The New York Herald Newspaper, January 4, 1876, Page 3

SPRING ELECTIONS. The Proposition to.Separate Char- ter from General Elec- tions in this City. PROBABILITIES OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION. | Republican and Democratic Mem- bers on the Question, ADVANTAGES TO BR GAINED BY A CHANGE. “One Law for the Country and Another for the Town” an Absurdity, RURAL SENTIMENT PLAINLY EXPRESSED, i It is the general belief among the politicians of both parties throughout the State that the session of the | Legislature this winter will be one of the liveliest we have had for several years. In the opinion of tho republican leaders in the country districts Governor Tilden no longer stands a ghost of a chance of a nomina- tion for the Presidency, and they have an idea, that falling short of this, he will do everything in his power | during the session to fortify himselffor a renomina- tion for Governor in 1876. Both houses being repub- Jican it is only natural in a political point of view that tho republicans should be anxious, therefore, if hot exactly to thwart him in whatover new plans ho may devise for administrative reform which will | strengthen him with the voters throughout the State at Yeast so to embarrass him as to make bis hold upon his own party grow beautifully less and small by degrees before the campaign of 1876 is actually opened. r PLANS TO EMBARRASS TILDEN, ‘To this end, it is said, bills will bo introduced in the Senate which will make the Governor too the mark if he is really in favor of reform in New York city, and which, while being actually reform measures, will be not a little distastetul to Tammany Hall, To use the words of a prominent republican politician of Warren county :—“If the Governor is so earnest for reform that he is willing even to aid in the overthrow of Tammany Hall the republicans will give him all the assistance he may stand iu need of. If he is more anxious to serve the people than to secure to himself the vote of Tam- many in 1876 he will have to fight on our side; if not, the people can judge for themselves.’ Among other feelers which the republicans, it ts understood, will bring to bear upon the Governor will be the introduc- tion of a resolution calling upon the Attorney General to instituse proceedings for the repeal of the charter of the Tammany Society, on the ground that the present officers have violated its provisions by making it a po- litical machine for the furtherance of partisan interests, Indeed, that such a resolution will be in- troduced is a foregone conclusion, as one has already been prepared by a prominent republican, who has been in the Legislature for the past five years. Tho editorials advocating the annulling of the charter which have appeared in the Heraup have attracted wide- spread attention in thecountry districts, and the re- publicans generally seem at last to have got their eyes opened to the fact that it has been from the secret man- agement of the society Tammany has always drawn her strength to build up the one-man power which has enabled her to overawe would-be independent demo- crats and keep the republcans in New York in an almost helpless minority for years, Tho member who 1s to make the first move to secure the annulling of the charter says that he is satisfied that it has been grossly violated by the Tammany Society, and that his resolu- tion will be passed by both houses, If it does pass the country republicans say the Governor will be seriously embarrassed, and they contend that whether his friends jn the Legislature approve of it or not he will come out of the” Strugglo with no gain for himself, as their opposition to the resolution would bo proof positive that the Goyernor’s reform cry last win- ter was made for political effect, only so far as it would benefit himself personally, But the Governor, in the opinion of the country democrats, many of whom have little love for Tammany, is made of sterrer stuff than the mere truckling politician is made of who cares more for personal political gain than the general good of the people, and that the republicans will be count. ing without their host if they think they can “put bim in a hole,"” THR SPRING ELECTIONS, ‘There is yet another thing which ts certain to be ae- cided one way or the other by the Legislature this winter and that is whether New York city sball or shall not, like most other cities in the State, hold her charter election in the spring instead of on the same day when State candidates are voted for. Though ap- pointed at so late aday itis the impression of many that the Charter Commission, the names of the mem- bers of which were made public some time ago, will have their “‘system’’ ready for iegislative action before the latter part of February, tho belief being general among the members that the Governor has already bad a charter system prepared for the Commis- sion’s inspection, otherwise he would have appointed the Commission months before he did. It ts known that he is strongly committed to the principle of spring j elections for city offices in New York, and it is more than likely, even though an entirely new charter for the city should not be adopted by the Legislature this winter, that among other amendments to the existing eharter will be one separating the charter from the general election. The views on this question of the members of both houses, irrespective of party, will therefore be of general interest at the present tima It is true that new members especially are somewhat Joath to give an opinion ono way or the other on any Bubject that may possibly bave to bo considered by the Legislature before they have been drilled into the mys- teries of Albany legislative life, However, the views of those who are not obliged to wait till some one makes up their minds for them, obtained by Heraup cor- respondents specially detailed to visit each Senator and member at his home, will show the general drift of opinion on the question. ‘There are fifty-five Assembly districts north of Spuy- ten Duyvil which are to be represented in the Legisla- ture this year by the republicans, and thirty-nine which are to be represented by democrats. The Herat cor- respondents visited during their tour of the State all these districts, and the Interviews they had with the members show that thirty-three of the thirty-nine democrats, and forty-four of the fifty-Gve republicans are earnest supporters of the proposition to separate the charter from the general election in this city. The eleven republicans and six democraés not given were for the most part absent from their homes when the correspondents were in their vicinity. Bat two democrats and one republican of those members who were at home were opposed to tho change. Of the twenty-four Senatorial districts north of Spayten Duy- Vil seventeen this year elected republican Senators and seven democrats. Fifteen of the republicansand | five of the democratic Senators were mot with by the | correspondents. They were all in favor of a spring | election. Below will be found interviews with Senators and Assemblymen from several of the counties, We | shall continue to publish them from day to day antil | our list is Gnished. ALBANY COUNTY. Aupany, Nov. 29, 1875, ‘The Senator-elect from Albany county ts Hamilton Harris, brother of the tate Ira Harris, once a United States Senator, Mr. Harris was elected last month by ‘Qearly 300 votes as the republican candidate, despite the fact that the county gave Tilaen 1,600 majority a year ago, He has always been looked apon as one of tho shrewdest politictans in the State, and his infuence in the coming Legislature will be very great’ Your correspondent called upon him at his office, in this uty, and informed him that his opinion on the sub lect Of @ charter election for New Yorks in the spring would be welcome, . “1 will tell you frankly,” was the reply; “T have uways been im favor of a spring election for local of- fcors in New York, and atways of the opinion that a great mistake Was made when the election for charter | As 1 understand officers and State officers was made to occur on the same day. Ibaye seen nojhing singe tho change to “alter that opinion; in fact, if anything, Ihsee become | make a record with which he can go back to his people more than ever convinced, bythe way things have been going on in New York of late years, that I was right from the start, I was chairman of the Republican State Central Committee from 1863 to 1870, when I ro- signed, and during that time I was always an earnest opponent of any change fixing the local election on the same day as the State election. Having the two elections on the same day opens wide the door for the political trader, who only cares for himeelf. An Alder. man, for instance, who might be almost certain of de- feat 1 election where local issues would alone be at stake, finds it very convenient to have an Assemblyman and State officers ranning at the same time as himself. He and his fmends can make bargains with the Assem- blyman so that the friends of each will vote for the other, and so on; and tt thus happens that the log- rolling puts in office a local officer who, voted for ata different time, would not, probably, elected at all” Your correspondent asked Mr. if an amend- ment were proposed in the Sonate to the city charter, fixing the local election in the spring, would he vote for Pr 6 Senator replied :—“If nothing should happen, 4p a party sense, to change my opinion, or rather the way I would desire to act on the question if left to my- self, | certainly would vote for such an amendment But it might be made a party question by the republicans to vote against such an amendment. 1 do not mean to be anderstood as intimating that there is any likelihood of anything of the kind happening; but in such # contingency 1 would naturally have to stand by my party.’’ In alluding to the probable annulling of the Tammany Society charter, Mr. Harris said that he had not looked into the matter very closely as yet; but if it could be shown by proper proof that the charter had been violated the society should be made to suffer Just the same ag any other incorporated body which had made their charter subserve a purpose inconsistent with the act creating it PRTSR SLINGERLAND am pride. CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY. TA Case, After my visit to Sandusky, I called upon Mr, T. A. Case, republican Assemblyman-elect from the Second district of Chautauqua county, in an out-of-the-way village called Ellington, He is a promising young law_ yer of the county. After a little explanation of the ature of my visit, he said:—‘‘If | had known these things, or even if I had thought the matter over, I would have made no hesitation in telling you, when you frst entered, that I was in favor of the change.’? CAYUGA COUNTY. BENATOR WOODIN. After a long search for Senator Woodin I found him | in his Mbrary cosily ensconced in an armebair of colossal proportions. As to a spring election, he said he would be very much’ influenced in the matter by party considerations; in fact, he used these words:—‘‘I am 80 much of a partisan that if I thought it would un- favorably affect the republican party in this State I would do my odest to defeat it It ts all our healthy rural republican majority can do to overtop the immense democratic vote of New York city, and if this spring election change {8 calculated to impart a vigor to New York’s democratic vote it is not fair to suppose I would lend a hand to bring about the change." The Senator would not say how he would treat a measure looking to the separation of the county and State elections until be had ample time to consider its probable re- sults, for better or for worse, to his party. ASSEMBLYMAN BROWN, of Auburn, lately elected to the Assembly from is a republican member, and was re-elected from | the Second district, & republican, Ho is of the First district by a good majority. He lives | opinion that the change is a_ feasible | at Clarksville, about twelve miles from Albany | but does not know how would act on a | city, When spoken to about his views he said | of the kind, Two considerations would bay | that he was not very well posted about | weight with him—first, the conduct of the New York New York city matters; but, judging trom the | delegation in the premises; second, its effect om par- | fact that most other cities in the State held their local election in the spring, he could not see why New York should be made an exception. However, bo added, there might be good reasons, unknown to him at present, why the election should be held the same day as the State election, and he supposed that if tho change was desired by the New York mem- bers they could gain their point without difficulty. Lhe Second district is to be represented by THOMAS D, COLEMAN, who does business in the city as a maltster. He is a democrat and has never held any public pos tion. He appeared rather reluctant to give his views. “T intend,” said he, “to do wh:tever I think right, and whatever bill in relation to New York city I heve w vote upon I shall take care in voting always to ‘= to the interests of the city, My individual opinion is that the local election and the State elec tion should not be held at the same time; but, aftor all, if the democrats from New York city were unant- mous against a change 1 would certainly not put my judgment against theirs, as they certainty ought to now better than I do what !s best for their own city.” Your correspondent cailed Mr. Coleman’s atten- tion to tho fact that the local election In his own city was held m the spring, and asked him whether he thought an attempt made by the Legislature to have it held on the samo as the State election would meet with favor at tho hands of tho people. His reply was given without hesitation:—‘It would not meet with favor,’ and he added, with some earnestness, that he was satisfied that, if the change was made, the local issues would be so lost sight of ‘n the contest over the State candidates that men would be sure to get in.o office who might otherwise be kept out He stated that if the quostion was not made a party one (and ho believed it age not to be) he wouit give bis vote for separating the te from charter election In New York city. The Third Asseibly district of the county was car tied last November by a domocrat named WILLIAM J, MATAR, He was nominated vy the Meegan faction, asin deed were the entire four democratic candidatcs, and indorsed by the MeEwen faction. The district a a large one and takes in a con- siderable portion of the lumber district along the borders of the canal, lying between the - city proper and Troy, Mr, Mahar said that he had read the Heratp articles attentively and had been much impressed by them, particularly as to” the arguments in favor of a local election in the soring and the annulling of the Tammany charte m regard to the spring election ho said “Having the local election in the spring works well in this city and I do not sce why it should not tn New York. Individually Iam in favor of giving New York a spring election for local officers, but I do not propose to interfere with New York matters. I shall be in favor of whatever the New York democratic members want. If the New York delegation, demo- crats and republicans alike, ean come to some agree- ment as to just what they desire so much the better. The members outside of New York would then, a doubt, irrespective of party, vote for whater asked that would be reasot and right, ’? ALPRED LEROY is the republican member from Cohoes, which is | in the Fourth Albany district, As an individual he ts in favor of a soparate election in New York city for local officera, but he had not thought much about the matter yet and knew how be should act on the subject in the Legislature until he iearned what the New York members thought about it. He believed their opinions would reflect the wants of their constituencies and that the other members of the Legislature would act accord: 3 AL UNTY. Friexpsnir, Dec. 8 1875. SENATOR WELLMAN. A short distance {rom the depot at Friendship, Alle- gany county, I found Senator Wellman standing on the corner, the centre of acoterie, with whom he was appar- ently discussing matters of importanca After the usual salutations, I retired to the temporary apartment ofthe Senator’s bank, and there announced my business. He said he had noticed that for some time past the Hera:p had been discussing the matier of spring elec- tions in a very favorable way, and he himself op that account had given the subject some attention. He be- Heved, with the Henao, that if the time of the election | were changed better men could be brought into office in New York city. Hesaid that he appreciated the fact | (as every man who considered the matter mast), that in a goneral fall election such as the one in 1876 much confusion must result, The contusion consequent upon having to voto for a myriad of candidates at the same time, he had no doubt, always resulted to the detriment of tho county ticket, which, in the presence of a more en- jing national or State issue, was neglected. Brom 18 Knowledge of the benefits the rural districts derived from spring elections he was free to say that, in bia opinion, New York had needed the change which the Lp is now seeking to secure for i. It wus a question which interested their constituents, and con- sequently they should look to it that it was well weighed and discussed. Tho Senator’s nt opinion is that he will support 4 measure to have the tim changed for the reasons given—namoly, that {i is Ni York’s need. ‘ fs the Assembiymaad FOR] “allegaay tounty. I found Mr. Baldwin in bis bank in Wellsville late at night, wner around a bright Oro, he and a few friends were enjoy- ing a quiet smoke, I explained to him as briefly as possible the ground taken by the Hsraup on the sub- Ject of the spring olections and waited for his opinion. After short deliberation he said:—‘I can see no pos- sible objection to the plan of the change; on the con- trary, I regard it es one well advised and calculated to result in much, if not all, the Hera.p claims for it, I can plainly see the ruinous and demoralizing effect of fn election in our county for Supervisors at the same time the people were calied upon to vote for State officers, and the inference is very natural that in New York, with its enormous population, affairs must be much worse in the same eveut,”” I tnen asked Mr. Baldwin how he would regard the matter if it were brought up for his consid- eration as a legislator. Said he, “Being a new man at Albany I would nat- uraily be influenced, in a measure, by the opinion of older and more experienced men than myseif; but asisee the matter now I can conceive of no very formidable objection that could be brought against it. it the ol is one the people want and is not a party issue.” BROOME COUNTY. Comunsnit, N. ¥., Dec. 11, 1875. MR. RODNEY 4 voRD, the first democratic Assemblyman elected from Broome county in twenty-three years, says ho admires the idea of having the time of New York city’s election changed. The Heraun arguments seemed to him to be just; be liked the idea and said he would endeavor to obtain it for the people it he was oavinced the people wanted it, CATTARAUGUS COUNTY. Darton, N. ¥., Nov. 30, 1875. SENATOR VEDDER lives at Ellicotville. The gentleman said he could see no disadvantage attached to changing the time of city elec- tions to the spring of the year, On the contrary, he thought it would achieve all the good results the Hematp ctaimed, and that in no other way could honest and capable men be obtained. If it could be shown tha, a majority, or better, that the respectable portion of New ‘York's citizens were in favor of the change, he would Jend his influence to have the time changed. When { ene ee would be able to ascertain in which oT eaned rn ‘would read the Now York - The caer mirtors Saece Seme ure Start es tones sna taving reed Gays Mew Yorke Supers fast. fall know just what the result of the election would be. If the ees ak favorably of tho plan I will give itmy sup} ASSEMBLYMAN SILANNON, lo the modest iittle village of Leon I found Mr, a, the republican Assemblyman elect from Cat- taraugus county, The Henan mente which I |e to him were, he said, quite sufficient, and 6 was in favor of the change, HARRISON CHERRY, republican Asserrbiywan-elect from Sandusky, in the town of Freedom, says that he believes in the change. ali changes which are $0 work existing abuses and ® Afuaay he jotends to be ties More than this Mr. Brown would not say. MR. GORGE J. POST, republican member from the First district, whose residence is at Fair Haven, says he can see no very strong objection to tha plan, and thinks it would be a wise change. Though his opinions take this direction he will be influenced tu his official ac- tion by party considerations, aud for this reason he does not say what he would do should the measure be brought up during the seaston. He must first hear what is to be said pro and con on the subject, COLUMBIA COUNTY. | GEORGE 1. POWER j ig @ republican, and resides at Hudson. Ho has been Mayor of that town, and is among the most respectabio citizens of his locality. The com- ing session of the Legistature will bo the first in which Mr. or ‘Captain’? Power, as he is moro familiarly | known, takes official part. The drive to his residence, | about one mile from the rallroad depot, is a pteasant | one, Captain Power was found at home late in tho evening, surrounded by his family. When the Hxeranp | correspondent made known his mission to him he be- | cameo rather reserved. “I do not think tt would be | proper for me to state tn advance what my legislative course will be,’? he remarked, “I will not pledge my- self.” He then added :—‘‘From all I have beard on the subject of the spring election, I have no doubt it would de a good thing for New York city.” DUTCHESS COUNTY. SENATOR R. PLATT CARPENTER ‘sg the newly elected Senator from the Eleventh district, composed of Dutcheas and Columbia counties, He ts a re cblican and was elected over his democratic oppo- wat, Mackin, by a majority of some 3,000. The district *as last represented by a democrat, Mr. Benjamin Ray. fr, Carpenter resides at Poughkeepsie, Hes a lawyer by syi@eston and has been for years an active republican r am. He was born in Dutchess county. In con- Svessez with the Hxnaxp correspondent the gentle- | with a lawyer’s usual carefulness, generally shy of tho main questions propounded to him, in answer to my several questions, were % substantially as fotlows;—'‘I have not given the of wlecuions much attention, I think | ita Separate local lection in New York less ot politics and more of fitness of the several candidates for vilice would enter into the canvass. I am not prepated, however, to pledge nyself as to whether I would vote in favor of such a change 1 hope you will not under- take to put me down in your paper as giving any posi- tive opmion. If the people of New York city want a spring erty I wilt certainly favor the re of a bill providing for one when I am in the Legislature, I want to see New York city govern herseif and retain in her own bands the power of reform. Iam. set against the commission system governing the metropolis from Albany.” ASSEMBLYMAN DE WATT WEBB. The republicans of Poughkeepsie have also succeeded in electing thei? member of Assembly. In the last Leg- | islatare this seat was occupied by a democrat, M James 3. Brow But this year Dr. De Witt Webb, a Lymn druggist, of Poughkeepsie, has been chosen. genta is an intelligent representative. Ho evinces considerable interest in New and gave his views as follows :—'With have obtamed in reading the Hrrato articles, and the explanation just given me by you, I should feel war- ranted in supporting a charter for New York city hav- ing for its object an election in the spring. 1 cannot pledge 5 so however, in advance as to my legislative action. Present impressions are favorable to the ob- ject sought to be attained by the Hxratp. We have our ‘charter election here in Poughkeepsie next week. A | City Attorney, Treasurer, six Aidermen, six Supervi- | sors and one Assessor are to be chosen, Formerly we bad our charter siections in the spring, but the Legis- lature changed the time for some reason or other. The objects, however, to be attaincd are similar. We want to get the better class of citizens to take an Interest in our town affairs. This {s also the interest of every one of us whois in business here. We find the plan to work admirably, By separating the elections I think we pro- cure afar more useful body of town officers, It has been the law in Poughkeepsie as long as I can recollect. These are some of the grounds, I presume, upon which & spring election is urged in New York city. DR, THOMAS HAMMOND, ‘ork cit Hitics, the ra 1 of Dover Plains, republican, succeeds Mr, Mackin, | democrat, as one of the members of the | next Legislature from Dutchess county. As far | is he has studied the sabject of a spring election in New York city, he expresses hij If to be ip favor of the change. “It ls not likely,” he remarked, ‘that Governor Tilden will veto a bill of this character if the people of your city should favor am election at that time, I believe that nearly every town in the State separates their charter from other elections. In a large city like New York, where there are over 1,000,000 inhabitants, the necessity of such a change strikes me favorably.’ ERIE COUNTY. Borvaia, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1875, SENATOR & K. ROGERS, 7 I called this morning on Mr. S. K. Rogers, repnb- liean Senator elect from Erie county, to ascertain his views on the spring election question. After 1 had briefly stated my business, Mr. Rogers said that although he had given the matter no recent serious consideration, he was fully convinced that good and resonsible men could only be obtained for city offices by separating the local from the Stato and national elections, In 1872 the experiment had been tried in Buffalo, with the most gratifying success— gratifying to the people, but very disturbing to the poli- tictans. When the charter election was held in the spring, and the voters had nothing but local issues to meet, the result was, that public-spiri on-partisan: men were put in charge of affairs, and the politicians were left out in the cold, notw'thstanding it was spring time. During the succeeding winter, 1872 and 187%, the liticians went to Albany, and the charter was 80 changed that elections for local officers were to be had synchronously with those for State officers. The ob- ject of this change was made evident at the next elec- ‘tion, when only politicians were This little bit of experience proves the advantages the Herato has claimed for spring slections. When the election was held in the spring time men having the interest of the community at heart were elected, while, when the old system was readopted, politicians, with only their personal and party interests to consider, began again to manage the municipal machine ir. Rogers says he has no doubt that if the New | Work city elections are held in the spring time instead of in the fail party tyranny and one Neo spe would no longer obtain, and be would lend his aid to that end. ASSEMBLYMAN CRUISR, Having thanked the Senator fur his courtesy, I re- tired and started for the of business of Mr. Cruise | the republicey Assemblyman-elect from the First district of Erie county. I expected to find Mr. Cruise in s cosey office, but was astonished when arriving at | his place to find a blacksmith shop. I enterod and asked a man who was working at an anvil—more industriously than of the others inthe placo— | where I could find Mi ise. Said he, smiling, “I am Mr. Cruise.” Noticing my astonishment he jaughed aloud, and, requesting me to make myself at home, he thrust the unfinished horseshoe into the furnace As be rested his hammer on the anvil I told him my dusi- Guia te, prtabtentng tpy (The. 1660 of separating Ul r rightening u 10 idea of ing the Jocal from! the Stato and national olections fe one [have thought a great deal about. I always thought it was wrong to unix the two together and on the strength of a State ticket senting @ decided principle run in- jpetent men ito city offices Some he with whom I have conversed on this matter have me that in the ovent ofa separation we would be anable to call out the whole vote; that people who would tako the trouble to vote the State ticket would not go to the trouble of voting on # mere local issue, To me this, instead of being an objection to the plan, i in its favor. Ee ough eng of h. chen A NS caprives ote! of voting, |, in my estimation, of a voice in it government, State and local tseues should be so di- vorced that the people would finally come to think of them as two separate and distinct institutions, with only @ common name. Many le who have an fn- terest in State affairs vote for men for local offices for ‘no other reason than the mistaken idea thas they (the local candidates) are part and parcel of the principle on which the State platform was modelled,’ w. W. LAWEON, republican Assemblyman.elect for the Second district, 1 Coupe at lus plage of business on Maia strogh | republican, | the ablest | have been held on the same day now for several years, | indicted, has volunteered to teli all he knows, and will Lawson said be would vote for a change in tho time in election in New York city, as he thought that change was needed, B GALLAGHER, republican, who has been re-elected tothe Assembly for the Fhird district, says he will support a movement to change the time of election in New York city. ESSEX COUNTY. Port Hunay, Dee. 2, 1875, SENATOR FRANKLIN W. TOBBY, though the youngest one of members of the Senate, He repre- sented the Sixteenth Senatorial district, composed of the counties of Warrer, Essex and Clinton, in the last Senate, and was last month re-clected. Mr. Tobey, next to Senator Woodin, is probably the best informed Senator west of Spuyten Duyvil’ on all matters which concern New York city legislation, hs views, there- fore, on the question of the spring election and the de- sired changes in the charter are of decided value, though they were briefly expressed, as he was rather opposed at first to talking about the subject in question. He said, “I have not thought much about the question that is being agitated by the Henan in reference to the | spring elections, You must remember that this same | question some years ago was very fully dissected by leading members of boch parties, and that it finally came | to pass that, instead of having your charter election in | December, it was decided to have it on the same day as the general election in November, I believe it was re- garded at the time by most people in New York as a | is good move; that, besides causing a great saving to the | city, the business men and others, some of whom think they can iil afford to give up even one day to the Stato election, would be spared much loss of time and | trouble, Since the al and the State elections | I should think the voters there ought to know what is best for the city’s interests, Taking it for granted that the members from the city this winter fuithfully | represent the views of the people of the city, I suppose that there will be no difficulty about having a change | made in the present law if they ask for it on good grounds, But there i reat obstacle every yoar to good legislation fo1 ww York city which I think the people there do not keep in view. The obstacle I speak of is the perpetual quarrelling among the New York members themselves. They are seldom, if ever, a unit on any particular city measure. I think, as I look at it now, however, that it would be better for the city; that, indeed, & better class of local officers, as a rule, conid be elected if the local elections were held ata different time from the State election, providing, al- | ways, that the better class of voters willturn out. If it were possible to keep politics out of the local elec- | ons altogether then, certainly, a separate election | would be a blessing.”” | —- \ TicoxpERoGA, Dee. 12, 1875. WILLIAM K, CALKINS, republican, vas the member of Assembly from Essex | county last winter. He was re-elected last November, Mr, Calkins stated to your correspondent that he had not given much attention to tho question of the spring | elections thus far, but he saw that, owing to the vigor- | ous way it was being agitated by the Hxrao, the Legis- lature, in all probability, would be called upon, during | the approaching session, to deal with it in some shape. ‘Under these circumstances,” said he, ‘I shall make it | my duty to study the subject thoroughly in all its | bearings, so that I may know how to act decisively and correctly when the proper time comes My opinion of the matter now is, judging from the good resuts of Spring’ elections tor local officers in the country towns, that it is not well | to have local elections occur on the same day as the State election. It is possible that in New York thero would be too much expense and too much loss of time vo business men if there were two elections there in the same year; yet the farmers, who, generally speaking, have to travel long distances to the polls from their homes to vote two days in the year, do not seem to goed about it, and certainly New Yorkers have very little trouble at any time or in any kind of weather in going to their polling places, tho election districts are $0 numerous and the polling places so near the one to | the other. On the score of trouble and loss of time, then, the farmer would have the best cause to find fault. | On my calling Mr. Cajxins’ attention to the fact that it | was Tweed who had ‘the laws passed which provided that the election for municipal officers should take place in New York on the same day as the general clec- tion, he laughingly remarked :— “That ig a fact, and we all Know that he never looked to anything but the dear peopig’s interests when Le ox- | erted bis influence to have certain law passed re- | lating to New York city. He, #6 doubt, had the ehange from the old system made for some wise purpose of his | own so that the city and not Tweed should be bene | fited. © The proposition, with this light, certainly necds | looking tmto seriously, and if a change will do the city | 00d it ought to be made,” | FRANKLIN COUNTY. ASSEMBLYMAN GILRERT. Mr. Gilbert is the republican member from Franklin county. He resides at Malone, but was absent when | the Hxgatp correspondent first called upon him -The | gentleman, however, at my second visit made a state- ment of bis position on the spring election as follows :— “Lean only say that | have given the subject only a passing attention, but have made no investigation tn Tespect t it. My impression is that the proposed | change id vend to bring better men into public | poaltiods” bad so secure @ betier administration of | municipal affairs,” FULTON AND HAMILTON COUNTIES, | GLoversvitte, Dec, 13, 1875, ASSEMBLYMAN HANSON, Fulton and Hamilton counties form one Assembly district and are consequently represented by one As- | semblyman. Mr. Hanson is quite a young man, and bids | fair to make a watchful member of the Housd, After having hts attention called to the arguments made by 6 Henaxp in favor of the change, he said, fraukly:— When | come to look at the matter seriously I see no good reason why New York city should not have the | same privilege that the country towns have—that of | having a special election day for local purposes It is | all wrong, I think, to have local and general elections at the same time, and it ia to the mierest of every good citizen, I think, that when local officers are to be elected the issues should be onty local issues. Let every tub stand on its own bottom. Better local offi- cers, I have no doubt (if the voters would do their duty), could be elected in New York if the local clec- tion was held on a different day from the State election, than when the two elections come on the same day, That being so, I think the proposed change would be an excellent one." GENESEE COUNTY. Byron, Dec. 6, 1875, ASSEMBLYMAN GRERNR From talking general politics the transition to | the object of my visit was an easy one, and soon we were discussing the subject, to which Mr. Greene said he had paid little or no attention, After it was tully explained to him, he asked me:— “Do the people of New York want the change?” To the same question I naturally gave the same answer; and Mr. Greene, after considering for a short while, said he had no doubt the change would be a good one, and would result in all that was claimed, and further, he was in favor of it, THE WHISKEY RING, b A DAY OF QUIET IN CHICAGO—AN IMPORTANT WITNESS FOR THE GOVERNMENT—NEWSPA- PER ACCUSATIONS AGAINST FRED AND ORVIL | GRANT. Curcago, Jan. 3, 1876, j Popular anticipation of further startling develop. | ments to-day was greatly disappointed, Supervisor | Mathews returned this morning, and, although all day | long holding important conferences with Collector | Webster, the government counsel, the distillers and in- formers, he took no additional steps. Une of the rectifying houses seized on Wednesday, Keeléy & Kerwin’s, was bonded out, Judge Blodgett | taking surety to the amount of $66,000, which is about double the amount of the value of the property, | The release was signed in the afternoon, dnd | this morning this house, which is the smallest of those | seized, will resume operations, Two of the larger ones, the Chicago Aleobol Works and Mather’s, will in all probability be bonded out to-morrow, and the others | will soon follow, | AN IMPORTANT STATR WITNESS, Ex-Deputy Collector Hoyt, whose namo has also beon mentioned as among those who will probably be | no doubt become a witness for the prosecution in re- turn for the promise of immunity said to have been ex- \ended to him. was Deputy Collector under Wads- worth while the greatest of the defraudations were | being committed, and it is thought that he ought to know @ good Hesing’s , the MMinois Staats. Zeitung, in s flam- ing editors ances his arrest and that of Miller Rebm as a despicable political move, Minty has 1D effecting his escape, the do- tectives having failed to find any clew to his where- abouts. STARTLING STATEMENTS. | The Times of this morning has a special from Wash- ington, stating that evidence has beon discovered im- plicating Fred and Orvil Grant in the Whiskey “Ring. This statement created quite a ripple of ex- citement, more among the numerous friends of the Grant family in this city, who are very indig- ant about the matter; but Supervisor Mathews, who {s in constant commanication with Washington, says there is nothing whatever in it, and the other revenue officials express the same depreciatory opinion. Berrato, Jan. 3, 1876. James 8. Lyon, Jonn McManus and Byron A. West cott, partners of Joseph Bork in the banking firm ot Lyon, Bork & Co,, wero arrested to-day on the com- piaint of Thomas Clark, rectifier, for the m: rime tion of moneys paid them for the payment of his taxes. Lyon & Co. do a brokerage business In this $0 The parties gave bail to appear in 4 nn of NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1876—TRIPLE SHEET. THE STATE LEGISLATURE, Action of the Republican and Dem- ocratic Caucuses, Seine OF [SPEAKER. NOMINATION AN OUTLINE OF THE MESSAGE, | Axsany, Jan. 3, 1876, Although there never bas been any doubt as to who | would be the choice of the republicans for the position of Speaker of the Assembly since the day after the election, when it became apparent that they bad secured a good working majority, the hotel corridors have swarmed = for the past day or two with small fry politicians who came from the various districts of the State with the avowed intention of making the crooked Ways Straight, so that Mr, Husted would meet with no opposition, Of course, not finding any crooked ways that Mr, Husted needed to havo any concern about, they suddenly dis covered that there were several places to be filled by the Speaker where their cousins and brothers, and even themselves, could sorve the State acceptably during the winter, Indeed, to-day the arrival of every train only added to the hungry crowds of small office-seekers, and had it not beon for the temporary excitement occasioned by Mr. Woodin’s friends, who were determined to make him President of the Senate, it i» quite possible that tho organi- | zation of the(™lyo Houses would have become tho least interesting question of the hour, Happily for Mr, Husted the struggle for the President pro tem, honors finally became 80 close late this afternoon that the soekers for clerkships and for places to loaf around tho hallways under the shadow of an assistant door- keeper appointment were compelled, despite of them- selves, to suspend their buttonholing and their beg- ing. oe ae WOODIN AND ROBERTSON CONTEST. The fact ts = that = the-—s contest. «ba tween Woodin and Robertson in tho evening, avery short timo before tho Senate caucus was heid, had, in the opinion of those who professed to be in the confidence of either, become so fierce that no compromise was possible, Indeed, all sorts of rumors flew thick and fast about tho strength of each party, what each relied upon the most, and who bad telegraphed from Washington to have Woodin beaten, and who had sent a message to Robertson that he should not lose heart, but, ike General Grant in the War Office, stick to the last, At one time Robertson was said to have given up the fight in disgust, and yet another that by the arrival of Senator Rogers, of Erie, Woodin’s last hope of victory had been dashed, ho having up to tnat time nine of the twenty republican, Senators himself and his competitor not being counted, At all events, if the Senate caucus did not completely satisfy the curious by taking up seriatim the various rumors of the day} demolishing some and confirming others, it effectually decided the mooted question without the formality ofa ballot. It was the closing act of the caucus, and it was Mr. Woodin who took the bull by the horns in the following little speech :— SPRECH OP SENATOR WOODIN. Mr, Wooviw then said:—Mr. Chairman, it becomes necessary for this caucus to nominate its candidate for President pro tem. of the Senate. One reading the newspapers within the last three or four days would | make up his mind, if he bad been in any other place | than Albany, that there waga severo struggle going on among the Senators and their friends ou the candidacy of the President pro tem. of the Senate. My own views in regard to becoming a candidate for a position of that kind will be, perhaps, diferent from others, bat to me it seems quite ag mach out of place for me to be a candidate, or any other Senator to be a candidate for President pro tem, as it would be to canvass a@ neighborhood for a vote of than’ My name bas been connected with may be called a canvass for President pro tem, but from the beginning without my consent. A few friends, who had their preferences (perhaps personal altogether), thought it would be complimentary to my- self, and perhaps other suggestions tay have controlled them, suggested my name, and they have used it for several days past, as I havo been informed, in connec- tion with this office, but never at any time bas it been with my consent day, and more so to-day, that were the straggle continued te it might be called a struggle) it might re- ultinsuch an equal division of the vote that pos- sibly it aig ‘become necessary to hunt up some other candidate for the office of President pro tem. It has been my effort during the past few days to try to solve what bas been mado to appear a problem, or rather how to arrange it without a controversy and without a ballot The Senators who espoused, what perhaps it may be appfopriate to say my cause, will bear iMfo witness that I have labored with every and all of them to permit, or themselves rather to withdraw, my namo from the canvass that tals matter might be disposed of without further controversy. They have at last yielded and imposed upon mo the§duty and responsibility of withdrawing my name from a place where [never it The competitor, if! may use that term, is the | distinguished Senator from the Ninth District, for | whom I have always entertained the profoundest ro spect and who has in the position for which I ain about to nominate him so faithfully and earnestiy dis- charged the duties of tho office of Pi Senate pro tem, that there can be no q fitness, nor as to the propriety of hig nomination and re-election to that office, I therefore, with the great- est pleasare, nominate Wm. H. Robertson. The mo- | tion was carried, WHY ROBERTSON WAS OPPosED, Thia speech was delivered quietly and deliberately, and while the Senator was speaking there were not a few of the Solons t= the semicircle who exchanged knowing glances, as much as to say, “Doesn't he get out of It neatly?” It is certain, as Mr. Woodin claims, that be was mado a candidate at the start without hig consent, but it is almost equally certain that when the contest had become interesting by its closeness, he took @ vigorous hand in the fight himself, Inthe opinion of most peopte here whose opinion is worth anything, Woodin nad enough votes to create a tie, as between him and Robertson, thus compelling the nomimation of athird man. Why he | did not do so, if he had the strength his triends claim he had, i#a mystery only partially explained by his little speech, Now that the question at issue has been decided, some of the New York ro- publican politiciang claim that the only reason why some of the Senators Wanted Woodin in preference to Robertson was because they believed Robertson was too ready to be “obliging” to the Governor, and that it was necessary, during the present session, to have & presiding officer who would be firm enough and far-seeing enough to prevent the Governor using a republican Senate to further achemes having for their ulterior object the future aggrandizement of the democratic party, or Mr. Tilden's own political aspirations. Whether this reason is of any valaoor not, certain it is that to-night Tilden aemocrats claim another Tilden victory, whatever that may mean, where republicans are apparently alone concerued. WHY ROBERTSON WAS CHOSEN, In speaking about the result with a republican oficial in N York, he said that he looked upon Robertson’s election, as against Woodin, as only part of the deal that was said to have been made in New York | some days ago, when the Mayor ousted Matsell and Disbecker, and put Erhardt and Wheeler in their places, This gentleman pretends to believe that Robertson anderstands the situation thoroughly, and that part of the bargain made by certain repablicans in New York is that in return for the nomination of Wheeler and Erhardt and other little favors to be granted in the near future, with the kind o-operation of the Governor, no legislation will be effected that will give the democratic opponents of Tammany any ad- vantage over the “regular.” This latter vote Tilden is anxious, it is said, to secare next fall, whon the send. ing of delegates to the Presidential Convention is in order. WHAT DEMOCRATS BAY. Said a Tammany democrat to me this evening:— “The anti-Tammany democrats want to have a new charter passed for New York, which will, by an eleo- tion next April, put an end to Wickham and all the other Tammany oficoholdera, The Governor t#*com- mitted to the principle of spring ¢lec- tion, and if such a charter were passed by the two fepublican hoases, te would bein a bad fix.” Democrats here who speak in thia strain say that if Mr. Woodin had been mado President pro tam. he would Mave so arranged the committees that the bargainers in New York, provided there was a bar- gain made, would not have been able to carry oat their plans at Albany. It is quite possible, in- doed, that thero is not the remotest justification for all this talk about deals im connection with the President pro tem, struggle, and that the op- position to Woodin’s election as President pro tem drew ite principal strength from the fear of cortain ra it became apparent to me yester- | ident of the | estion as to his | publicans in Now York that he and his committee would endanger their power and influeace. Howevor, where thero is smoke there must be firo, and, though tho straggle, according to Mr, Woodin, wag never an earnest contest between himecif and hig competitor, it is pretty certain that there is a sufficient number of Senators in the Senate who, like him, do not believe in the alleged attempt at bargain and sale made by some republicans in New York and who com- bined can make things Itvely for their colleagues before the session is over. THR POLICH COMMISSION CHANGE. “I believe,” said a warm frend of Woodin to me, to-night, “that the change in the Police Commission was brought about by a bargain and that other changes are to be made in the city departments by other bar- gaing All I can say, the republtcans at the bottom | of it have agreed to sell what they cannot deliver, at least so far ag Albany is concerned.” . THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES. ‘The detafls of the Republican Senate and Assembly caucuses were devoid of imterest, the only feature that was an exception being Woodin’s explanation of his pari In the President pro tem squabble. Mr. Henry Glidden was nominated for Clerk of tho Senate, John W. Corming, of Wayne, for Sergeant-at-Arms; James J, Hart, of Essex, Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms, The nominees of the Republican Assembly caucus, were, firstand foremost, as a matter of course, James A. Hosted for Speaker, Edward Johnson, of Otsego, Clork, and George A. Goss) of Monroe, Sergeant-at-Arms. The candidates for the: positions of Doorkeeper and tho like, in both houses, wero very Humerous,tbut the select few were pleked out of the crowd finally, after a little sawdust basiness for political effect at home, by the Senators and Asseme- blymen who had candidates to extol, and the proceed- ings came to a quict ending. THA DEMOCRATIO CAUCUSES, ‘The democratic Senate and Assembly caucuses wore,, | of course, rather dreary affairs, All the old officers of | the Assembly were renominated, and they wil! be put up to be knocked down tn the usual fashion to-morrow at twelve, ‘THE SENATE COMMITTRES. There is to-ntght no small amount of speculation cone corning the complexion of the standing committees of the Senate. Since the victory of Robertson the old slate, wade out some weeks ago, has, ot course, fallen to pieces by its own weight Mr, Robertson will nob probably announce the committees, as he was authorized to do, by resolution in the caucus, until some day next: week, He will himself be, as was also provided by caucus resolution, Chairman of the Judiciary Com- | mittee, McCarthy, of Syracuse, had Woodin been made | President pro tem., would have been made Chairman of | the Finance Committee, whieh is equivalent to the | Ways and Means Committee of the Assembly, It | 18 probable Hamilton Harris will secure the | prize, Coleman will be Chairman of Banks; Tobey of Insurance, and Woodin of Affairs of | Cities, It is settled that Sloan will be chairman of Ways and Means in the Assembly; Burleigh of Canals; Fish of Cities, and Jacob Worth of Railroads, The Democrats, from all 1 can hear, are harder to please than the Republicans, as each one believes apparently that he is the best qualified member of the minority to be on the best committee, Muller, of New York, and McGroarty, of Kings, aro likely to be placed on the Committee on Cities, THE MESSAGE OUTSINED, The two houses wiil formally organize to-morrow, at noon, when the Governor’s Message, which 1s quite long, will be received. The Canats will occupy avery large space in the document, and the State's finances will come in for some very serious consideration, ag will also tho Savings Banks. Of course, it will have a hard money ring that will satisfy the most exacting. Probably the moat extraordinary features of the Message will be, if the source of my information is correct, the brief reference | {t will make to the affairs of citios, I anderstand that | whilé the attention of the Legisiature will | be called to the necessity that exists for a thorough change in the charter system of nearly al) | the cities in the State it will be advised not to legisiate | with hostility in regard to questions which may be cov ered by tho report of the Charter Commission he ape pointed only a httle over a month ago. THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY. In the opinion of the republican members the Gover nor is very shrewd, and is always nibbling for himself, They contend that his great reform cry last winter about the caval frauds was started with a view of build- ing bimself up for future contingencies. Had he had the slightest idea that the reform cry he set upand the, in some instances, tyrannical action of the Canal Commission would, instead of bringing bim personal strength, be rebuked by the people, as it has been, ac cording to the republicans, as an effort to make capital for himself, he would never havo acted as he had acted last winter as to tho Charter Commission, they contend, except that it 1s to be used to suit bis ow purposes, Were the two houses of the Legislature thi winter democratic, they believe, we should never have heard of the appointment of the Commission, For having the two houses he could take to himself all credit of organizing some “relorm” charter system, whieh, of course, a democratio Senate and Assembl, | would indorse, bat the election having gone against | him be goes to work and appotots the Commission, knowing well that the members of it have not the time, even if they bad the will, to draw up properly any sya tem in time for legislative action this winter. They | have an idea that the real secret of his appointing | them at all, at this late day, is that he intends to keep up @ veto fight with the repablican Senate and Assembly, if they should pass any important! bill relating to any city cbarter, How easy, they say, it will be for hima to give as his reason for vetoing bill of this kind that a ‘non-partisan’? commission if at work on ao system of city churters, and that under the cjrcumstances it — would } be unwise for the Legisiature to amend any city charter materially betore the Commission's work is Jaid before them. All that will have a plausiblo look about it which will take io the gullible, But, unfor- tunately for the Governor. the gullible members of tho Legislature are not 80 numerous thts year as they wero | last, |THE CHESAPEAKE AND OHIO RAIL- ROAD. DECISION OF THR UNITED STATES sUPREMM couRT IN THE CASE OF BICHARDS AND OTHERS AGAINST THE COMPANY—ITS AFFAIRS TO BE SETTLED BY THE STATR COURTS, Wasmixeton, Jan. 3, 1876, The written opinion of the Court in the case of A. P., | Richards and others against the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Company, which was argued before the United Btates Circuit Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on the 2st of December last, Chief Justice Waite, of the United States Supreme Conrt, sitting with Cireuit | Judge Bond, was delivered this morning by Judgd | Bond im Alexandria, Va., Chief Justice Waite, though absent, concurring in the opinion. There wore presen( Mr. William M. Evarts, ex-Judge Shipman and Mr, Storra, of New York; Judges Robertson and Crump, of | Virginia, representing the company and the creditord under various mortgages; and Colonel Gordon, Messra, Steeger, Smoot, Jones and Smith, of Virginia, repr senting several bondholders resisting the application a | the company, | _ It will be remembered that apon the e state ment of Richards, who originally brought the suit Henry Ai ted of Baltimore, was aig receiver a the ri in November last by Judge Bond, in th¢ United States Circuit Coart, jubsequently the tras | under tho six per cent mortgage made applicatiog | by ey nh courts of Virginia and Wost Virginia fot the appointment of a receiver to wind ap tho affairs | the company, and under this application General Wille fam ©. Wickham, Vice President of the rond, was fT jnted receiver. The questions before the Uni tates Court to-day were:— Firrt—A motion to dismiss the sult from of the United Stat jaintifs and for Bond replied that this could be and after a conference between fixed as the time by which the receiver must sey te, an order directing him to do so will be mad tess AS soon as the road passes into thi m to the siiatiee, the mortgages an‘ flo ike perty, and it ap bastmaad in the ine of creditors roorganized upox r satisfactory, o-and Ohio Railroad extends Richmond to the Ohto River, and was constructed at raraentel hs aero about G is four a the creditors of the road aro favorable to the fora closure of the mortgages and settlement of the affairs by the State courts, in accordauce with the decision of ttt United States Court to-day