Childs Will Fight

New York, 1895

The Senator Boldly Declares His Intentions.

SEVERAL VERY BAD BILLS.

Union College Presents a $500,000 Tax Steal.

AGAINST THE TUNNEL BILL

A Lot of Bills of Local Interest Turn Up in the Legislature — Protection Against Jobbery in Newtown Creek Bridges — Vacheron Attacks the Excise Commissioners — Ex-Mayor Gleason's Contest for Mr. Madden's Seat — State Road Commissioners — Game Law Amendments — Supervisors to Remove County Employes — A New Grade Crossing Bill — The Two Cent Fare Strike Renewed — A Four Inch Tire for Wagons Carrying Freight and Merchandise.

(Correspondence of THE FARMER.)

ALBANY, Jan. 17. — There is some good news for Queens County. Ex-Governor McCormick has been here for a brief time and was welcomed by Governor Morton. Mr. McCormick visited all the public departments and had a pleasant reception on every hand. Nearly everybody knew him. Those who didn't were glad to make the acquaintance of the Republican who carried a Democratic stronghold for Congress. Mr. McCormick took occasion during his visit to see Superintendent of Public Instruction Crooker about his obstructive tactics in the matter of the Normal school building, and he also conferred with some of the state officers about it. Mr. Crooker is, we think, not to be feared now, as he will soon pass out of office any way.

Other good news, in which the people, and particularly the tax-paying people, will be deeply interested, relates to Senator Childs. He will oppose the passage of Senator Owens' Newtown Creek tunnel bill. As this bill stands, the counties might be bankrupted. There is no limit to the amount of money that the commission may expend. Fabulous salaries are provided for, and hundreds of persons might be employed in sinecure places. In fact, it opens up the biggest picnic that the most extravagant mind can conceive. It is well that Senator Childs is opposed to the bill. He will probably be able to defeat it.

Senator Childs has come to the front strongly in another matter. Senator Donaldson has introduced a bill to exempt Union College from the payment of back taxes in Long Island City. These taxes amounted to nearly $500,000. The college has fought the payment of its taxes in the courts for years, but at last the Court of Appeals decided the case in favor of the city. Now the college is trying to escape . through legislation. Senator Childs announces that he is opposed to the bill and will fight it at every point.

Senator Childs has introduced a necessary bill for the erection and maintenance of bridges over navigable streams. The expense may be apportioned upon the county at large or upon towns immediately benefited, in the discretion of the board of Supervisors. No bridge can be erected without the concurrent action of both counties, nor until the respective boards of Supervisors declare such a bridge to be necessary.

Mr. Vacheron has introduced a bill providing that no commissioner of excise shall engage in the sale of liquor. It is said that he will amend the bill so as to include cigars.

In the Assembly on Tuesday Mr. Vacheron handed to the clerk's desk the petition of Patrick J. Gleason, in his contest for the seat of John P. Madden, of the First district of Queens county. It was referred to the committee on privileges and elections.

Mr. Madden has introduced a bill providing that the East River Gas Company shall charge the same rates in Long Inland City as elsewhere.

Mr. Higbie, of Suffolk, offered a resolution providing for the appointment of a committee of five to investigate in the line recommended by the governor in his message, for the improvement of the roads and highways in the state, and to report, by means of a bill, to be introduced during the session of 1896.

The New York State Association for the protection of fish, game and forests, has decided to recommend several amendments to the game law. Among them are these: Prohibiting floating for or jacking deer; making it illegal to kill does at any time; making the open season for ducks from September 1 to March 1 uniform throughout the state; designating as the open season for hares and rabbits from September 1 to January 1, except in the counties of Franklin, Lewis, Warren, Essex, St. Lawrence, Herkimer Clinton and Hamilton, where it was thought advisable to make it from August 15 to March 15; prohibiting the use of ferrets in hunting hares and rabbits; opening the trout fishing season April 15 instead of April 1; prohibiting the use of nets in the inland waters of the state.

Senator Coggeshall will introduce a bill to furnish employment for convicts. It will provide that they shall be kept busy making articles for use in prisons and charitable institutions, building new prisons and improving the roads.

Senator Donaldson, of the committee on game laws, submitted the report of the examinations made last summer. It calls attention to the confusion arising from the power of boards of supervisors to fix dates of open and close seasons, which is carried to such an extent that each locality is practically a law unto itself. The report recommends that the main features of the game laws remain unchanged, but that each section of the law have the penalty attached; that the killing of fish by explosives should be severely punished with imprisonment; that the use of nets in inland waters be prohibited, except one mile from shore, and that all nets be licensed. That the number of fish commissioners be reduced to three, one of whom shall be paid a salary, and that the number of game protectors be increased from 20 to 40.

Mr. Clarkson has introduced a bill to give Boards of Supervisors, the right to appoint and remove all employes holding their offices by appointment and drawing salaries from the county treasury,

Mr. Sullivan has introduced a bill to prevent steam railroads from crossing public highways at grade. If this bill becomes a law, every steam railroad in the state will have to stop running.

Mr. Rockwell, of Brooklyn, has introduced a bill to reduce the rate of fare on the Long Island railroad to two cents a mile.

Mr. Kilburn has introduced a wide tire bill. It provides that no wagon made after the first day of July next, for the carrying of freight and merchandise on a paved or macadamized street and drawn by two or more horses, shall have tires of less than four inches in width. It applies to cities and villages.

Mr. Winne of Schenectady introduced a bill providing that if the trustees of Union college pay $5,000 taxes, due to December 31, on a tract of land in Long Island City owned by them, that the land shall be exempt from further taxation.

Senator Owens has secured a hearing for his Newtown creek tunnel bill before the commerce and navigation committee for next Wednesday afternoon.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, N.Y., Jan. 18, 1895, p. 1.