The New York Herald Newspaper, March 1, 1879, Page 4

4 THE STATE CAPITAL, Strong Partisan Debate Concerning the Insurance Department. NEW YORK SALARIES. Considerable Talk, but No Earnest Efforts at Reduction. INCREASED STATE EXPENSES. Special Committee to Investi- gate the Roads. POLITICS IN THE PRISONS. ALBANY, Feb, 28, 1879. ‘This was really the first day of the session upon which any particular excitement or interest was dis- played on the part of the Assembly in matters of leg- islative busin Several canses may be traced as responsible for this disturbance of the hitherto lan- guid waters of our progress here, From present ap- pearauces the republican party in the State is like ly to spilt upon the Smyth agitation if matters are not arranged satisfactorily before long s0.as to appease the independent, progressive element of that side of the House. It may be set down as a facet from all indications in Atbany that the railroad, insurance and other corporations are still behind Mr. Smyth, and that the “Old Guard,” represented by such men fis Speaker Alvord, General Husted, Mr, Strahan and tolleagues, have ranged themselves under the ban- ner which flings deflance in the faces of that young republican clement which fights under the leader- ship of Messrs. Sloan, Fish, Hepburn, Wadsworth and others, as a vigorous contingent of the State republican army. It is not unlikely, however, that some of the “Old Guard’’ may soon strike their tolors in the face of the foe and train under the new dispensation which came so near placing George B. Sloan in the Speaker's chair, As 1 foreshadowed in to-day’s Henavp, the agents and adherents of Mr. Smyth were understood to be hard at work on behalf of their chief, and up to the assembling of the Legislature this morning the outlook of Thursday night seemed to indicate that they had accomplished good deal. At least they must have felt exceedingly confident, as at half-past one o'clock to-day—just half an hour before adjournment—Mr. Braman, of Albany, called from the table Mr. Wadsworth’s resolution requesting Mr. Smyth to resign his place as Superintendent of the Insurance Department. It was somewhat unprecedented for a member other than the person who had introduced a resolution in regular form to call up the doctment in this man- uer, such duty belong in a parliamentary sense ex- clusively in this instance to Mr, Wadsworth. But the Smyth men thought they had a majority in the Assembly to defeat the resolution in the hurry of a Friday's adjournment. Hence the movement of Mr. Braman, The debate indulged in by Messrs. Sloan, ‘Terry, Wadsworth, Brainan, Hayes and others prin- cipally dealt with the parliamentary point as to the courtesy of interfering with a ution in that way. Members seemed to fight rather shy ot the main is- sue as to Smyth’s guilt or innocence of official mis- conduct, Dr, Hayes and Mr. Sloan, however, spoke in coudemnatory terms of the principle of condemn. ing officials in legislative resolutions when they bad wo oppertunity of defending themselves trom. at- tack. Mr. Wadsworth moved to place the resolution again on the table, as he did not consider it a proper tine to bring up so-important a subject. The spit a large majority of the House was evidently in ‘or of this action, and Mr. Wadsworth carricd his by a decisive vote of 74 to 23. The policy ot h men in thus hastening the issue was bit- demned after the adjournment of the House, THE NEW ¥ EK SALANE QUESTION. Dr. Hayes’ Committee on Cities held another meet- Ing this inorning, to take action upon Mr. Strahan’s so-called Salary bill. This is the first time the bill has been before the committee in executive session, but the time was too short to arrive at any final vote upon it, and it was laid over until next week. It is very clear, froin the failure of the committee to act S. wpon this bill, that the members do not consider it as’ at all meeting the public requirements or the expectations of those interested in economy in the udministration of New York city affairs. The Strahan bill alone has been before them for consideration. Three sessions of the committee have been given to Mr. Stralian, each time the session terminating with the public’ assurance that at the next session the gentleman wonld submit to the committee turther amendments to the bill, This the committee has allowed him to do, reserving its own deliberations until he had concluded, He finished his work last evening at seven o'clock, saying that he had nothing more to submit. Practically, theretore, the bill as traliwu desired it periected has never been be- the committee untal this morning, and as each member has apparently yery decided views about it Bome time will be needed tO compare notes and har monize opinions. The delay, the pre, it is asserted, has thus far been entirely wita Mr. Strahan, to whom the committee extended the very unusual courtesy of permission to come mto their room, ei? up his own bill and amend it at his pleasure, ad he finished the bill a month ago it is couceded that it would long since have been before the House. Iu relation to this whole Bulury bill question it is but fair to stute that Dr. Hayes opened the campaign early in the session with @ resolution instructing his own committee to im- mediately prepare a proper measure, ‘This resolu- tion was tavled upon tue announcement made by Mr, Strahan that be would have a salary bill ready ino tew days, Instead of this resolution of instructions to go upon the committee have had nothing but the Strahan bill before them. It is reasonable to suppose that they will either shove this bill aside or use it in the preparation of a more perfect measure emanating from Dr. Hayes’ committee itselt. EXPENSES OF THE STATE: GOVERNMENT. Mr. Sloan submitted a report, in answer to ® reso- lution of the House directing the Comunittee on Ways aud Means to institute a comparison of salaries puid to oficials in the State departwents in 1861 with ‘hose now paid. The committee found that there has been # very large increhse, and detail the salaries and otuer expenses paid in the respective periods. Letters had been received from the several heads of departments saying that it would be inexpedient to reduce the forces in their respective offices. ‘The committee think the salaries paid judgos of the Court of Appeats and the Supreme Court are no larger than they hey also think that men capable of fil the heads of departments are hin, t of em: onght to be re- following table of ex lepart- nents as iaken from the Comptroller's books:— Departments. is6, Govertior Lieutenant Governor Comptroller becretary of State ‘Treasures Attorney ( 1. vank Department. Liasurance Department State Engineers’ Department... Gunal Appraisers: Qanal Auuitor, . Canal Commissionors, now St- perintenident of Public Works Court of Appeals... ....s6466 Clerk and Reporter of Appetis...... 12,400 Supreme Conrt. . Bi,vo Regents of the Universit, . 6,000 Superintendent of struction... Btate Cabinet of Natural History nid wewistante.. alsud aesistants mbiic Ine 1,270 Commissary General and sistant : 4,385, 10,966 Fudge Ai Paymaster General. 150 850 Palcontologist 2,000 2,500 Buperintenden' 900 1,200 Buperiutendent of the 865 1,200 1,200 200 Superint TAAL Btate Assessors. 9,000 Board of Chari - 6,500 21,015 99,088 53,845 208,017 BROOKS MINOLILY REPORT, Mr. Brooks read the tollowtng:— Heartily concureing in the tou anil apirit of the report, dissent froa some of its conelW 5 I most respoettull NEW YORK HERALD, SATURDAY, MARCH 1, 1879—TRIPLE SHEET. ri Comparing the cost of the respoctive departments of tho State zovermmedt of Us6l with Is79, as furn Comptroller of she 5 can see iu the re: ‘asional. almost erratic exceptions nothing short of an in- wile extravagance coutinued almost rin the general administration of Stat ires sponk for themselves and c: _ to make & deep impression lie mind, ‘The increase of expenditu: ing in the height of the Rebellion. lave conti nearly fourteen years, aud it is bigh tiue that the tide turnéd toward official cronormy, as it long since turned in that diroetion by com: pulsion ‘om the part of all persons aot in official service, The necessities imposed upon the Pe At large through more than five years o eval distress and bankrupt ought” at least to le shared by their official servants. Salaries and offices made and maltiplied during the period of am i under the stimulus of wild to be reduced Una aid for corresponding al where, The wishes of an intelligent public op’ also be respected, and the demand comes to us from all parts of the State and country for sn absolute and “ype Ho sinecures bat by tl ‘aste which could be reached is the same whether thi one thousand or excess. and rinciple of duty cuss, Waste or extravagance fs timited t oue million of dollars or whether the present need, and many of 1 constitution of this State or under the constitution and sof the United States. Jaws of tne tl lads belonging to this State or the United ie building used for @ college, incorporated ac: ic wehool or other seminagy o rning over which the State exercises supervision ; every building used Jee bie worship. every court house and afl and all lots, furniture, .ce., belonging to each of thet. rrthcBvery poorhouse, almshouse, pubtie house of in- dustry amd every house used by any corporated company for the reformation of offenders and to improve the moral condition of soamon and the real and personal property connected with them, ‘Fiyth_ The real and personal property of every public owned by the State. by law from execution. ighth- to any agricultural society and. perm anently show grounds by any sucl society duing the time so aged. Nivih—AB cemeteries and public places for the burial of «le xcept sueh a owned ‘y, stock companies or individuals, and used for profit by such owner, Tenth—Hemsebold furniture to the amount of $200, It also dufines the duties of the State assessors. FINAL ADJOURNMENT, The nice little game of ‘‘buncombe” and corpora- tion intrigue indulged in by the Senate in _ ng o resolution tor final adjournment was also effectually squelched to-day by the House, Mr, Fish called up the concurrent resolution upon this point and it was sent to the (Jommittee on Ways and Means, This ef- fectually disposes of the early adjournment idea, at least for the present. The corporations which fear the chief sent as 6a rule only the that, “the laborer fs worthy yond these and. sul Teport just submitted. trom year to year, which it is not pr the wholly inetfectual and unsatisfactory point of callin, the attention of heads of departments te their own sele friends and chosen associates in office. The duty which belongs to the Lezisia aud here, it is f° shall be diseharg if they see tit who declary that jou for any Whatever, either ux to the pay jor number of at the present tne, and if not at, the resent time, ¢ ly not in any probable hereafter, ‘oiee of the people nor the e: ated petitions. ¢ Y States, iblic wpinion, are everywhere ing—in part, at least —the o: expectations of the people; aud the fact thar New ¥ is a large and populous State nifords uo reason why the cost of our State goveru- ment should not be reduced t approximation, ut least, my practised bi civil war, The enor: ions building in which we ai bled—enormons alike re in proportion and expendicure—is only «striking illustration of the lavish legislative extravagance of the past twelve years. ‘This increasing expenditure is fur beyond the growth of the State, Peraicious exaniples here, where too inany general and local laws. are rized n and village debts ine han that id ed Sta ar imexcess, in our great city, 'd to the Governor of the Suite. It is time not duly alt, but to command a retreat, and it is time to toc serve this State as we would serve ourselves in our own @ of to-day is civil war of ndis imbedded, as it were, in ui it seoms to be a part of I this, we are compelled to look at the State and country as it’is, and while earnestly and reasonably hopetul of w better business see, feel and own a still wid ion iu all departments of trade, unremun tive returns for uestly uli the productions of the soil, t absence of labor for many who are willing to work, and # rate of wages for those who find employment rarely equal to & comfortable support for themselves and their families, While it may, be casy and pleasant for members of the Lexislature and for hers in off float upon an evon keel over a smooth sea.is it not our duty, however unpleasant, to encounter whatever storm, tempest or resistance may be in the way of the practical reCorins now demanded by the people? Duty demands that whatever is right should not only be made known, but made prevalent. [tis not enough that men mean well; it becomes them to do weil. Mr, Sloan said his understanding of this minority report was that the gentleman from Richmond agreed with the majority that it would not be ex- edient to reduce the salaries of the judiciary or the eads of departments, but that he thought there could be reductions so far as the subordinates are concerned, He therefore asked that the communi- cations receiyed from the heads of departments on this subject be read. They were read, and each gave it as his opinion that no reduction of force or pay was advisable, On motion of Mr. Sloan both reports were laid on the table. STATE BAILNOADS TO BE INVESTIGATED, ‘There was quite a stir in the Honse over the ques- tion of investigating the condition and management of the railroads of the State. Mr. Hepburn called up his resolution to appoint a committee of five to in- vestigate the abuses alleged to exist in the manage- ment of railroads. Mr. Husted, after saying that in his observation during the last (en years all such in- vestigations resulted in one ot two things—cither Dqwhitewashing ora “smut machine,” he moved to refer the resolution to the Railroad Committee. Mr. Hepburn protested against characterizing this propo- sition in such terms. He said this investigation was asked for by the New York Chamber of Commerce, one of the oldest organizations in the State, It was asked for by other associations, by all the commercial interests of the State. The Railroad Committee, he said, could not give the matter the time it deserved, and he could see no objection to the investigation. Mr. Husted replied tnat he dia not disagree with the geutleman us tothe impor- tance of this matter; what he objected to was the appointment of ® special commitice. He was in tuvor of the investigation, but he knew—every old member knew—what the work of these special com- mittees amounts to. Besides, a special committee will have to huve s clerk and a messenger, and incur other expenses. So, as a matter of economy, it was wrong to appoints special committee. As to the Raiiroad Committee being pressed ror time, so it ‘was with other committees. He asked if the gentle- man could get out of the body of this House me: bers for this committee without taking them from other committees pressed for time. Mr. Sloan called attention to the complaints of the management of railroads and to the many efforts made year after year to have an investigation made, He thought these complaints ought to be heeded and the existing diverse views on the, subject set- tled, and he thought the matter ought to be referrea to a special committee and not to the Railroad Com- mittee. Mr. Brooks said he had the honor to be the pioneer in the last Legislature to introduce a resolution like this. He would gladly follow the gentleman from St. Lawrence now in urging its adoption. The Rail- road Committee last year had declined to report fa- yorably on his resolution, and he now thought the Raitroad Committee could not give this subject the consideration due to it. He then said there was a universal complaint as to the management of the rail- roads and the people demand an investigation of these complaints. It is complained that there are unjust discriminations against the business people of the State. Mr. Husted’s motion was negatived. The resoin- tion providing for a special committee was adopted— yeas 93, nays 1—Carman. MEASURE TO PREVENT CONFLAGRATIONS. Mr. Pearse’s bill to prevent conflagrations in cer- tain cases within the counties of New York, Kings and Queens, provides that it shall be unlawful for the owner or for any of the officers, employés or crew of any ship, vessel, canal boat, barge, lighter, boat or other craft lying at or within 150 teet of any warehouse, yard, shed, dock, pier, bulkhead, wharf or other place within the counties of New York, Kings or Queens at, in or on which petroleum oil or any of its products is stored or kept for export, or in quantities exceeding 10,000 gallons, or for any other person or persons to briug, keep, have or use, or suffer or permit it to be brought, kept, had or used on board of any of said ships, vessels, &c., or in said warehouses, &c., any fire, light, lighted match, cigar, cigarette or pipe without or otherwise than in strict conformity to the written permission of the owner, lessee, or superintendent of such warehouse, yards, &e., or other place, specifying the fire or light to bo kept, had or used, the particular purpose for and the place or spot at which the same may be so kept, had and used, and the particular manner of keeping, having or usingfthe same. Any vioiation of this act shall be a misdemeanor, triable before any Court of Special Sessions having territorial jurisdiction of the where the offence was committed; but this act ‘shall not apply to steam tugs while transacting their ordinary business, nor to steam fire engines engaged ip extinguishing fires. SAFRIY OF ELEVATED RAILROADS. Mr. Ackerman’s first bill to increase the security of Persous travelling on elevated railroads in the city of New York provides that it shall be the duty of each and every elevated railroad company in the city of New York to provide switches on the upper and lower tracks between the Batiery and the Harlem River at a distance of every five blocks or streets along the route of said elevated railways. Lvery vio- lation of this act shall subject the railway company committing the offence to a fine of $50. Mr. Acker- man’s second bill to increase the security of per- sons fevelling on the elevated railways in the city of Now York provides that it shall be the duty of each of the clevated railway companies in the city of New York to carry on each and every train of cars at least one ladder of suitable and proper material, and such laddder or ladders shall be kept in an accessible place and shall be snppiied with appliances by which they can be suspended from the cars, and shall be of suitable pattern and of sufficient length and strength to en- able passengers, in case of accident between stations or otherwise at ang point on the road, to reach the ground with safety. Every violation of this act shall subject the railway company committing tne offence to fine of $50. proper stilt an in 1861-19, Bx Spread depres: THN LIVERY STABLE NUISANCK, Mr. Varnum has brought in an act to erection of livery or pubiie stables in the city of New York, which provides that no livery or public stables shall hereatter be erected in the city of New York un- til a license or permit for the erection thereof shall be obtained from the Department of Health in said city; that no such permit or license shall be granted where, in the opinion of the head of said department, the erection of the stables in the locality proposed would be @ nuisance, and that all livery or public stables heregfter erected in said city on the permit or license of the said Department of Heaith must have at least two communications, one in the front and the other in the rear, INVESTMENTS PRESCRIBED POR SAVINGS BANKS. ulate the Mr. 0. Wheeler introduced 4 bill relative to savings banks, t bdivision 1 of section 24, c! 371, La felating to the investments of savings institutions for savings. It pro- vides that it shalt be lawful fof the trustees of any suvings batik to Hivest the money deposited therein only as foliows;—In the stocks or bonis or interest bearing notes of obligations of the United States, or those for whieh the faith of tite United States is pledged, to provide for the paymont of the interest and principal, inelnding the bonds of the District of bonds, vomimonly known as the 4.6 erty of the Sts ing to ite te all prop- erty in this State, whether pefsonal or real, except stich as is theretnafter exempted from taxation, shal be entbjoct to tazution, The following property shal be exempt froin thtation :— Fi@t—Ail real and personal property exempted by the legislation wil consequently have to await further developments before making another attempt to thus dispose of Albany interfereuce with their igterests. POLITICAL PRISON MANAGEMENT. ‘The feature of the day in the Senate was the adop- tion of a resglution of-Senator Pomeroy, calling for the spppintment by the President of the Senate of a commuttee of three to inquire whether the recent re- moval ot Agent and Warden Wells, of the Auburn Prison, was mot in violation of law. The committeo were given power to send for persons and papers and Stmectett to report tacts and conciu- sions to. ‘the Senate at as early a day as possible. In speaking to his resolution Mr. Pomeroy asserted that the removal of Mr. Wells and the appot ntment of his successor were in viola- tion of the iw of 1877, which provides that no aj pointiment sisall be made except for fitness and with- out regard t political expediency. Mr. Wells was a competent of icial, thoroughly familiar with prison management, and’ wus fitted ‘to occupy the place of Mr. Pilsbury himself. On the other hand, his suc- cessor had mover been connected with the prison except as a coitractor some years ago. In regard to his experience: as such contractor Mr, Pomeroy told alittle story. About 1850 Mr. Moss had a contract for prison latwor and at its termination was indebted to the State im the sum of $16,000. Judgment was obtained again st him, but he went before the Comp- troller and explained that if it had not been tor the political muvagement of the prison he would haye made money enough to pay for the labor arel have a profit besides, whereas he had lost mney by it. He was, upon this show- ing, released from the obligation. Mr, Pomeroy went on to assert that it was a matter of public gossip that Mr, Pilsbary had not been afreeagent. His resignation had-been in the hands of the Governor and was held ower his head as a rod. Mr. Pomeroy was violently opposed to managing the prisons in the interests of any political party and hoped his resolu- tion would be adopted, Senator Jacobs moved to amend by adding to the resolution @ clause authorizing the committee to further examineand report as to whether the chango had-been in the public interest and also as to whether the removed Agent and Warden at any time used his office to further the political interests of any one. This was lost, and the original resolution being , Mesars. McCarthy, Pomeroy und Jacobs were appointed such committee. NEW JERSEY LEGISLATURE. THE;TWO PROMINENT SUBJECTS BEFORE THE TRENTON LAWMAKERS, TRENT on, Feb, 28, 1879, The two great questions agitating the minds of New Jersey legislators now are the scheme for build- ing a bridge across the Morris Canal at Washington street, Jersey City, for the benetit of the New Jersey Central Raitroad Company, and the bill abolishing the mamnfacture of boots and shoes by the contract system in the State Prison. The bridge project, opposed by the Pennsylvania Railroad, has already suffered one defeat in the House, but, noth. ing daunted, Receiver Lathrop has resolved to try again, and this week Senator Rabe intro- duced another bill having the same object in view. Assemblyman Dusenberry has introduce another similar one in the House on behalf of certain citizens of Jersey City, and, besides, there aro two more to the same Parport, but not a0 open-faced as Rabe’s and Dusenberry’s. Next week the fight will be renewed, when each corporation will be repre- sented by able lobbyists. The contest means a fat harvest, not only for the lobby, but also for the hotels. he bill abolishing the manufacture of shoes in the State Prison was referred to the Prison Commit- tee of the Senate after it had passed the House by a decided mujority. A report has just been received from the Senate Committee, with a recommendation that the bill do not pass, and the subject will come up as a8) special order next Monday evening. THE INDICTED STATE JUDGES, WARRANTS , FOR THEIR ARREST TO BE ISSUED TO-DAY—ACTION ON THE SUBJECT IN THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE, [BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.) Daxvitx, Feb. 28, 1879, The necessary processes tor the arrest and arraign- ment of the indicted State Judges will be issued to- morrow. Judge Berryman Green, Circuit Judge, left here last night for Richmond, to lay the action of Judge Rives and his Grand Jury before the Governor and Attorney General, and consult with them as to what course to pursue in the premises. It is not known definitely what will be the course of the indicted judges, but it is believed they will disre- gard the process of Judge Rives when his marshal attempts to serve it, and thereby force Rives to take peremptory action, when the protection of the State authority will be claimed. From what can be learned from Richmond it is believed the protec- tion of the State to the fullest extent can be counted upon. If Judge Rives should imprison the judges, they will be taken from his custody by a writ of habeas corpus which will be executed at the point of the bayonet if necessary. The excitement here is on the increase and trouble is feared, as Rives and the State authorities are both determined. ACTION OF THE VIRGINIA SENATE. Ricumonp, Va., Feb. 23, 1879. The indictment yesterday of five County Court judges by the United States Court for the Western District of Virginia, in session at Danville, on a charge of withholding from negroes the right of serving on juries was brought to the atten- tion of the State Senate to-day by General Bradley T. Johnson, who introduced a pre- amble and resolution, setting forth the fact of alloged usurpation and exercise of unwarranted power; directing the Attorney General to take proper steps to bring said proceedings to adjudication by the Supreme Court of the United States, in order that such lawless measures may be checked by competent authori now and in future; authorizing the employment of counsel to assist the Attorney General in the pro- ceedings, and requesting Virginia's representatives in Congress to move for acommittec to inquire whether the Hon. Alexander Rives, Judge of the aforesaid federal court, has not been and is not now usurping judicial power for the purpose of bringing about un- nec conilict between the State and federal au- thoritics in enforcement of the criminal laws of Vir- ginia, thereby endangering the harmony, peace and good order of this Commonwealth. The preamble and resolutions were adopted, only two votes being in the negative, both of which were republican. ‘The resolutions were at once reported to the House and were by that body to night. Judge Green, ot the State Circuit Court for the Dan- yille district, which embraces the county courts of the indicted judges, is in this city. He goes to Dan- ville to-morrow bpersisnins | for the purpose, it is said, of endeavoring to prevent the arrest of said judges. FIFTY-THIRD STREET FIRE. Thero were quite 4 number of onlookers gathered yesterday in Fifty-third street about the scene of the conflagration on Thursday morning. The stable building in which the blooded stock perished is a heap of ruins. It was erected two years ago a cost of $20,000, and is insured (Mr, Livingtone, t owner, says) to the amount of $15,000. The total loss will be $70,000, Mr. Frey's will probably be no more than $500. GRAIN FREIGHTS, Cmcaao, Feb, 28, 1879. Current rates on east bound grain are now said to be twenty cents per hundred pounds, and a farther reduction is expected before navigation opens. THE WORTH STREET FIRE. The Board of Fire Commissioners held mn ad journed session yesterday to investigate the official responsibility of the department for the destruction of brildings and other property at the Worth street fire, Captain Monroe, of Hook and Ladder No. 10, testified that hiscompany consumed three minutes in getting to the fire; they forced street the oper the and placed a line worked well, the meltin doors on | Thomas of hose in position but the flames overn cornices and blinding smoke droy {nimodiate vicinity of the fire; th ood order; ladders could not have on were ¥o flere, and the melting coping was Cap wine No, 29, testified that the min of bis coniinund aoyuitted themselves credit. ably, and aa Carver and Cram corroborated the statemen| HOMES OF THE POOR. The Tenement House System Denounced at the Cooper Institute. ALL CLASSES AROUSED. Speeches by Mayor Cooper, Parke Godwin, Rabbi Jacobs and Others. MIASMA OF YICE. Practical Reforms Suggested and a Committee Appointed, A BUILDING FUND STARTED. Tho question of checking the frightful evil th: under the name of the tenement house system; has poisoned the homes of a half million people in this city, was fully discussed last night at the Cooper In- stitute, The place and the people present were en- tirely in accord with the spirit of the work to be done. Many of the most distinguished representatives of the metropolis saton the platform. The Mityot oc- cupied the chair,as might be expected from the Chief Magistrate of a great city when questions affecting its most vital interests were under discussion, aud beside him sat his venerable father, whose life has been a signal protest agaist such wrongs as the meeting was called to redress. Near them was Henry Bergh, his mind weaned for ouce from the prevention of cruelty to the lesser animals to the contemplation of evils more direful; Jackson 8. Schultz, W. E. Dodge, Jr., William Steinway, C. L. Tiffany, J. H. Choate, Adrian Iselin, and a host of distinguished law- yers and vhysicians whose names are inscribed in the annals of the day. The nall was not overcrowded. Perhaps not more than twelve hundred people sat there when the Mayor opened the meeting; but there was an air of earnestness and thoughtfulness that portended more to the confusion of the unseru- pulous landlord of the tenement house than the noisiest and most uproarious gathering. The ladies were there also, and bent deep attention to the re- marks of the speakers. Rarely has a meeting been held in this hall in which all the elements of serious thought, profound suggestions and earnest appeal were so aptly combined. Clergymen whose names have long since been regarded as the pillars of re- ligion, lawyers, judges, bankers, statesmen and philanthropists were all united in the great work. ‘The following gentlemen were announced by Mr. Pellew as vice presidents and secretaries of the occa- sion: — E. D, Morgan, c. F. Southmayd, James M. Brown, a a i . Prerpon' Royal Phelps, Cyrus W. Field, Arthur Leary, Rutlferfard Stuyvesant, ‘Albon P. Man, Park Godwin, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Stephen P. Nas! I. N. Phelps, A. G. P. Stokes, John 8. Kennedy, John C. Wywan, Rufus Hateh, W. KE. Dodge, Jr,, John Taylor Johnston, Robert L. Stuart, John Paton, Stewart Brown, W. E. Dodge, A. H. Gallatin, ‘M. D., John A. Stewart, George 8. Coe, James M. Morrison, James Renwick, Joseph Seligman, Lucius Tuckerman, Jonathan Edwards, William O’Brien, James O'Brien, James A, Roosevelt, ‘Thatcher M. Adams, George A. Robbins, Jackson 8. Schultz, J.J. Astor, Hamilton Fish, Irving Paris, Jr., M. Bayard Brown, J.C, Hoe, Benjamin Tatham, Thomas L. James, A. H. Stevens, Thomas Denny, Fictcher Harper, William Steinway, Christian Herter, Abraham Lent, Cc. L. Tiffany, Joseph Park, Jr., James Stokes, Adrian Iselin, Jr., 8. L. M. Barlow, Morris K, Jesup, ©. R. Agnew, M. D:, Peter Cooper, D. B. St. John Roosa, M.D. John R. Brady, Saniuel D. Babcock. Simon Sterne, R, Fulton Cutting, A. R. Aiton, W. Bayard Cutting, Samuel Derrickson, F. D. Yappen, Robert Hoe, John Sherwood, Frederick BR, Coudert, John Jay, Frederick W. Stevens, SECRETARIES. Henry C. Potter, D.D., D. RT. Auchmuty, He y, M. James Gallatin, Stephen Smith, M. D, Henry Rice, Charles Coudert, Jr. Charles Collins, BE. L. Faneher, MAYOR COOPER'S ADDRESS. Mayor Cooper on taking the chair said:—The im- portance of the subject to be discussed to-night is Robert Gordot R. Heber Newton, Henry £. Pellew. pre-eminent, affecting, as it does, the daily life and the health and happiness of a large part of the population of our city. ‘The system of tenement houses in New York has been the growth of recent times, and as it is rapidly growing in extent it is incumbent on those who think that a considerable number of these tenement houses are not such as can be considered satisfactory, whother wo regard them from a social, moral aud sanitary point of view, to assist in a public discussion of the facts and of the remedies that can be applied. If our present system is faulty, defective or vicious it is our duty to make known the facts and call attention to the remedies. But while doing so we must be careful to take a thorough!y impartial view of the subject. Exagge- rated statements would not only be unfair but would rejndice the cause we wish to’ aid; nor do think that undue blame should be attributed to those who owners and builders, have contrib- uted to results we deplore. We must teke to our- selves a share of the blame for allowing an injurious system to grow up among us without effort on our part to prevent it. But secing as Ido on the list of supporters of this movement the names of mi ot our most respected, well known and influential citi- zens, representing all denominations and professions and employments, I feel that the time has co: when some remedy should be sought, these names are a guarantee that when remedy is found there will be an earnest effort to effectually carry it out. Happily this is not a question of polities Or religion or class, but we are all met here, anxious and determined, to 'y forward an investigation of such great impor- ishallnot attempt to state the facts or to discuss the remedies. That I leave for the speakers who have been invited to address you. Various plans of reform are suggested, cach of them, no doubt, with its own advocate, and each of them appealing for support on different rounds. We cannot in a moment change the abits of life of a generation however faulty they May appear; we cannot interfere with vested rights except where they are manifestly a violation of the natural rights of the community. We must be sure that we sce our way clear before we talk of compul- sory measures to obtain better habitations for a cer- tain portion of our people. But we can do some- thing to improve e condition of the worst localities, to prevent the erection of class of houses acknowledged to be dangerous to health and condemned by the experience of medical men and those well informed in sanitary matters, Plans for improved dwellings are excotlent in their way and most desirable, but we must not forget the necessity of better! g exiting habita- tions and we must strive by all the means in our power to make our city what its nataral advan: entitle it to be in its xanitary conditions and in the advantages which it can offer to a sober, industrious and thriving population. ABSENT FRIENDS. At the conclusion of Mayor Cooper's specch Mr. Pellew announced that Judye Noah Davis, who bad been expected to address the mecting, was not able to be present, becanse of the change in the time for the meeting, and that Mr. D, Willis James and the Key. Dr. Bellows were also unable to be present. He read a lotter from Judge Brady, in which the Judge promised to attend the meeting if possible, PARKE GODWIN'S SPRECH, Mr, Parke Godwin was introduced as the next speaker after the Mayor retired, and his remarks were full of the sharpest denunciation of the great evil, I have read, said he, a book called “Asmo- deus, or the Devil on Two Sticks,”’ in which the lim, ing hero of the author liad the power of lifting the roofs off the houses and of discovering all the hidden secrets that these roofs had concealed, Now, this book had # satirical object, rating at the vieos Of A yreatcity, showing What an amount of pretension, selfishness and folly lurked belind the exterior. Our work is also Asmodean, purpose ot satire, only ivetruction, We desire to learn the truth, to diapense justice, to exercise charity, We lift the roof off the dwellings of 500,000 people; we see them huddled together more like brutes and savag than human beings; we see crime, degrad: on eta dronkenness originate in these larger houses; we learn from the records of the Board of Health, the courts of justice, the police, the charitable institutions, that here aed into birth and fall development tho seeds of poverty, sqtalor, filth, degradation, vice; we recog. nize the dreg ts of the city, the indelible plague marks of otir civilization. Let us lodk at this stibject in the only liqhttia which it can be considered, Lhere are the homes of the poor, God forgive me for defil- the consecrated name of home, in which poetry and love are embalmed, in which peace, jo; and love centre, by associating it with tl houses. The hallowed circle of the family powertul in its influence throughout the soc world; it sweetens the bitterness of Ij it softens all the asperities of rugged nature. but what can be gen of the influence of such homes as we must consider to-night. The subter- ranean caves where fugitives hid in the early ages have their types in this city. There are black holes in the walls and grimy and broken down garrets set aside as homes for one-half of our porulation. There the demon pa nursed ; there crimson crime is fostered; there hot fever and pate famine are lodged; there the first instinets of childhood and innocence are stifled; there the young girl is robbed of her mod- esty. The sobs of the wife are drowned by tho clamor, the brutality and the violence of the hell around her, and little wonder if one seeks in the poison of the adjoining gin mill a sort of temporary oblivion from thought and reflection. Up from these dens arise nightly clammy exhalations of human moral decomposition, vocal ribaldry and blasphemy, THE INFLUENCE OF HOME, As out of the heart issues the Springs of the indi- vidual life, so out of the home well up the healing or death dealing waters of society, The home is inightier than the school, than the pulpit—nay, even the press, It moulds the ductile mind of the child with a power and authority that it shares with no other influence, The last impress on the mind of the dying man comes from his home. You expend large stims on your public schools, but what can they avail in influence foneat the myriad private schools of debauchery and drunkenness which 500,000 people attend night and day ? Three hundred spires stretch forth their arms toward Heaven in this city and three hundred preachers lift their eloquettt voices cach Sunday to the Most High. The cloud still hangs over the slums, the fetid exhalations poison the air of the Sabbath. It was acheering omen last Sunday when the churches began to take an interest in the materia] welfare of imankind, It was, indeod, time to make preaching ' practical. Social problems should be the principal subjects of discussion by clergymen. St. Paul directed the at- tention of his disciples even to those bodies, that they may become temples of God, In St. John we learn the importance of attending to the material wants of man. When this meeting is over you go home, toa home of genial warmth, The walls of the home perhaps, adorned with the worl of the ski ‘ul painter and landscapes smile upon you 4s you enter, On the table, or on the shelves of the library, are volumes in which are the embodied spirits of the great and good of all generations. They converse with you: they relate to yon the wonders of science, the touching tales of history. Upstairs in their little cots repose the seraphs of the household, steeped in the dew of sleep, or murmuring § in their slumbers sweet converse with the angels. Ah! for- et not, when you kneel down in deep gratitude for ing a participant in this scene of Batadiee, that 100,000 fellow beings in this city creep to their rest in cold and darkness, in frimy and gloomy cham- bts where brothers drift fast to ruin and sisters to shame. SPECIMEN DENS. a Edwin L. Sebaefler was the next s] 6a: aker. Ho at de a representative of the State Charities Aid ‘ion he had occasion to make a personal in- vestigation of the New York tenement houses. He de- scribed the average specimen of these dens, “Here is @ six story house, with a front of twenty-tive feet and a depth of seventy-five. The ground floor is a lager beer saloon, in which at ten o'clock in the morning there may be found niue men and two women begin- ning the day’s orgie. A stair, about three and a half feet wide, leads up to a hallway forty feet long. Another stair brings you to the next story, in whic! you will at once recognize all the vices and defects that architecture or its representatives is capable of. The hallways are said to be lighted from what is known as the well, through which a few gleams escape from the roof and are lost in the filth and dark- ness of the tenement. Midday and miduight aroalike in these hallways. There are four suits of apart- ments tor tenants on each floor. Step to the front room and knock. A woman opens the door. She has all the insignia of poverty, but also the indeli- ble impress of the true lady. Her inva- lid husband and her three children are her care in the squalid quarters of the tenement: The inner room for the children knows neither draught, nor fresh air, nor light, In the rear lives a widow, who lets out her rooms to female lodgers at ten cents night. In this house are sixty-six rooms, of which twenty-one are tolerable, twenty-two unhealthy and twenty-three poisonous. On the upper story dwells an habitual wife beater and in the next room a desety- ing family. Thus the best clements of the working classes are often compelled to associate with the most degraded of criminals. On the same street, near the fashionable thoroughfare of Broadw: an- other house still lower in the scale of decene; mture up the ricketty staircase in the rear and you will there find three men and three women living together in one room; in open violation of the commonest laws of nature. In the next room dwell nine ragpickers, with rags, garbage and filth as the only furniture. They are literally packed as sardines in a box, Across the street, mind, the same owner, you will find s room which was origi- nally 12 by 14feet. From this a space of six feet is partitioned off and this space is. subdivided into two rooms, each hardly containing the cubic contents of a good sized piano box. Yet here slecp four plo, Cau aught result from this but mental, physical and intellectual ¢ if there ‘were was but one tenement Thave described to you, its fate would be quickly sealed. But there are 20,000 such dens, and, there- fore, the same number of additional reasons for the people to rise up against such @ horror. Let this movement go on as it has begun, wiring greater strength and proportions, until in the breath of its indignation the last plague spot of the metropolis disappears, LIGHT, MORE LIGHT. Mr. Frederic A. Coudert said that the question artienlarly interested women, whose sisters were jost in the moral grave of the tenement house. ‘The children raised in these devs were most to be pitied. God's sunshine was more to them than anything else. How can they understand the Divino precept, “Honor thy father and thy mother,” when their parents are only objects of terror to them? The mother, who should be a refuge from evil and temptation, is, perhaps. @ confirmed inebriate. This is the mockery of home. We cannot close our eyes to the importance of this question. You will tell those people to go West, toward the gorgeous setting sun. ‘They don’t want to go: they preter to live in a civ- ilized community. This tenement house evil poisons the political and social body. The last words of the German poet, Goethe, may well be re-echoed by the poor suilerers in these pestilential dens—“Light, ight, O Lord, more light!” ir, Jackson S. Schultz said that before abusin, the owners of tenement property it would be wel to suggest @ remedy for the evil, When he was president of the Board of Health he was di- rected by the Board to clear out all ten- ants who bad places below the level of the sidewalk. He accordingly told them to get up, get out and get away. They crowded his office and asked him where they should go. The same will be the case now. Show the tenement landlord how he can make his property valnable and profitable by keoping it in @ decent condition and the question is solves Mr. Joseph H. Choate said that the Covert House is the first of the tenement houses of the city which should be overhauled, Seventy per cent ot the chil- dren who die in this city came from the tenement houses. If @ man uses his erty. to the detri- ment of his neighbors he should punished for it. He recommended the strongest measures and active agitation. REMARKS OF RARBI J. BS. Rabbi Henry 8. Jacobs, of the Thirty-fourth Street Synagogue, said that it afforded him pleasure to «tate to such a large and influential arsemblage that he was heartily in sympathy with the object of the mecting. In endedvoring to solve the problem of ameliorating the condition of the tenement house population, he said, we have to think of those degraded creatures as. our brothers and sisters, whose lives are a continual violation of avery ioral law that God -the Father of us all hes ordained. for the weil being of His creatures. He said he had come to the bg I with his heart fully in oe iead with the noble principles which the project aimed at in- tends carrying ott, and he had come there to assure his hearers that every one with whom he had influ- ence was enlisted heart and soul in the object the meeting was intended to promote. The question of doing something to better the condition of those Bare people did not alone appeal to our sympathies, ut to the selfish of our ‘nature a8 -well, expe cially when we consider that all those diseases ot a zymotic character which are found in this elty during certain seasons have their origin in” these pestholes known as tenement houses, While the levi mother in her alatial abode bends with ‘ing heart and ul eyes over the cot of her child, who is porishing with acariet fever, she pause to think where the tl dear one has stop to e onr better class Ol citizens, who allow those black spots to Temain from which disease is watted into the most favored portions of our city’ It is time that every intelligent, right minded member of society shou! become @ priest, as of od, aioud against this terrible evil, and to Frese. as inst the tenement houses, Tnelean!’Unclean! Unclean! and not to stop until the uncleanliness be removed. In this work the woman also onght to join. It is a fertile field for the noble womanhood of America, which has ever been found ready to aid in furthering whatever cause is good and humane, REMEDIAL MEARURES, If he were asked what practical means can beat be adopted to bring about the proposed object, he would say we must educate public opinion up to the rue ont, and hee do this we must— in the language of O’Connell—agitate, he tate, agitate, and in that way we will “tn the future be able to say that we have cleansed the city from the foul sgeney that now throatetis ite vital interests. It is in those rocking abodes of pestilence andfith that there is brooding the spirit of discon- tont and disorder that may “burwe fort in. dis. aster to this community, and if we are to take warning from those political disasters which have overtaken other countries, it should be the part of wisdom and self-interest for us to avoid them, In the performance of the work before us we shall have to invoke legislative assistance, but legislation can only go 40 far and ho farther, for Jegislation cannot compel men to do what is right. We mast also loo! to the press for assistance in the work of blotting ow! the prevent, disgracefitl tenement house system, a now hore tlian ever is the maxim true that the pen is mightier than the sword. CONVERT THE CAPITALISE, When tho capitalist is brought to believe that philanthropy and profit are twin sisters wo shall witness an amelioration of the miseries now nduted by the tenement house poepniation. When capital finds that the question is not merely one of sentiment, but of interest, then capital will respond to our appeals, me must try by every baler aap Lk oghsh ‘ate ose people out of the wretched teneme: t them up until wecan make them feel that t = really God’s creatures, then we shali have done what religion demands of us. er said, in conclusion, that he indorsed most heartily the noble endeavor that is now being made by men of all religions, and men of perhaps no religion at all, and pledged his highest impulses and best efforts to assist the great cause, THR GOOD WORK COMMENCED. Mr. James M. Brown took occasion to state that the Brojest for the amelioration of the poor of New ‘ork was not altogether confined to speech making, as some pbilanthropic ladies had already mi art ts for leasing thirteen e houses, which were to be at once impro’ for occupaney for ies. He also said that the sum of $70,000 had already been offered to a city clergy- man as a portion of a fund of $1,000,000, with which it is intended to lease 4 block of ground on which to erect a new and desirable class of tenement houses. A résolution was adopted requesting the chairman to appoint acommittee of nine for the purpose of devising measures to carry tenement house reform into effect, such committee to have power to add to its number, ‘The following gentlemen were 0 as the committee :—Messrs, D, Willis Jaines, Frederick W. Stoveus, Corneliud Vanderbilt, W. W. Astor, James Gallatin, Charles P. Daly, RK. T. Auchmuty, Henry E. Pellew and F. D. Tappen. On motion of Mr. John Jay @ resolution thanking Mayor Cooper for his kindness in presiding was passed, after which the assemblage dispe: A STRANGE STORY. HOW THE SEARCH FOR A CANADIAN PRODIGAL LED TWO MEN TO PRISON. Until November last James Coyne, a Montreal con- tractor, lived in that city with his wife and two children, During the year preceding that date'he had meg Fith poor success and determined to come to this city to better his condition. He left his wifo and little ones at home, the former having sufficient funas of her own to keep them from want. The day before Christmas last Coyne’s wife bore her third child, and she wrote to her husband to return to her and live as best they could upon her mearis, This he felt too prond to do, so he continued here in the hope of one day returning to his Canadian home with a well filled purse. It was uot long before he met several young men whom he had known in Montreal, among them one Berthelot, a son of highly respectable parents; ‘Thomas Seery, a dry goody clerk, and Robert Campbell, an adopted son of ‘Thomas Workman, a well known citizen of Mont real. Young Camboll; a fine looking young fellow, had been in the army, but was discharged about a year ago, owing to some physical disability. An affair of the heart, in which he came off second best, occur~ red about the same time, and a fit of melancholia drove him away from his adopted parouts’ house. ‘Their love for him was great, and they spared no effurt nor expense in searching for him. ILL REQUITED Love. Learning that he was in New York, they sent Ber- thelot here after him, with plenty of money and a commission at any hazard to return with Campbell to Montreal. Berthelot was not long in finding Campbell, but the Jatter would not consent to return. The two wore about the same age and of congenial tastes, 80 they spent a great deal of time together, Borthelot alt the while endeavoring to persuade young Camp- bell to return with him to Montreal. Berthelot’s supply ot money soon gave out, and he was com- pelled to write to Mr. Workman tor more. This necessitated an explanation of his movements, 80 he pretended that he hau not found Campbell, but was earnestly at work in search of him, and needed the funds to followup certain clews he had got. The money came freely, and Berthelot aud Campbell travell from city to city, enjoying themselves together, the former now and again rapes hae. progress to Mr. Workman of his labors. The latter was not alto- gether trustful of hfs triend Berthelot, and, fearin; that he might betray him and cause his arrest ant return to Canada, sought to enlist in the United States army. This he tried to do twice, but was re- jected on the same grounds upon which he was dis- chat from his Canadian regiment. He succeeded finally in bei taken in a cavalry Prgment in a Bale timore recruiting office and bade Berthelot goodby. POVERTY LEADS TO CRIME. ‘The latter returned to New York, where he met; Coyne and Seery, to whom he related the story of hié travels with Campbell and how Campbell had left him to join the army. He then lett for Montreal to report the unsuccessful termination of his long search, Times in New York went hard with Coyne. and Séery, who kept up companionship, and they planned 4 scheme to make some money. ‘They wero familiar with the deception carried on by Ber- thelot and young Campbell, and determined to tura- their knowledye to pecuniary advantage. Accordingly, about the 5th of the present month a telegram was sept to Mr, Workman, in Montreal, notitying him that Campbell was in this city and in need of mone; ‘The news was welcomed in Montreal and brought, back the same day the following telegrain, addressed | to KR. Campbell, No. 1,265 Broadway :— Call nt oxprous office No, 66 Broalway, Fande there to morrow. THOMAS WORKMAN, This telegram was delivered to Coyne, and, acting upon it; he called the ext day at the express office tor the purpose of getting the money. Alfred H. Roach, to whom he applicd, was not satistied of his identity, and declined to pay over $20 which had ar- rived for Campbell. Coyne persisted in his demand for it, and invited Kuach to send to No. 353 West ‘Thirty-fitth street, where he (Coyne) resided, and sat- isfy himself of the correctness of his representations, Martin H. Ward, a messenger in the employ ot the express company, was sent to the house with tho package, and there Coyne showed him a passport and an army discharge in the name of Campbell. Tlie foilowing letter accompanied the package and was written on the official note paper of the Montreal ollice ot the expre 8 company :— Mowtuxat, Canada, Feb, 5, 1879, R..C. Livingston, Esq. Please pay tho inclosed $20 to R. Campbell,» tail young man about twenty-six yours old ‘light complexion, light Inuntache, about six fect high. fe will apply for it with » telegraph from T. Workman, Esq., of Montreal. He hi telegraphed to Mrs. Workmin for it, [f he answers theso particulars ho will be O. K. Yours, traty, D. tL IRISH, The messenger read the letter and saw that it wae a good description of Coyne; 80, becomiug convinced that he was Campbell, paid over the money and took a duplicate receipt on the back of the lotter and tele- In due course the transfer of the receipts to bare the fraud, but in the ineantime Coyne had divided the money with Seory, the author of the forged letter, Coyue was arrested on Thurs- day and was yesterday called up for examination berore Justice Flaimmer, at tlie Jefferson Market Police Court. “I ain guilty of the charge,” was all he had to say in response to the questions of the Court. The rest of the story he told to the reporters, who ques- tioned him while he was waiting to go to his cell. It is given for what it is worth, and may be entirely true. A detective to whom the writer spoke offered. the suggestion that Coyne may kuow more of the whereabouts of young Campbeil than he cares to tell, and places “him in the army as & convenient mithod of accounting for his absence. HUMANITARIANS IN COUNCIL. A meeting of the Board of Managers of the Amer- ican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was held yesterday afternoon at its houdquarters, President Bergh in the chair. There were also pres- ent Benjamin D. Hicks, Royal Phelps. James M. Brown, Elbridge T. Gerry, Charles Lanier, N. M. Beckwith, Frederick Gallatin, Nathan C. Ely aud After the minutes of the previous mecting had been read and aflirmed the President a1 nounced the death of Mr. Thomas C. Doremus, a member of the Executive Committee and a very warm and zealous friend of the canse. Mr. Edwart 8, Jaffray was elected a vice president of the society and Messrs. John Taylor Johnston and Sinclair Tousey menibers of the Executive Committee, The snperintendent Reported that during 1878 the society - ( prosecuted 642 cases of cruelty to animals in tha courts and that its agents had prevented ctuelty dure ing the same period in 3,046 cases. il BISHOP SEYMOUR ON FASTING. Right Rev. George F. Seymour, 8. T. D., preached last evening in St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, cor+ ner of Prince and Thompson stroets. His subject was the injunction, ‘“furn unto mo with all your hearts, with fasting and with weeping and with urning.” Sin, he said, originally came through Eve, ‘whom the serpent persuaded to eat of the tare bidden fruit. ‘The apple was good for fod, and tho antidote to het sin in yielding to the demand of ap- petite is pectin. The fruit was pleasing to the eye, and the antidote to that is weeping. Lastly, it was to be desired to make one wivo, and the antidote te the desire for worldly wisdom ts mourning. Satéa, tempted Christ in 4 similar way by appeal- ing first to His appetite, next to His desire for the wealth and glory of this world, and finally to the natural dosire for knowledge of man’s power. Bub thrist did not yield, aud if people too would resist they must turn with their hearts, fasting not as an end, aa @ means, as take medicine iy give their whole hearts to God Pg pA hy receive them back purified by the blood of the . Betore the delivery of his sermon Bish mong baptized the infant son of Rev, D. Gohan Genk rector of the church, who assisted in the service, ROOM FOR THE BROKERS, For some time back complaints have been mado by Members of the Stock Exchange that their building is too small for the proper traiisaction of business, It was bought at a time when there were only 300 members, and at present there are 1,100, The fol- lowing gentlemen have been appointed a committee to look into the matter of increased accommode tions:—Mesers. Ives, Broadhead, Atkins, MeKay and Ruvsell, Some parties in the different exchany Stock, Cotton and Produce—adyocate the purchase of tently large to build three exchanges va je auf block,