burden on real and notioen were Rept (0 ‘y name inthe buwness directory, asseasing each jodividua on « certain sum. A by the passage ol this bill (w oy r two years) the a that can be raised will aot exceed $2)! year or next year, Now ,we ask our fr Benatora who are opposed to ua politically, to perfecting our city government unver the charter that they gave us last year. Under that charter, which conferred FOWEFS Upon the officers Of the city ‘government for four or five years, it is impossiiie wo bring about & change ‘in & day. — Republicans and democrats in that city must secept the situation, There is no power to change it. You, gentlemen, on the otber side, gave Us the charter that we are hving wader as much as anybody give. I passed thie. vody by a ote of 20 to 2, and the other House by a vate ‘of Oto 8. Both parties voved for it, and surely if bill giving the corporation of New York power to make such “large expenditires met your, ap- proval last year, this bill, which is amendatory of that, and which is designed to restrict thelr power of expenditure, cannot fai to receive your approval also. I sup- port this bill because { be.leve that it ia cminently a measure Of reform which has been Introduced here in response to the demands of the people of New York by those who are re- apo for the government of that eity and who are trying to give it the best government possiole., It lo no matter who opposed the “Charter last year’ or who was enxious to alter it then, Jt cannot be changed now. No matter whether at the néxt election you secure the guber- nasoriaj chair or not, you Kn aya ereby change our charter, A republican Governor would bave no more power te 6 government of New York city tha nds bere, we ask alist us ia of Supervisors are authorized and directed by the Iaw of | Inst winter to raise. 1s the Senator sutisied with the an- | wer? Mr, Woop—I am not satisfied that that is correct law by any means. ir. CREAMER—1 repeat, that this Is a measure of reform, and that it is necessary id order to give us the full benefit of the charter of last year. There 18 nothing secret about | this bill; nothing that those who support ft are not willing | that the public shall kuow, ‘The charge which | that this bill confers extr po ron those who tor the acts of last year siving the power of expen that I have already {ilustrated. The Senator from the Sev- enteenth (Mr. Parker) makes the objection that of these four gentlemen only one is elected by the people. But how are tle oflicers who now make the Appropriations chosen? In nearly ¢ they have been appointed by the I: utive of the city government. Now, in conclusion, I repeat, that I sball support this’ bill because it is calculated to reatrict the powers of these city oflicers to expend the pub- Iie money, and thereby to correct a detect in the law now governing them, which allows them to raise any amount of money they may deem necessary independent of the other branches of the local government and the Legisiatui ‘Mr. Woov—The Senator has not stated what objection there is to leaving this power to the Board of Supervisors snstead of conferring it upon these officers. Mr, MURPHY—TI do not rise to discuss the provisions of this bill, but merely to state the reasons which justify me in my own mind in voting for it. The bill, perhaps, 1s not exactly what I would like it to be. We havé passed & bill in regard to the city of Brookiyn of the same tenor, which is more satisfactory to me than tl but stil T know that I cannot have my particular. vi accepted in all respects, und therefore I have looked at this bill to see whether there is anything im it which should command my support. I bave always maintained the pro- riety of giving to the city of New York the power of tixing | The'amount of faxes to be raised for {ta own muniotpal pure poses New York is an exception to all the counties of the tate, From time immemorial its tax levies have been en- acted by the Legislature, yen when New York was a small | city of ovly twenty or thirty thousand inhabitants the same 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 tate the cliy of Brooklyn, containing a population of four undred thousand, where ‘this matter of taxation is left en- Urely to the local authorities, under the same rule as applies in regard to the other cities of the State. Now, as a matter of principle, Tdo not see why we should make an exception against New York, aud insist upon tixing her tax levy here. But more than this, In the course of iny experience here f have observed the great evils which result from bringing that tax lovy here. Year a‘ter year an eat. would come Uy authorities of required to. from , the city e the amo: ined, and when it came here that estimate wa: kind of horse upon which all kinds of ial legislation in favor of individuals and corpo! So that the ‘Tax Levy some- times went away from tho Legislature loaded down wi half a million or a million of dollars more than the local thorities hud looked for. This ia very serious evil, and bas had its influence, in connection with the other reasons Ihave named, in jeading me to make up my mind to favor any measure which would give back to the city of New York the right to levy its own taxes, Mr. Woob—T would ask the Senator whether any of those riders were put upon the Tax Levy except by Senator or inet bera of the other House representing the city of New York? ‘Mr. MurPHY—I have been here ten years. Iam abrry 90 Jong; and thie is the first time that I have been fu the majo- rity in this Senate. All the riders to which I have referred were put on not by the party theo in the minority here, but by the party which was in the majority—the party to which the nohorable Senator from the ‘Thirtieth (Mr. Wood) be- longs. ir. Woon—I ask the Senator if there were any of those rider which did not have the approval of the representation of the city of New York f Mr. MURPAY-—I will answer the Senator by saying that some of the fiercest combats upon the subject of these "riders bave been between the members from the city of New York, Sometimes they were united in their action upon that subject, but very often they were not. Now let us lo7k at this measure Itself. It proposes to give to @ board inthe city of New York the right to fix the amount that shall be levied for the different purposes of (he city government. ‘the mem- bers of that board are four in number—the Mayor, who ie elected by the people, and three other city officers appotnted by him—the Comptroller, the Commissioner of Public Works and the President of the Department of Public Parka, Itis objected that theso gentlemen are not ail elected by the people, Now, the charter of New York, for which most of the honoravle Senators on the’ other side voted, provided that these ollicers should be chosen in this way—that they should be appeinted by the Mayor, who was himself an elective ollicer. And who knows better’ than these oflicers what will be required for the purposes of the city government? This Board com- prises the highest officers of thescity, and to them better and more safely than to any one ‘else can be commit. ted the important trust of estimating the amount of taxee which are necessary to be rated annually. ‘That they are not lective officers certainly is not our fault, any more than {tis the fault of Senators on the other site, who voted for the charter last year. But the Mayor himself is elected and {f he makes improper ap- pointments to these ofices be is directly responsible to the people, who, at the next election, can thrust him from his po- sition and put one in his. place who will make proper ap- ointments, What does this bill do? The taxes of New York last year, according to my recollection, were nearly twenty-four million dollars, Now thia bill im- poses an fron rule upon these ofilcers by providing that they shall not raise more than two per cent upon the amount of valuation for the year 1871, and it is believed by those who know best that the amount which they can raise under this rule will be about twenty-two and ahalf millions for this year and next year, and for all time to come, Until you alter this rule they’ will’ be restricted to that amount, and, therefore, this is clearly bill in the interests of the people of that c! Mr. HARPENDING—I desire to sav but a word upon this subject, and it is this: T care but little in looking at this ques- ‘of New York may how eminent or how upright may be its Mayor or the a of its various departments; admit, if yan please, that power would be safely veatea in the hands of the persons now ip office, The ground upon which I shall cast my vote against this bill fs, 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 on how good! the government of the city be; That city ie now as it ought to be, Independent of government so far asthe management of {is local aifairs iw concerned. Mr. Woop—Suppose thie bill does not pars and the law re- maine ae it ts nov, in what way will the money be raised $0 Pay La see Of the city government? r. MeB—It will be 1 d ip accordance Ayla | isjone of dof ths ammended tax 1 Kin'winter, Tt will be raised. by the various ‘Qepartcuauhe ing est ‘and submitting them to a |, com- Bau‘ whatever aupount ier saree ae necessary. the ed Of their own chiefs with the Mayor and Comptroller, | opie. “If Tunderstand the thecry of our government, we came @ republic because our fathers resisted taxation without representation. ‘Ihe principle of this bill fs not ap- lied to any other county of the State, In every other county he taxes are assessed and levied by the representatives of the people—the Board of Supervisors. Even where the ‘tax jist is made out by the Legislature, tid made out, by the representatives of | the Whole people, and therelore the power tn safely vested. Butt Is proposed here to vest this power in officers not elected, but appointed, and that, I say, 1s not republic: Tsubmit that if you confer this power upon these men as & board and they abuse it the peopie have uo means of righting the wrong. And again, there seems to be a certain Impro- priety inthe fact that one of the individnals npon whom these powers are here in judgment and votes the For this and the KENNEDY —I desire to enter my protest against the passace of tho bill, and to state brielly the reasons why it does not commend itself to my judgment. By this bill {t is made the duty of the Board to raise, by tax upon real and Petsonal property, in 1872 the amount that shail be directed 0 be raised by the Board, provided for in the third section. But that eum, it is provided, sholl not exceed two per cent upon the valuetion for 1871. Now the assess- ment rollof New York is not completed until the 30th of April, 1871, The Senator from the Siath (Mr, Creamer) says that ‘the amount of the assessed valuation of real and rear has been already P sepeanrts property fo that city for this termined, sav no, The value of the Teal property in 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 case, and that Addition may de made at any time prior to the Suth ol April. So that upon the theory upon which this assessment Ie to 6 made the value of tha estate, real and peraonal of New York {a entirely uncertain and will not be fixed until the 80th of April of the yer Tt may be :401,000,000, gi. 000, and a bill of which the Se ixth (Mr. Creamer) is the engineer points to the probabiiity of a large increase of the valuation of personal estate prior to the 80th of April, Of course the amount to be raised will depend upon the amount of the assessed valuation of the property at New York—renl and Rersonal—and that will depena eutirely upon the discretion of the four gentlemen, who, by the third sec- tion of the act, are created a board of apportionment and authorized to Ox the amount to be ramed withon' < formailty of submitting it to any legislative ‘whatever. So far as J know there {sno monarchical vernment in Europo that presumes to adopt tax levies arbitrarily, without submitting them to a legislative Lody, Now I am in favor of this tax levy going to the city of New York for adjustment, but I am ‘in favor of ite gotng there under » bill which ‘will submit to s proper | com- ed of representatives | of the people. am rank to confess that ft is an unwise provision of law or custom that sends the tax levies here to be passed upon by the Legisiature by men who of necessity must de profoundly ignorant of most of the tems that make them up, But the Senator from the Fourth says the city Oficers have the right under the charter to raise the taxes now without coming here. Mr. CRRAMER—I stated that the power existed either uoder the charter or the tax levy of last winter, Mr, KENNF)Y—Will the Senator indicate the provision of the tax levy of last year to which he refers? Mr, CRRAMER—Sections 45 and 46, Mr. HARDRNBERGR—It not only gives them the power but it directs 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 power was given by the charter passed last year. I direct- ed my remarks to the charter andto the other legislation to which he referred, because the majority here is respon- sible for that, Now, tam willing to vote for any measure that will nend these tax levies to be passed upon by elective officers in the city of New York—ollicers who are directly re- sponmble to the people; but | am upwiling to seud this enor. ‘mous amount of money to be ralaed by a board composed of the Mayor and three men appointed by him, he binacit be- ing elected only at long intervals. Mr. CREAMER—The most impertant statement made by the Senator from the ‘Twenty-second (Mr. Kenney), in fact the oaly statement worthy of notice that has been made by the opponents of this bill Is that under existing laws concern- ing the making up of the asnesament roils of the city aud ty of New York. After the paasage of the bill the aggre- amount of the assessed value of property may be role the commissioners see Ut. In order to Authorize the rals 4, without violating the two per ino charges me with Introducing the Dill to equalize the taxation on personal property, for the antot_ personal to well the 1% mit bil; but in have aband representation order to simplify the that bill, and am willing to ba out of if, #0 that It cannot be ued as the meaning and deatgn of the bid no Mr. HARDENEERGH—I dest ate ina few worts the views that T entertain in rej to this bill, It has been stated here that It ¢ a departure, (roms, democrae prinsiples upon the ground that the great power of taxation should rest as Dear ag possible with the people, aod to that doctrive L subscribe. The city of New Yors laan anomaliy | in our State so far as ite (ax leview aud assesements | nre concerned. To nava searched the statutes in vain for any law authorizing the tax levy of New York to come here for adjustmeot or endorsement, and 1 aawert now that treats hpon mere custom and common usage. Now, T aay to my friends and to myself, keeping that prinol: ple evostantly (0 view, that when (he tax leey of New York en to the Legislature the real askessore of the taxes of that eity are for the most part Senators aad Representatives from, the western portion of tha State, who. have no interest tn the local alfaire of New York. This bill does not go fur enough for me, but L shall vote for ft because it goes as far as possivie under extsting law toward giving the veo- ple of that great city the right to deterinine who shall assess and levy their taxes Mr. Parker's motion was loat, Mr. BRADLEY vilered the following aa an additional sec: Tt aball not be lawful for the ¥ monaity of the city of New York, or the Board of Supervi- sora of the county of New York, or the Board of Apportion- ment herein created, to appropriate or apply any portion of the tax herein authe to raled ia ald of ny private or rectarian or to any vitution or enterprise that Is under the contr {any lous denomination, or to borrow money on the faith or credit of the to be applied to any auch porpore; but the foregoing restriction shall uot be held ‘ayor, Aldermen and Com- be school, | York Hospita — a Society, the Home for the Priendless, the Ladies’ Chilstis Union, the Association for Befriending Children, the New ne Society ‘ed and ent the Society for Indi- Tin Seventh avenue, the Hospital for ¢ Relief of the Nervous and Paralytic Poor, the New York aod Ear Indrmary, and for tie following named dls. ensaries:—The New York, the Northern, the Eastern, the Dew itt, the Northeastern, ‘the Northwestern, the Yorkvile, the Hariem, the Manbatian, the Eclectic, the Dispensary of the New. York Medical Uollege for women, the New York Hemecpathic Dispensary, the Branch Homewpatbic ‘Tompkins square; the Northeastern Dispensary, the ‘New York Home. o Western Hommopathic Dis- jensary, the German Dispensary, ieen Dispensary for Women of the New York College of Den- iscases Of the Throat and Chest, the Orthopedie y, the Metropolitan Homepathic Dispepsary, the New York Opthalmie and Aural Institute, ytd the other Institutions and societies now provided tor y law. The excise moneys derived from licenses for the sale of in- toxicating liquors since the orzanization of the present Board of Excise Commissioners‘ and the moneys hereafter received for aueh lieengea may be approprinied for charitable pur. poses by the Board of Apportionment herein provided for, 4s they may determine from tine to ume. Mr, LORD said he intended to move to strike out the word “ f Se Wnkbury sald he had no objection. Mr. CHAPMAN wished to bave the amendment printed before volng upon it, ‘Mr. TWEED--Centlemen upon this side of the house are uniformly in favor of making appropriations to all these charitable institutions, without caring whether they are Methodist, Episcopalian, Catholic or Presbyterian. I be- long to all those denominations. Laughter.) I am = tolerationst in religion, I believe that @ man can get to heaven without belonging to either one of the re- Nigtous denominations if he regulates his life by the principle and precepts of the Bible, Therefore, I believe in sup- porting all deserving charities, without asking what denomi- ation controls them. If I am sick I don't care whet #@ Catholic, @ Methodist or an Universalist who nur me, 80 long 'as I get good care, (Laughter.) We on this sido aro in favor of aiding all the charities. So now, yen- tlemen on the other side, oifer your amendments, inserting “deuerving charities,” aud we will accept them. Mr. CHAPMAN moved to have the bilvand amendment laid on the table and printed. Lost, 15 to as follows: — YRas—Messrs. Rowen, ‘Brand, Chapman. Uarpending, Kennedy, Lewis, Minier, Parker, Scott, Thayer, Winslow, Wood ant! Woodin—13, NaYs—Messra, Banks, Bradiey, Cauldwe'l, Creamer, Frost Genet, Graham, Hardenburgh, Hubbard, Lord, Morgan, Mur: ph GF Norton, M. Norton, Pierce, Sanforit and Tweed— for Kelief of the Rupt gent and Crippled cs pensary, the German Dispensary and Children, the Lutirm: Ustry, the Dispensary for Bradley's motion to amend was then adopted—16 to 15, Lewis moved to amen by restricting the amount of ised annually to $22,500,000, Lost, 14 to 17, as fol- Meaare. Bowen, Brand, Chapman, Elwood, Har- ending, Kennedy, Lewls, Minier, Parker, Scott, Thayer, W 1 anit Woodin 14. Bradley, Creamer, Fros net, Gi urgh, Lord, Mor- an, Murphy, C. nM. Norton, Pierce, Santord and weed—17. Mr. L#W18 then moved to restrict tho tax to $26,000,000. Lost by 15 to Mr. CHAPMAN moved to amend by requiring the amount reed upon by the Board tobe submitied to the Board of Supervisors, who aball have power to reduce the same, Lost by_16 to 18, as followa:— 'YRAs—Messrs. Bowen, Jrand, Chapman, Elwood, Har- ening, Kennedy, Lewig, Miniér, Parker, Sanford,’ Scott, Bhayers' Winslow, Wood, Woodin—-15, NAYS—Messra. Banks, Bradley, Cauldwell, Creamer. Frost, Genet, Grabam, Hardenbergh, Hubbard,’ Lord, Mur- phy, U. F. Norton, M. Norton, Plerce and Tweed—I6, Mr. ‘Woop moved to amend that in twenty days after the Int of June the Board of Supervisors shail meet as a Board of Apportionment, and by striking out the provision in the Dill creating the Board. Lost by 14 to 17. ‘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 tn the hall at the corner of Filth avenue and Twenty-second street. The Presl- dent, Horace Greeley, occupied the chalr, Jt 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, the 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 Cochrane:— 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 ; om- nd other District Associations in their places; and, he charges aud petitions on which their action 18 ave been shown wichout refutation to be ) and an arrant pretence; whereas this General Committee 1s, within, the admissi the State Committee themselves, the regular republican o1 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 regular and only organizations of that party, created by the same paramount authority within their respective Ae sembly districts: therefore, Resolved, That the determination of the State Committers to dissolve the regular republican organization of the city ot New York and to create another, without cause and without Dower, is an act unprecedented’ in {ls nature, without justt- fication, incompatible with the principles and life ot the re- Pubilcan party and altogether au act of usurpation, unmiti- gated by either policy or necessity. Resolved, That we, the General Committee, and the twenty-one assembly district associations whose ‘delegates compose it, and through whom the associations apeak, de- cline, in ‘our capacity of the regularly authenticated Fepublican organization of the city of New York, to accede to this usurpation of the State Committee, or to co-operate in the same; but maintaining, in their integrity, the powers entrusted to us by’ our fellow republicans of the State, through their State Conven- 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, addreased to Hon, Horace Greeley and Hon. William Orton, be referred to the special committee of which Sinclair Tousey is chairman, with power. The resolutions were debated, when a substitute was offered by,Horace Greeley to the effect that the State Central Committee had no right to 1 the party unless authorized so to do vote of.the State Convention; but that, having the success of the republican cause at heart, they would submit to the reorganization proposed by the State Committee and direct their chairman to co- operate with Williaia 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 motion referred to the Exec- utive Committee:— Resolved, That the recent deposition by the United States senate of Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, from Sennto- ial dignities, defines to the American eye; "with startling distinctness, ‘the outlines of this tragic tablean, It ts the 18th day of May, 1:68. The curtain rises upon a Senate chamber, a seated Senator and a stricken blow. The 10th of March, 1871, haa como, Again, the Senate chamber, the seated Senator anda blow. Fifteen years have passed. ‘The Senate house and the man the same—say you who saw the deed, ail else unchanged, how falls the blow of slay then, beneath the blow sped. by vicarious vengeance now? Resolved, That greatty as the importance of Bt. Domingo fn its commercial and agricultural vaiue, and as a naval station, giving eonirot 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 against seditious ssault and conterminous enemies; the largely increased ex- by a proportionately en- yyatem of coast surveys, lighthouses, b Jons, and river and karbor improvements, at when the land groans under tue weight of taxes, Imposod to y principal and interest of a national debt of dver twen fires bundred millions of dollars, should cause us to hi Honable method ation of annexation with others of less favorable as- pect that it were wiser, in our opiuion, that Congress should postpone the project indefinitely. Reno! at extend as we might the area of freedom over both arctic tracts and trovical fields, yet we think that the area just now needs protection at home more than ex- pansion abroad. Resolved, That we approve of the provistons of the bill in- troduced by Hon, Keuben E. Fenton into the United States Senate tor reforming the abuses into which the Customs Revenue jaws have fallen, that the people now burdened with heavy twxation have & right to expect that the strictest. 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 yenr for services which one-teuth part of the sum would have amply compensated, THE PRESBYTERIANS. The Reformed Presbyterian Church Trial in Philadelphin—Tae Case Given to the Jury— Instructions by the Court—Lmportant De- jon Concerning Kights of Ecclesiastical Bodios. PHILADELPHIA, April 6, 1871 The great Church case, growing out of the suspen- sion of George H. Stuart by the Reformed Presvyte- Tian General Synod in 1863, was brought to a ciose to-day in the Supreme Court. The case occuped th whoie of the March term, and was conducted on the part of Dr. Wyile and Mr. Stuart by William A. Porter, ex-Judge of the Supreme Court, and Stewart Patterson, while Attorney General F. Carroll Brew- ster and J. Sergeant Price represented the General Synod. A large nuinber of clergymen testided, put only one, the Rev, Dr, McLee, of New York, against Dr, Wylie and in benaif of the General Syuod, of which he is Moderator. Jnage Williams, of Pittsourg, sitting m Nisi Prins, in is charge to-day took the ground that decisions decress of ecclestastical bodies, whatever be their religious force, have no civil validity unless they are in conformity with the law and ordler of the Churen itself, In the review of the history of the troubles Judge Williams decided that tie congre- gation were competent to refer the validity of the election of 1868 to the bourd of trustees, and that the decision was final, if made in good faith: that Jf that part of the congregation Identified with the Synod withdrew from the Chureh in Jane, 1868, 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 fo the Foundling Asylum, under the charge of the Sisters of Charity, and excepting the provision ex- empting free libraries, hospi ad churches, from assessment, | a8 | provided | 4 117th section of chapter 187, laws of 1*70, or to make anpropriations in ald of low in; :—Five Pointe’ Mission, Ladies? Union Relief Association, Urpban Asyinm, corner of and Mott streeta; Sisters of st. Dominic Asylum. the Habne- mann Women's Mevical Hospital Frison Asebolailon St Braneis Hosplioh se Jonette te Ve i - ha ‘Soctety for the Reliet ot ‘uio Ohildren of BC” sonephts ‘Homer? ther "Bins Ne. jn tion, the Female Assistance Society, the tat Orvhanat Home, the 8h 1's Fold, the German Mis- Hoty for the Hellef of duveaiie Delia. ‘ayaide lndustris) Home. the New Yor! because they were not entrusted with tbe control of the temporalites, they forfeited their rights as cor. orators; that the action of the Commiisstoners of he Synod in June, 1468, declaring those who had withdrawn from the churen 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 rigits of corporators upon those who had voluntarily withdrawn from the cor- oration nearly a year previously; and that, in fine, seceding Of the c tion lost thelr case withdrawing too soon. charge, which oocu- pied over an hour in delivery, 1s pronounced an able and {mportant one in its relation to ecclesiastical uestions, The jury has been out since half-past ven A, My 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. WasHINoToN, April 6, 1871. Excitement fm the Executive Session of the Senate Over the New York Appointmeats— Mr. Gringell’s Services to the Republican 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 did he believe that it would contribute to the strength or harmony of the party in New York. Both the oMcers whom it was intended to remove had proved themselves eiMcient and trustworthy. There were no chargea® preferred azainst them, either of an official or pohtl- 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 Paimer as an officer. Senator Conkling took the ground that the Presi- dent was the custodian and distributor of the pub- 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, Itcould not be expected that ho would shower his favors upon his opponents and neglect his friends, This wonld be suicidal. Ho, 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 adrministra- tion in the Senate to support the nominations made by the President except there were objections a8 to Nitness 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 otners. Itis stated that Nad the Senate reached a vote to-day the nominations would have been rejected, All the democrats would have voved with Fenton, and asumi- 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 so unpromising that he moved an adjournment, ‘There was a paper exhibited in executive session showing that in 1863 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 gentie- men who subscribed at his solicitation, with the sum which each man subserined set Opposite his name. In addition to this there was another paper showing what Grinne!! had persou- ally given the party and the admuuistration, It amounts to a sum equal to all that Grinnell has ever received as Collector of Customs and as Naval OMcer, inthe way of salaries, The impression is that Conkling secured the adjournment 80 as to gain time for laboring among his brother republican Senators, who showed signs of weakness to-day. Passage of the Ku Klux Biil—An Unwelcome Pill for the Democracy. The Ku Klux bill as it finally passed the House to-day 14 regarded a3 a very strong measure, much stronger than the most radical among the republi- cans expected to secure. It confers upon the Presi- dent ample power to use the mlitary 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 so 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 filivustering, El- dridge, of Wisconsin, led in this and made a motion to adjourn just as the final vote was taken, The Speaker, however, in view of the compact entered into by both sides, refused to recoguize him. On the final vote the republicans marched solidly, evea those who had during the debate spoken against certain features of the bill voting forit. When the passage of the vill was tnally announced the repubilcans set up a triumphant shont of applause, and it was with diMeculty that the Speaker restored order. The democracy are greatly demoralized, but even with their tnereased numbers they were powerless to prevent the perpe'ration ot what they deem the latest radical outrage. The bill now goes to the Senate, where it will probably pass In Its present snape. Itis thought both houses wilt adjourn on Friday week. General Batler’s New Amnesty Bill. General Butler has prepared an Amnesty bill, 1ib- eral in its provisions, which will relieve nearly all from political disabilities, Two or three classes only wiil be excepted. There are now, itis estima. te, about 160,000 persons in the South disquaiitied from holding office under the fourteenth amend- ment to the constitution. It is probable the bill will be Introduced on Monday next. The Merald as a Standard Authority in the Senate. The MERALD is becoming a standard authority inthe Senate, A short time ago Senator Harlan quoted from it to suow that Sumner 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 difficulty between himself and Ben Butler, This he made the text of a personal expia- hation, which proved to be # new assault upon But ler. Garret corroborated the HeRALD's report in all its essential features. He did not think Butler called him “a damned oid fool, § Stated by the HERALD, but he might not have heard hla, All the parties to the affair agree that Butier spoke to Gar- ret in the manner stated by the HERALD. Assignments in the Revenue Marine Servic 1 Secretary of the Treasury has made the following assignments of Second Lieutenants of the United States revenue marine: Lieutenant Walton, of the Resolate, to the Bronx, at New York: Lieutenant Rodgers, of the bronx. to the Reliance, at Por: Townse Licutenant Slau- son, of tne Relief, to the Vigtlant, Eastport, Me; Licutevant Mackintire, who has been waltiug orders, to the Resolute, at Key Wess; Lieutenant Otts, who has been wat ng orders, to the Rellef, Lieutenant Howard, Of the Nansemont, to the Noitierner, at Balumore; Lieutenant Sturgis, of the Nortnenor, to tue Campbeil, at New London; Lieutenant Bars tow, to the Nansemond; Lieutenant Atlgore, of the Campbeli, placed on waiting orders. OEATI OF WILLIAM J. RISE, THE JOURNALIST. We regret to announce the death, at noon yester day, of William J. Rose, of this city, a well known member of the New York press, Mr. Rose was ® gentleman of tne talents, an accomplished linguist and @ man of marked crudition. He had travelled extensively in Europe, Asia and Central and South America, and at ope time held official positions un the United States overnment, For some years he resided in ew York, and Was at various times connected with the principal newspapers, and latterly held a posl- tion on the HERALD editorial staf, Soon after Burns’ anniversary he was stricken down by tn maiady which carried him off. Mr. Rose was a native of Saat en and was counected with several of the most vromment famulles of ‘uat State,