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

CONGRESS. The Joint Resolution for the Payment of the 3.65 Bonds. THE AMENDMENTS BY THE SENATE. Debate on the Diplomatic and Consular Appropriation. THE FIRST VETO OF THE SESSION, SENATE. Wasuinctom, Feb. 3, 1876. After the presentation of a number of memorials and resolutions the regular order of business was taken ap, being the bill to repeal section 2,303 of the Revised ‘Statutes of the United States, making restriction in the disposal of public lands in the States of Alabama, Mis- Sissippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Florida, it being the unfinished business from the morning hour of yes day, the pending question being on the amendment of Mr. Thurman that the’ repeal of said section shall not have the effect to »mpair the right, complete or in choate, of any hemestend settler, and no land occupied by such settler at the tine this act shall take effect shall be subject to entry, pre-emption or sale, INTEREST ON THE THREE-SIXTY-FIVE BONDS. ‘An extended discussion followed, pending which the morning bour expired, and the Chair laid before the Senate the unfinished business, betng the House joint resolution directing the Commissioners of the District ‘of Columbia to pay the interest on the bonds issyed in pursuance of the act of Congress approved June 20, 1874, out of any funds im the United States Treasury, subject to the requisition of said Commissioners, the pending question being on the amendment of Mr. Ker- nan that any further issue of the 3.65 bonds, under or by virtue of said act of Congress, approved June 20, 1874, is hereby prohibited. Agreed to. Mr. Epmonons, (rep.) of Vt, submitted an amendment as follows :— ‘ 5] And there eno increase in the present amount of ‘the total indebtedness of the District of Columbia, Agreed to, Mr. Hamunton, (ind.) of Texas, submitted an amend- oment— t And provided further that the paving and grading of streets and alleys be discontinued until authorized by'luw. Mr. Hami.Ton said in the estimates for improvements were itoms as follows :— Repairing concrete pavement. Repairing Pennsylvania avenu For grading. Total... westeeere sees seeeees $573,000 In all conscience, he thought, there had been grading enough done im the city of Washington during the last few years. Streets bave been paved here, and they might as well have been paved with turnips or sweet potatoes. Green timber bad been used and the cheap- est materia! put down, Notwithstanding all the quibbieg of lawyers to justify this work, the plain, commonsense people of the country were beginning to understand that moneyehad been expended here unlawfully—not a few dollars, but millions of dollars. In this District there were men of wonderiul powers, who were abie to influence all who came incontact with them. It was clear to him that ‘no one in power here could be clothed with any discre- tion, Senators had been talking about the government credit being injured if this bill was not passed. He (Mr, Hamilton) did not believe the credit of the gov- ernment wouki be injured to the extent of a single farthing if the interest should not be paid on these Donds until after a full investigation. He (Mr, Hamil. ton) understood that Governor Shepherd was selling many bouses now, principally to contractors, and at good prices. If the amendment submitted by him should be adopted it would be impossible to pave or grade @strect here without the consent of Congress, and that is what he desired. Mr. Monrt, (rep.) of Me., said it seemed to him that the Senate was now in a condition to vote and was sick of this whole thing. As the bill had been amended no more bonds could be issued and the debt of the Dis- trict, ander the amendment of the Senator from Ver- mont (Mr. Edmaads) could not be increased. He (Mr. Morrill) therefore submitied to- his friend from Texas (Mr. Hamilton) that it would be an impossibility for the Commissioners to involve the District in additional debt to the extent of asingle dollar. He thought it would be extraordivary for the Congress of the United States, having suspended al! government in the District ‘of Columbia, to say to these Commissioners that they should have no power or authority io expend the taxes collected here to improve the streets, Mr. SavtaBery, (dem.) of Del., said he conld well un- derstand the embarrassment of these Commissioners upon taking charge of the city, which for two years had Been in the hands of aset of meu who had com- pletely changed everything. When the Commission- ers came into power they found it city of ditch erally. He agreed with the other Senators that the law creating these Commissioners had not been drawn with sufficient care. He thought a mistake was by Congress in not limiting in express term: amount of funds to be issued. He did not w! y any vote of his to sanction any bond which bad been issued unlawfully. Mr. Sanisbury then reviewed the action of the iate Bourd of Public Works and said ne did pot see how Congress could do otherwise than pay the interest on the bonds is- sued. it conld be ascertained that bonds had mn illegally issued he would take his stand Shd refuse to pay interest on such bonds He had no doubt the District Commiesioners and members of the Board of Audit were all honest men, but thought they had been imposed upon. The Senator from Cali- fornia (Mr. Sargent) yesterday defended the Board of Public Works. Whatever glory that Senator might de- sire from praising them he (Mr. Saulsbury) cheerfully conceded, but in his judgment the Senate of the United States had condemned that Board and the people of the country indorsed the action of the Senate. That Board had incurred debt which rested not only upon the peo- ple of the District, but ple of the whole coun- try. In bis opinion the Board of Public Works, in- stead of having been a public blessing, as it had been said, were @ public curse to the whole country, Mr. SARGENT said that property in the city, on ac- count of the improvements made by the Board, rose from twenty-five to fifty cents per foot to $1 and as high ae $2 ir SaULeBCRY resuming, said he was in favor of prohibiting the Commissioners from doing any work except such as was absolutely necessary, He did not ‘want to have the streets of the city swept three times A day at a cost of $60,000 per annum when they could be st Jess frequently at 8 much smalier cost Mr. , (dem.) of Mo., inquired who was now an. thorized in the District to issue any evidence of debt either in certificates or bonds which would be binding upon Congress, Mr. Morri.t, of Maine, ree the act of Decem- ber, 1874, continuing the of Audit organized by the act of June 20, 1874, until otherwise provided. Mr, Bocy read from act of March 3, 1875, further continuing the Board of Audit and extending time for Gling certain claims until July 1, 1875. Hi the clause extending the time for filing Of limitation and the powers ofthe Board of Audit at that date. ~ Mr. Momnits ¢eplied that the act of December, 1874, Provided that the Board should be continued until otherwise ordered, and the act of March 3, 1875, did not discontinue the B but only provided that cer- tain claims should not be filed after July 1. Mr, Boay said he had listened to the arguments on ‘this bill with much interest, and especiully that of his friend from Indiana (Mr. Morton), who was always very clear, but always on the wrong side, (Laughter.) He (Mr. Bogy) did not think th rd of Audit had any power to leaue certificates after the 1st of July. ‘he question being on the amendment of Mr. Hamil- ton, to discontinue the paving and grading of the strocts, &c., Mr. SARGENT said Jt was too sweeping and should not be adopted. Mr. Moris, of Matne, said the effect of it would be to stop al repairs here, and certainly the Senate did not want to say that the money collected trom taxes could not be expended in improving or repairing the streets. The amendment was rejected—yeas 31, nays 31— Messrs, Hamilton, Clayton, Hitchcock, Logan and Oglesby voting with the democrats in the afirmative, Mr. Epwexps, of Vermont, submitted an amendment that any officer or person who shall Knowingly tn- Crease or aid or abet in increasing such total indebted- sess shail be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and pn conviction thereof shall be punished by imprison- ment not exceeding ten years and by fine not exceed- “ae Agreed to. It. Stevexson, (dem.) of Ky., submitted an amend Ment providing that the Board of Audit created by the set for the government of the District of Columbia, wpproved June 20, 1874, is hereby abolished, aua shall fecemtom ae | upon the approval ef this resolution wansmit all the books and property in their possession velonging to the District to the Commissioners of the District of Columbia and make a report of their pro- peedil not hitherto made, creed to, pi. uneuone were offered sated oa de- followed, 6 Joint resolution was then passed, us fotlows:— oan rane 4c., That the Commissioners of the District of by directed to tra faised for the purpose that any furth hat cay further lene of three 4 seeding NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 1876.—WITH SUPPLEMENT. on chall‘not tm any’ way or manner recogn y nN ni of the United Bstee to pay either the principal or interes of any such bonds as may have been issued on or since the 27h dey of January, 1876. Mr. Morrow said last week he gave notice that he would ask the Senate to-day to proceed to the rage ation of vhe resolution for the admission of Mr. Pinch. back as Senator from Louisiana. —_1t was a question of bigh privilege, and had been too long postponed already. He moved that the resolution be taken up for consideration, Agreed to. Mr. Eatox, of Connecticut, gave notice that on Tuesday next he would submitto the Senate resolu- tons in regard to the lifeand character of the iate Senator Ferry, of Connecticut. The Sevate at ten minutes past five P. M. went into executive session, and at half-past five P. M. the doors were reopened and the Senate adjourned. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. Wasuincrox, Feb. 3, 1876. Mr. Grover, (dem.) of Mo., offered » resolution re- citing the beliet that certain political and personal in- fluence bas been exerted to secure the removal of a federal judge and the appointment of another in Colo- rado Territory, or the corrupt purpose of procuring certain orders and decrees concerning certain mining interests now in litigation, and directung the Attorney General to furnish copies of letters and papers asking for the removal of Judge Belford aad for the appoint ment of Judge Stone in his stead, Referred to the Ju- diciary Committee. THE CONSULAR AND DIPLOMATIC BILL, The House, at two otlock, went into Committee of the Whole, Mr. Hoskins, of New York, in the chair, on the Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation bill, which appropriates $922,847. ‘ Mr. Sincuwrox, (dem.) et Miss, who had charge of the bill as a member of the Committee on Appro- priations, advocated the principles of economy on which the bill was got up, and argued that the gen- eral depression of business throughout the country rendered this economy am imperative duty. He said ‘that official salaries had grown out of all proportion to what they had been in the better days of the Republic, when Edward Everett was Minister to England, Gen- eral Cass to France and Mr, Wheaton to Prussia. The salary then paid to these men was quite satisfactory, and What was itY Nine thousand dollars a year. He had never heard of the ministers of those days writing essays on poker or dealing in the stock of Emma Mines in order to add to their means. (Laughter.) They were gentlemen of the highest order of respectability, sans peur et sans reprocke. Mr. GARPIELD, (rep.) of Obio, suggested that in those days ministers not only received an outfit, but also an infit (to-cover the expenses of their return home). Mr. Kasson, (rep) of lowa, suggested that diplomatic salaries bad been increased in 1859 by a democratic Con- ress, Mr, SINGLETON went on to point out the items in which reductions were made in tbe bill, and gave the aggregate reduction as compared with the Diplomatic Appropriation bill last year, at about $400,000, He pointed to the fact that the ordinary expenses of the government for the last year, outside of the interest on the public debt, were about $170,000,000, while in 1866 the expenses of the govornment were only about $63,000,000; and he asked what was the cause of the vast increase in expenditare? It was on account of the extravagance indulged i by all the departments of the government. Mr. SINGLETON, in the course of furtber remarks, re- ferred to what Mr. Hale, of Maine, had said last week in reference to claims of Southern citizens, and said that he was tired of these reflections upon Southern men. He was himself Southern man, trom the top of his head to the sole of hrs foot, but he had not come here ‘or the purpose of getting up discord. He had come for the purpose of peace, and he wanted. to see Southern representa: tives treated like gentlemen. He accused tho republican politicians in the House with the effort to create discord, and thereby make political capital. But he knew that the people saw through that disguise. The South, he said, bad three schemes to accomplish in this Congress; one was to improve and protect the levees of the Mississippi and to reclaim the alluvial soil of the delta, which would be of more value than ali the Black Hills in the country, as 7,000, cotton could be raised on this reclaimed land. ta Have asked him to state what the other schemes were Mr. Stxoteton replied that another was the Southern Pacific Railroad, An extended colloguy followed, during which several Northern democrats stated that (he democracy was not committed to these schemes. Mr. SinGietos disclaimed being considered a repre- sentative of his party. He had simply expressed his own views, and nobody eise was to be held responsible for them. Mr. Moyror, (rep.) of Obio, criticised the economic features of the bil! in the reduction of salaries aud in the suppression of the missions to Greece, Hayt! and the South American Republics. He expressed his belief that one of the noblest and grandest flelds of commerce in the future would be the States of South America, and he thought that the American people ought to be the possessor of thut fieid. He kuew that the existing commerce there was small, but he asked whether the United States were prepared to accept the low and poor condition of its commerce as an unchangeable thing. Did Congress mean to proclaim to the civilized world that the United States did not mean to bi reat com- mercial Power, but meant to have its name erased from the list of commercial nations? He could not believe that that was the opinion ot this House. Without action on the bill the committee rose. VETO BY THE PRESIDENT. The Srgaxer laid before the House a message from the President, returning, without bis approval, an act transferring the custody of certain Indian trust funds from the Secretary of the Interior to the Treasurer of the United States, with a communication from the Sec- retary of the Interior setting out that the act was not sufficiently definite to accomplish the end desired. The message and the accompanying documents having been read, Mr. Ranaut, of Pennsyivania, etated that the dill had come from the Committee on Appropriations; that the Scere- tary of the Interior bad suggested an amend- ment to it; that that amendment was incorporated in the bill, and that itwas a very strange thing that it should now be objected to by the department at whose instance it had been prepared. The message wag referred to the Committee on Ap- Propriations, and then, at halt past four o'clock, the House adjourned. JERSEY LAWGIVERS. les of MUNICIPAL BODIES TO BE PROHIBITED FROM EXCEEDING IN THEIR EXPENDITURES THE APPROPRIATIONS MADE FOR THEIR USE. Trenton, N. J., Fpb. 8, 1876 An important bill has jnst been pagse@ by the Legis- lature, and it only awaits the Governor’s signature to become a law. 1t prohibits municipal bodies fram ex- ceeding the annual appropriations, and will check the growing tendency toward extravagance in the expen- ditures of public moneys, Jt provides thatif any board ofchosen {reebolders, or any township commit- tee, or any board of aldermen, or common eonncilmen orany board of education or commissioners of any county, township, city, town or borough in the State, or any committee or member of any such boar shali disburse, or order or vote for the d: bursement of public moneys in excess of the appropri tion respectively to any such board or committee, or shall incur obligations in excess of the appropriations, &c., they shall be severally deemed guiity of maifeasance in office, and on Veing convicted shall de punished by fine not exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment at hard labor for any term not exceeding three years, or both, at the discretion of the Court There is much trouble experienced by the joint com- mittees on judiciary of both houses in framing general laws in conformity with the amended constitation. Four weeks of the session bave now elapsed and no general law bas been advanced even to a second read- ing, and but one has been introduced. “OFF THE SWITCH.” Conductor Cheshire’s train, on the Flushing and North Shore Railroad, leaving Hunter's Point at one o'clock for Hempstead, yesterday ran off the switch near Sunnysiae, wrecking the engine and gerionsiy alarraing the passengers. The train was dragged over the ties for about 200 yards before it could be stopped, but, fortunately, none of the passengers were seriously injured, A gang of wreckers were busy at the scene of the accident for several hours yesterday afternoon and eveuing, and succeeded In clearing the track in time to allow the three o'clock train to pass. The passengers on. Conductor Cheshire’s train were transferred to the Flushing train on the Long Isiand Railroad, which is bat « few feet distan. A gang of trackmen had been busy at this point for several days engaged in forte in a switch to connect the two rail- roads, and had carelessly left It open. They caltnly stood in places and wi the whole affair, and not of them paid the least attention to the con. dition of ®witch on noticing the approach of the train. The accident ig generally betieved to have been the result of crimimal carelessness, INCENDIARISM IN JERSEY CITY, At five o’clock yesterday morning a fire broke out In the furniture store of John Brady, No. 16 Newark ave nue, Jersey City, Chief Engineer Farrier, of the Fire Department, and Officer Garvin arrived quickly at the piace, and on ascending to the aitic, where the fire broke out, discovered three heaps of rubbish saturated with kerosene oil, In the centre of om of the heaps ‘was a wax candle, which had already communicatea with one of the heaps. The firemen set to work, and the Gre was speedily extinguished. ay was at once com: arrested. He said he was insured in the je8:—$1,000 im the Atna of Hartford, $1,000 in Rie Etna of New York, $1,000 tn the Nagarn of New York and $5001n a Newark company. The Chief En- gifeer examined the stock and found it worth oply ‘about $1,000. Brady had an examination before tice Keese, who held him in 5,000 bai. His eleri Wilham Donaghue was beld in $000 a8 a witoenm ik | THE STATE: CAPITAL. Sentiment in Regard to Presiden- tial Candidates, A Court of Claims the State. for LEGACY OF A DEFAULTER. The Civil Justices’ New York. Courts of ALBANY, Feb. 3, 1876. The disposition of the Legislature to take things easy this session is manifest. Several causes conspire to produce this feeling, not the least among them being the preoccupation of mind incident to euch close neighborhood to the Presidential agitation and all the great hullabaloo of Centennial year. On the eve of summer vacation, with thoughts of the Fourth of July strong upon them, schoolboys have little heart for their lessons, and, as men are but children of an older growth, it must be inferred they act relatively similar under analogous ctreum- stances. The discussion of Presidential candidates intrudes ttself more and more on the thought of Sen- ators and Assemblymen, and committee meetings are abridged and draw poker |s falling into disuse to spare more time for discussion of the all-absorbing subject. Another motive for keeping down the volume of legis- lation ig the watchful attitude each party has assumed in the Legislature. Neither desires to be reproached with the introduction of measures that may rise like Banquo’s ghost to fright them ia the fall campaign. Under these circumstances minds unoccupied with the work of legislation are busy with speculations on the future so pregnant with the fate of*parties, Conkling for President takes with the republicans gathered here at Albany and sup- posed to express the sentiment of more than half the State-like aried prairie grass touched by a pine torch. Grant out of the race Conkling 1s as natural an alterna- tive as day alter night. There is no argument about his merits, no hesitating as to his availability to carry the National Convention with one voice; the majority ot the republican members of the Legislature are for Conkling first, last and all the time. Some of the solid Teflective heads of the Senate, while favoring Conk- fing, express a doubt as to his strength in the West. Scanning the general field they epitomize the candi- dates in the order of their popularity, as Bristow, Conkling, Jewell and Morgan, The latter is keenly alive to his chances in the race, though I!stle beard of now and apparently dropped out of sight’ Then there is the gubernatorial race, for which at least a dozen candidates have entered themselves. Senator Robertson, pro tem. President of the Senate, has bis eyes on that glittering eminence, while the man who now occupies it, cherishing @ loftier am- bition, has his eye on a still more elevated pinnaclo Alonzo B. Cornell ts preparing for the straggle, and Senator Woodin deep down in his soul believes he will carry off the prize from everybody else. As every United States Senator hopes to be President some day 80 every State Senator hopes to be Governor when the time comes, which makes the list of candidates a long one, There is nothing like the upapimity among the democrats as to their dential candidate that pre- yails among the republicans, Tilden is the choi¢e of some, but by no means all. Un- like Conkling there 18 trouble in his political house- hold, and he is fur from out of the woods in his crusade of reform. Among the democrats of the Assembly be bas numerous opponents, and, again, unlike Conkling, he lacks the personal magnetism W attach his friends to his fortunes through good and evil report. As itis he ts riding close to the edge of a precipice, and one falge op will precipitate him beyond hope of recovery. ‘x-Governor Seymour has been around among his friends here for the last few days, tovariably saying that his name musn’t be used as _@ candidate for the Presidency. The story comes from Utica that the female connections of the Conkling-Seymour families are in unanimous sympathy with Roscve’s Presidential aspirations, and that a joint camarilla, with Kernan and Seymour in it, hasbeen formed to urge privately the candidacy of the republican Senator. RSTABLISHING A COURT OV CLAMS. People who have cikims of any magnitude against the State are, under the present amended constitution, without the means of having them paid The'bill in- troduced a few days ago by Mr. Prince, establishing a Board of Audit, to be composed of the Secretary of State, Comptroller and Attorney General, fails to meet ecase, The Comptroller deciares his inability to spare time for the business of such a Board, having quite enough to do in the position he now holds. It would be tmpossible for the Attorney General to act, as his duty would compel him to appear before the Board in opposition to any doubt- fu! claim against the State. Senator Gerard pas under consideration the introduction of a bill for the estab lishment of a Court of Claims in this city, with full power to examine and determine all private claims against the State and render decisions as the existing law and rules of evidence sball warrant, the Court to consist of three judges, to be appointed by the Gov- ernor, with the consent of the Senate, one of the three to preside as Chief Justice, Thoy shall hold office for four, six and eight years respectively, and determine by lot. who shall have the terms named, the salary of each to be $7,600 per annum and the nece&sary clerks shall be provided. The Court is given all the powers and juris- diction of a Court of Equity in the determination of quesuens of law. The Attorney General will appear on behalf of the State in defence of all claims pending before the Court, and the de jon on every claim must be rendered within ninety days aiter it shall have been | finally submitted. Appeals may be taken from the Court of Claims to the Court of Appeals by the claim- ant or the Attorney General on behalf of the State. | No claim shall be neard by the Court of Claims unless a majority, shall 80 conclude, SIMPLIFYING ASSESSMENTS, Tho most vexatious thing that troubles the soul of the New York taxpayer is tho levying and collecting of assessments. The method now pursued is in the last degree unjust and unsatisfactory. To correct its irreg- ularity and arbitrarmess Senator Gerard contemplates, with the assistance of the Legislature, the enactment of a law making {t the duty of the Collector of Assesa- ments to collect ali assessments for local improvethents within ainety days after the assessments lists are placed in his hands for collection, and of those that re- main uncollected he is to tell « Receiver of Taxes, who must have them entered the assessment rolls, showing the amounts on each piece of property as- sessed and the nature of the {mprovement for Which it was aszessed. If the owner of a piece of property produces a tax bi with of without assessments thereon, the receipted bil! shall be prima facie evidence against the city of New York that the property ts free from al! assesainent, and if any assessment should be proved against it the prop- erty will not be liable for ie anti) thirty days re persona! demand be made on the owner of the property, or until thirty days after a listof the property, with | fall particulars, Including the nature of the improve- ment for which the assessment is made, be fled in the | County Clerk’s office, 4 MIGHTY COUNCIL OF REFORM. Mr. Dorman B. Katon is ap here with almost a freight car fullof bills and resolutions from that ambitious body the Council of Municipal Referm. For the past few days Mr. Eaton has been standing between tho Senate and the Assembly distributing his load of bills as freely and mechanicaily asthe man on Broadway who flings the cheap tea warebouse circulars into the hunds of the passers by. He bas bills by the handred to reform the State and city of Now York; im fact the council! he represents feels much } Alexand: the Great when he penctrated as far as the banks ofthe Ludus, and sighs for other States and cities to reform. One of the latest schemes of the Council of Manicipal Reform, to bring about the mil- lenium in New York city, 18 a bill smtrodaced to day compelling every village in the State to furnish sta- tistics of 48 social and financial condition. It would be natural enough to expecta supplementary bill requir. ing the villagers to give their optnions on the Ten Com- mandmenie and the degree of nutrition in pork and beana x A DEPACLTER’S LEGACY. ’ Monroe county had the Assembly pretty much all to itself this morning, and it was only after considerable peech-maki at she regular order of business of ‘he day was reached before the hour of adjournment Is will be remembered that the County Treasurer of Monroe county some ume ago was un account for certain moneys intrusted to his which be- longed to the county. A great many people who were supposed to be very straight-laced and who never iost an opportunity to reprove asmail boy for swearing and who went to church twice every Sunday in Rochester, wore somehow mixed up im the defaication—at least county money was loaned to thom by the treasurer which they never made a retu: At ail events much of the money is 4upposed to have gome where the wood. bine twineth not—in the speculative poo! spectable gentiemen I have alluded to, ‘oung man who was the victimoft their wiles and foul of his own confiding nat he is now in the ou regions working for $2 a day. It would ‘waste too much valuable — {0 enter into all the ae. tails of the causes which brought about his fall, and | Btate against the county.” The bill created the most li debate we have yet had in the House ‘It was under ent ol Hodges, of Rochester, and it might as well bave been under the ement ot © page, fer if he had been left to himself it is prob- able bill would have been killed og Ag order, But Strahan championed the for bi and in doing so he to fight almost 81 excepting when Grabam, of Monroe, gave him a little aid, the opponents of the measure, amon; om were Gilbert, a clear-headed lawyer and & tren * ‘Ker, as well as Weiant, who certainly, if Speal he did not cram for the occasion, made ap offhand argument that will serve to preety my far above the level line of the ordinary run of members. Gilbert and he claimed that no other county should be made to pay for another county’s misfortunes when her officers were alone to blame. The debate lasted for upward of an hour, and when the Committee of the Whole rose atter voting to progress the Dill & motion was made in the House to refuse permis- sion to the Committes of the Whole to sit again on the bill. The adoption of such a motion would of course have killed the bill then aad there, and ly ensued, members in fayor of and ia opposition to bill running hither and thither exeitedly endeavoring to persuade others tb vote as they themselves intended to. Strahan perceived that many of the members who were voting 80 did not understand the serious conse- quences of a negative vote, and so he got Mr. Graham, when his name was called, to get up and ask what would become of the Dill iw the carried the day. ‘The bill will be killed,’” was the Speaker's answer. There was a flurry then, and by hard skirmishing the yeas won the victory. There is evidently something at stake in the bill which but few people outside of Monroe county understand, else the same degree of interest would never have been manifested in the bill by the members from other coun thes who voted against its being killed. The bill seems to be a fair one, however, A KING PIN BOWLED DOWN. Right on the heels of this amusing struggle on behalf of Movroe county came another parliamentary struggle, and it was Mr, King, of New York, who precipitaved it. The immediate occasion of it was the regolution he had offered the day previous recommitting the bill which reduces the Park Commission to one Commissioner—be to be the present President—to the Committee on Cities, who had reported it favorably. The object of the resolution, according to King, was to give citizens tn New York an opportunity to be heard on the bill, of ‘ course the inference being that these citizens were opposed to it He called the resolution up to-day the moment Hodges’ hobby was well out of the way, and the yeas and nays were demanded on it, Atone time the vote stood 61 yeas to 61 nays; but, thanks to the Speaker, who de- clared loudly that members might change their votes ‘as soon a8 the end of the roll was reached, achange came over the spirit of James King’s dreams. Young Fish, the chairman of the Committee on Cities, at once took the Speaker’s bint and went about the Chamber in lively style among those members who had voted . “yea” and succeeded in gotting the resolution defeated—the vote standing finally 58 nays to 57 yeas. As King on Tues- day had succeeded in getting the bill relative to the regulating and grading of New York streets progressed when it waz slated fora third reading, this close vote ‘to-day on his resolution will make the Committee on Cites keep a sharp lookout for him hereafter; for James, like Joe Bagstock, ia-sly, devilish sly. ‘A DRILL POR MONEY. Those persistent people who have an Idea that some time between January, 1871, and January, 1876, they had leased buildings to the city for ories and that they have not been paid their just dues for the occupa- tion of their lofts and rooms by some of the militia BOARD OF ALDERIFEN. An Important Act Asked For to Relieve Taypayers. How Public Works Are To Be Conducted. OPINION OF THR CORPORATION COUNSEL. Interesting Statement from the Brooklyn Bridge Company. A regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen was rday afternoon, Mr, Samuel A. Lewis in the A resolution was passed requesting the Commissioner of Public Works to state what armories were now va cant in the city. Aresolution providing tor the establighment of a ferry from Liberty street to Communipaw was referred to the appropriate committee. APTER THB GAS COMPANIES. Alderman Bryan Reitty offered a resolution request- ing the Corporation Counsel to give an opinion as to what power, ifany, fs vested in the Common Council to control the manufacture and supply of gas furnished by the different companies for public and private use, and if it is within the province of the Board to compel @ certain quality and supply. The resolution was passed, THE NAVIGATION OF HARLEM RIVER. Alderman McCarruy offered the following resolution, which was passed :— Representatives in Congross from this district bo, and they are respectfully request ke such measures ‘as they may consider best calculated to prevail upon the general kovernment to undertake and complete the work of Improving the navig of Harlem Kiver and Spnyten Duyvil Creek, so as to sage of hea tonnage; and that the Representatives in Congress from all other parts of this State be and they are hereby respect fully requested to co-operate efforts to secure to the commerce of the country the great and much needed facility of communication between the North and Eust rivers and Long Island Sound. it being understood that this city will, in the event of the success of the moasure, relinguish all claims against the feryrement for the moneys advanced at the out- break of the late war, and now amounting to neariy $2,000,000, RELIRVING THE TAXPAYERS. Alderman Hess offered the following preamble and resolutien, which were passed unanimously :— Wheress a large amount of taxes on real and personal property In the city of New York remains unpaid; regiments * aro apparently as determined as ever to .make the city pay roundly for back rent, for Mr. Strahan’s bill covers all the old claims by going back to 1871. The Dill creates a sort of Board of Arbitration, to consist of the Mayor, Comptroller and Commissioner of Public Works, which is to decide all claims for the use of buildings or armories brought before them. The amoant involved in fraudulent claims for armories which the bill gives the Board the right to pass amount, it is said, to $600,000, ‘Where is the real nigger in the fence? CIVIL TO CIVIL JUBTICRS, The poor civil Jostioes in New York city are a terribly persecuted set of men. They want to be let,alono, but the Legislature seems bent upon giving them’ not only an occasional reminder by bills of the uncertainty of offictal existence in New York, but even to throw out a hint to them every once in a while that even while they are allowed to ‘exist they must not put too much faith in the stability of perquisites or the permanency of a fine system of fines that has for years made many of them to laugh and grow fat and wealthy as John and Mary Ann of the song. Mr. Forster is the last gentieman to pay them his re- specta, and he hasdone so in a bill which compels them to pay tnto the City Treasury the fees they now get in cases of dispossession for rent and of Janda) Who ts there to mourn for the civil justices now? They are to be deprived of their deputy clerks, their stenographers, their janitors, and their interpreter 1s to do ali the work of the individuals whe are to be wiped out. The bext thing that will be done to keep them in trim will be to deprive them of their oe. Then, indeed, will tho statue of Justice on the pitol readjust her scales for a new law of weights and measures of public men. LEGISLATIVE NOTES, Morrissey’s Labor bill was ordered to a third read- ing ix the Senate A bill enabling a wife to be a witness against her hus- band in cases of criminal conversation was introduced “by Senator Cole. The Insurance Committee, on motion of Senator Tobey, was discharged from the consideration of Ham- mond’s bill taxing the stock of life and fire insurance companies, and it was referred to the Committee on Finance. Governor Tilden’s bill enlarging the powers of the Canal Board so as to permit it to go on with the further investigation of canal frauds was introduced by Senator St. John and referred to the Committee on Canals, where tt will be likely to remain forever, as the repub- licans are in no humor tolet the Governor have matters all his own way. Another amendment to the constitution of a similar kind to one offered in the Assembly was (4g sce by Senator Harris declaring the public schools and prohibiting the money of the State or of any munlelpal corporation from being applied to the support of any sectarian schools, and providing for a tax of one mill and one-fourth upon real and personal property of tho State for the support of the common mooie This morning, in the Sen Mr. Woodin reported a series of amendments to the Senate rules from the Committee on Rules, Mr, Jacobs, who mber of that committee, stood up and said:—‘‘l have an idea that | am a member of the Committee on Rules, and I think I might have been consulted fn regard to these documents. 1 know nothing about them and should like to see them beforo they abmitted."” Woodin, with a merry and mis- clievous twinkle in his eye, replied, “I think, too, the distinguished gentleman is a member ot the com: mittee, but there Is another question—is he a member of the Senate?” Jacobs saw the point and gave 1 up. THE CANAL BOARD. Aunaxy, Feb, 8, 1876, ‘The Canal Board held # session to-day and all of the members were present, A namber of petitions were | v majority of the judges, by a concurrent decision of the | Lesurtegerat nei tsord hte mah caged hur from a majority of the Construction Committee, re- ported in favor of cancelling the contract of Mr. D. P. McQueen for building a tree dam in Moose River, the contractor releasing the Stave from all damages Adopted. The Treasurer reported tlie amount of contractors’ deposits and where aeposited. There appears to be no deficiency in the fund, but some of the investments aro worthless in part or in whole—namely, the deposits tn the Bank of Rockport, and in the Farmers and Mo- chanics’ Bank of Rochester. On motion of Mr. Dorsheimer, the Anditor was re- quested to report the amount and disposition of con- tractors’ deposits in his custody, On motion of Mr. Van Buren, Mr. John B. Gates, Di- vision Engineer, was removed; also on bis motion, Mr, Elnothan Sweet, Jr., was appointed to fill the va- cancy; also on his motion, Mr, Weyant Godwin was ap- pointed Resident rey ree also on his motion, Mr. & A. Olmsted, Division Engineer, was removed (Mr. Jack- son voting in the negative); also on his motion, Mr. William H. Searles was appointed Division Engineer. ‘The Secretary of State presented a report of the com- mittee to which was referred the question as to the best disypsition to be made of the lateral canals of the State, with direction to make inquiry of the Superin- tendents, Engineers, &c., accompanied with numerous communications from canal officers in regard to the matter. An explanatory statement was attached, stat- mg that the report failed to be presented to the old Board, which ordered the inquiry, in consequence of the sickness and death of Commissioner Stroud. Mr. Rogers, appearing for the Boat Owners’ Associa- tion, addressed the Board at length in favor of taking a gg of boatowners tor passing boats through the jocks. Commissioner Jackson eatd he never knew of any such tax; certainly no complaint had been mada ‘The Lieutenant Governor said it was the fault of the boat owners; they had submitted to this exaction without protest There was a law against such prac- tices. Mr. Rogers stated that the aggregate tax amonnted to $50,000 annually, which boat owners paid to lock tenders, It impossible for him to identify the jarties making these exactions, and it was understood ¢ would obsaia identification: Board. The Board adjourned to February 17, at eleven A M., when the appointments will be made. SWINDLING THE ERIZ RAILWAY! —_> > Henry Sweet, Superintendent of the Weehawken Of! Docks, belonging to the Krie Railway, pended from bis position last Tuesday, is supposed to have misappropriated from $12,000 to $14,000. The mode of swindle was by falsifying the books, payrolls, &o, Drawing regular salaries for men who were never smployed seems to have been his most generally jan. The fraud goes back for over a year, and foreman Servis and the bookkeeper are believed to have been im- Plicated. Both are suspended, The matter was dia- Mr. Briggs, 9 weigher. HOUND DEAD, report them to the pted | Bridge whereas to these hard and oppressive times, produc much misery in daily life and stagnation in busin it is impossible for many persons the same under the present oppressi ani under law, the penalty forthe uon-payment of taxes runs at the rate of twelve per cent interest, which i almost ruinous to many of our best and most respectal civinens and taxpayers; and whereas it would be a great fit and advantage to the city of New York to have said jd within a short time; and whereas it is the duty gislature to relieve the overburdened taxpayers in the prevent emergency, +0 far as reasonably can be done; erefore, Resolved, That the Legisiature be respectfully requested to Ww providing that all back taxes may be dlecharged lies on real estate for said back taxes be cancelled onthe paym: me at seven within one. 7 passage of said law: viding for a discount or rebate of five per cent if pai six months after the passage of said act, DIBTRIRUTING MONRY TO THR POOR. The subject set forth in Alderman Cole’s resolution, callig upon the Commissioners of Charities and Correo- tion to furnish reasons why they have not distributed moneys allowed by the Board of Apportionment for sup- port of the outdoor poor, was again brought up on a mothgn to discharge the Finance Committeo from fur- ther consideration of the matter. An answer had been sent into the Board by the Commissioners in the shape of a tabulated statement, but Mr. Cole contended that a sufficient explanation had not been given. Mr. Isaac H. Bailey, President of the Departinent of Charittes and Correction, was present, and said that tf Mr. Cole haa caretully examiped the documents he would have received all necessary information. The following principal figures of the long tabulated statement alluded to:— EXPENDITURES VOR OUT-DOOR POOR. Year, Total. 1867. 358, 902 1863: 104,904 869. 118,959 103,005 88,581 61,995 64,120 65,405 1875. o. «+ 48,231 5 1,008 16,124 ‘The per capita expense Incurred in the maintenance of the inmates of the several institutions during 1875 is Jesw than in any preceding year. In 1874 the average number supported was 10,289, in 1875 10,387, The fol- Jowing figures exbibit the relative expenditures of those years:— New -Door Buildings Supplies, Poor. and $ 1874. $737,416 $65,405 $60,794 1875. 767,203 76,124 94,829 Decrease, $49,559 Ine, 76 Inc. , $10,718 Inc. $34,034 After some discussion the Whole matter was referred back to the committee to report at the next meeting. LIGHTING COACHES a? NIGHT, Alderman Morais offered a resolution directing the Law Committee to draft an ordinance compelling own- ers of coaches to carry two lights while driving through the streets at night, The resolution was passed, HOW PUBLIO WORK 18 TO BE DONR Corporation Counsel Whitney sent in an Inton de- ciding that the Commissioner of Public Works had alone authority to decide as to whether the contract or da} ‘stem should be adopted. It was left entirely a matter of discretion with that official, and the Board of Aldermen had nothing to do with settling the questian, Mr, Campbell, the Commissioner of Public Works, sent in the following communication on the same sub. ject:— Durantwent or Poste Wort New Yi rb. ie7a © the recetpt of the joliowing resol joard on Mrhu— bh “Resolved, That the Commtsstoner of Public Works be and he is hereby respectfully requosted to report to this Board 4 ite noxt meeting his opt regard to the best modo whether by contract or by day's work) of the ) of perform: beer mentioned ta sectior 2. hapa ‘471, Laws of 1875." 1-4 in acknowled; ion, passed by your Penge moo the two systems shall ‘The section of the law referred to tn the resolution ts in the following words :— “The Commissioner of Publie Works of the of New York, when thoreanto aathorised by @ three-fourths vote of pees hee he a to Cieny Cosmet at tid sty: to ro OF 5 wuthor: ined Mo expend tor msteriale and labor 4 oth oervi such manner asthe said Commissionor aball best {nterosts of said cit: Department of Binckwell’s Island, Ward's Island and in laying mains necessary to deliver said water at higher levels and in greater quantities, aa additional sum, not ex- er coediny Section 6 law limits the expenditure in any one year to Fospectfully answ E That inton, the best mode of performing 3 To the foregoing sims, amounting fo $7,328,207, was added eight per cent for additional width to 85 fect and height to 185 feet, as required for the latter, before commencing the bridge, by the Secreta: of War, under the act of Cong: 8, 1869... Total for structure THs F al For land in New York then yet to be taken. . $2,401,978 For land tn Brooklyn. pasate y 520,394 Making tn both cities. ceveeess $2,029,379 There bad been taken previously land not embraced in ihe foregoing amount, costing. 135,471 Making the total estimate of land requir for the purpose of the bridge. ++ «$3,657, Which sum, added to $7,914, 457 for th: 1C- ture, made the entire cost of the bridge as Grst estimated........- oree 11,672,284 THR AMOUNT ALRRADY ExPENDE! There bas been expended upto the 1st of Jan- wary, 1876, for land, $1,056,974 For construction... Of which there was expended by the original Bridge Company up to the 17th of February, 1875, when the company passed under the exclusive direction of the twe cities, by virtue of the of June 5, 1874, = And by the said company as 60 constituted until the 9th of June, 1875, when the bridge became the property of the two cities..... 619,407 Total dy the Bridre Company By the trustees of the two citi 9, 1875, to tbe lst of January, 187¢ paid by the trustees and inclu above mentioned expenditures of the com- pany. Total expenditures January 1, 18 | RSTIMATED AMOUNT NOW REQUIRED BRIDGE. ‘This will appear by the following estimate just made by Colonel W. A. Roebling, who succeeded his father as Chief Engineer, upon the death of the latter, and Lag now the direction of the work :— ESTIMATE Jaxvany, 1876. Amount required to completo Brooklyn tower $7,000 Musoury required to complete New York tower, 8,800 cubic yards, at $36.... 136,800 Cost of completing Brooklyn anchorag: + 62,482 Cost of completing New York anchorage 248,249 Bars and castings for anchorages. .... < 4,586 ‘Anchor chains und pins for Brooklyn anchor- age... 6,568 Anchor chains an ago oe ie Suspended superstructure as per original esti- mate, including the 8 per cent for increased size 8,011,010 Approaches. ses 742,5 Toll houses and gatew: «90, Engineering. . Contingencies Total required to complete bridge and ap- proaches, independently of the land....... 4,510,617 And tor the land yet to be taken, according to the mode of estimating its cost before mentioned,..... 2,706,418 Making 1n all, for land and structure com- plete... $7,217,080 WHOLE COST OF THK BRIDGE, 48 NOW ESTIMATED, Amount already expended......... $5,364,910 Existing liabilities tor materiais de- livered and charges, as per sched- Whole amount expended To be expended as abo’ Total we + $13,119,575 From ei o be made on account of the land lying under the bridge Ithas been deemed proper to take all such land outright, although it would be only partially damaged by the passage of the bridge ger it, and its full value hat therefore been included in the foregoing estimate, It les between the river and the points in either city where the structure leaves a clear space of fifteen feet between its underside and the ground, and is all capa- bie of more or less utilization, The cost of this land in the estimate is $2,740,416. Should forty per cent. only of its cost be realized on a sale for the limited purposes to which its use should be restricted there would be a deduction from the total estimated cost of $1,096 66, leaving the net cost of the entire work $12,023,400, FS MONRYS RECEIVED CP TO JANUARY 1, 1876, From the city of Brooklyn... $3,965,000 From the city of New York.... ‘00,000 From private stockhoiders of the company.. 349,800 For interest on deposits, rents, wharfage, material Sold, &C.... .eceseessceseeeessees 146,648 Total......... sae car ees $9,961,445. ‘The report goes on to give a history of the formation of the company, the extinguishment of rights of pri- vate stockholders, the dissolution of the company and the bridge made a public work of the two cities, the Proresdiecs of the trustees and their outstanding lia- lites, and also the reason for mcreased expenditures, much larger than that required under original estimates. It is signed by Henry ©. Murphy as president of the company, and concludes as follows :— “In conclusion, 1 may add thas if the means be promptly furnished the bridge can be entirely finished and open for public travei and begin to be remunera- tive tn the summer or fall of 1879, True economy, in the prosecition of the work, Is to push {t forward with all the speed that a duo regard to {ts proper construc vion will permit, ey, as well as land and materials are now cheap, and will combine to reduce its ci below the estimate; while, on the other hand, d will adg to the cost by the accumulation of interest on the amount already expended in proportion to its extent. And I may be allowed farther to say that this work is nol, as sometimes arged, one of a purely sectional character, It will open ® new thoroughfare for haifa million of people to the centre of business and intelligence in this great metropolis of the ion—where it is already fi by the erection of pubiio buildings, both tional and municipal, and by grand edifices devoted by private enterprise to Gpancial, telegraphic and/journalistio purposea, It will practically unite ¢! wo cities and contribute to the convenience, comfort and satety of that portion of the community which will use it in thetr daily avocations and bea worthy monument of the foresight as woll as the greatness of New York. If made perfectly free for travel it will yet be self-sustaining, and without expenso in the future for its maintenance, by receipts of the railway, which will carry over it tor @ trifing charge such be disposed to avail themselves of it; while th cost to the city of New York will not, in any y possible contingency, inc! ing all the ‘vast sums’ already contributed, amou: to $5,000,000, ” STOCKHOLDERS OF THS (NEW YORK BRIDGR COMPANY ON THB 14TH OF MAY, 1875, With the number of shares held by each ana the amount paid thereon, together with the amount re- funded to the private stockholders on the 24th of May, 1875, on the purchase of their rights, being principal and interest on the amount paid by them, pursuant to the provisions of the second section of chapter 601 of the laws of 1874;— No. of Amt paid Amount opt ated by the law above quoted is by com, tract in very t part. There may be certain portions of suid work, arising from its peculiar nature and character, which cad be better done by skilled and experionoed oper: stives in this particular braneh of work, and which at all times be provided for or covered by » contract. deed, it womotimes happens, even ander the most carctally Arranged contract, that some portion of the work has to be done and paid for by the Gay. sbenat, 50 preven, stated, Kind of Work would be quite small. roportion of th evo That ‘the law sooms to require that this » when duly authorized by the Common Council by tl ‘ayor, shall be performed—so repeat the exact words of the staiuté —"in euch manner 9 the, sald ommissiouer all deem for the best interests of said city. The law evidently contemplates by the words “in such manner” that it shail be left discretionary with the Com. missioner of Public Works to expend the authorized amount for materials, labor and other services, according to such an of paca nan Mn ~~ 4-1 mo of execotion (@ | contract or we mabe io true and boot interest of the city, aod fot, Ta may opinion, ‘appears 10 be & nagural and proper mode prosedara Ths Cetamiusioner of Public Works Ls presumed to be make the rem: a general rense) pert I ark tn the wor fetboaie ws the a of eu, ie Pee ares ceciey'e rf ing ts discret hich of the two aystems (contract or day's work), and how mach of shall be employed, it delng always understood that be subject to inspection by fully qualified missioner of Public Works contract work shall GURRIP?’s PRES The resotution to pay Sheriff Conner seventy-five who was sus | sents per day for support of prisoners in the County Jail was defeat It was then reconsidered and laid over until next meeting. THE BROOKLYS BRIDGH COMPANY. A lengthy document was sent in the Brooklyn pany in answer to a resolation of the Board, asking for information as to the his! and progress of the werk. The principal points of tion appear below, The be ag estimate of cost of the bridge was made by John A. Roebling, it# designer and first engineer, for a structure eighty feet wide and 120 feet above high ‘water, exclusive of the land, i 18 communica Lr 9006 Suspend Last Wednesday afternoon, at three o'clock, the body | Anchorage, including excavation, p of an unknowa man was picked up at the foot of pier edd shee then it might idly give the dime novelist of tho period oore an opportunity for startling chapters | 96 Bast River, The deceased was about thirty-five Tocaiaete : thee ton fo on hair-breadth escapes without necessitating any eia- | years ot age, five fect ten inches bah had bine ey Pile foandatior boration on his part; so! will refrain. The dofaloe. ight hatr, ustache and full beard, i was See Rock foandat! tions of the Txoasurer, let me say by tbo way, were in | in black frock coat, corded vest and pants, mus- | The latter was adopted. ‘727,204 tome measure satigied by bis bondsmen, but nos | lin shirk gray ribbed drawers, woollen socks and laced | Two towers 1,400 a them, and of ‘the dill | shoes. Tn his pockets were found a bunch of keys, an | Appfoaches 142,516 ‘hat was ander consideration today waa te | oval blue sleeve button, six bread tickets for H. | Ei and 40,000 ¥ (& sommiasion, 19 be, compored af Stato | Steinbert, No 08 Hadvon streely and a brass night key. Follaociys une quaawar 2000 icers, to ascertain, or rather, as an amendment made | The body was sent to the Morgue, where ner | Ba; ow 160) bill read ‘to hear and determin® the claims of tho |. Killinger will hold om inouesh be nce 290,78) Fndividuals. shares, thereon, Henry ©. Murphy. 240 = $19,200 * $25,065 Isaac Van Anden. 250 20,0005, 649 Wilham Marshall. 00 4,600 6,727 Samuel MeLean. 60 = 8000 716 Arthur W. Benson 20 1,300 2,283 Aloxander McCue. .. 250 20,000 26,502 Peter BR Sweeny. 210 8,400 11,806 Hugh Smith........ « 6s 25,200 80,764 Heary W. Slocum 200 20,000 25,396 James 8. T. Stranal 490 89,200 = $61,241 Kingsley & Koene; 210 $8,400 = 112,799 John H. Prentice. 60 4,500 6,687 William Hanter, J: so 4,000 4,962 Demas Barnes. 100 b000 «11,348, William ©, Kin 625 25,200 866 Seymour L. H $00 © 40,000 81,217 Daniel .A. Bostwic 210 400 1306 210 400 11,506 - 10 800 oe Abram & Hewitt..... wo 800 - Totals.....- +++ 5,000 $349,800 §447,808 CORPORATIONS, The City of Brooklyn F The City of New York. Totals..... * Includes the amount refa on ten shares of WiTiiam HB. Vanderbilt, assigned to Henry O. Murphy, subsequertly MT scatters 1875, the date of the passage of the law * i a + Includes the amount refended on ten shares of Abram 8, Howitt, assigned to J. 8. T. Stramahan subsequently w the 14th of May, 187: MUNICIPAL NOTES. Comptroller Green has concluded to pay the Board of ‘Widermen their salaries for the past month, notwith- standing the solemn protest entered by the “Ramp” Common Counci, The warrants were Signed and the joyfal officials will be , ‘he order of arrest against ox-Justice Shandiey wae yesterday set aside and the Sheriff directed to release ‘the deiendant Q CULPABLE. NEGLECT. For some time past there has been considerable din Satisiaction among the residents of « row of tenement houses on Ninth avenue, between Thirty-seventh and Thirty-cighth streets, arist whieb ae have long bee: they have as yot able to «30,000 $3,000,000 ‘FIREMAN INJURED. \ Alacg eo Fetne to the pit ve avenu yesterday mol ‘pest in Grove shrest amd bus of the men, Asa D. ‘waa thrown heavily to the ground and seriously