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A u b u r n D i s p a t c h VOL. 5. AUBURN WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 1888. NO. 25 OCR STATE LEGISLATORS T h e R e p u b lican Caucus N o m in e e s Elected. BUSINESS OF THE SESSION Bills In t r o d u c e d Into the S e n a t e and A s s e m b ly - R o u ti n e Busi n e s s C o n s idered. ALBANY, J a n . 3. —The senate was not called to order u n til 11'30 in order to givo the new m em b ers an opportunity o f becoming better acquainted. The for mal oath was th e n administered to tlio members in groups of four. Senator Fassett, who is sick at home, was the only member absent. Lieutenant-Gov ernor Jones th e n addressed tho senate welcoming the m em b ers to tho places o f honor which th e people had bestowed upon them. Bills presented.—By Ur. Walker re pealing the S a turday half holiday. Mr. Fassett’a bill a m e n d ing the act of 1863, defining the qualifications, duties and powers of the health officer of tho h a r bor and port of Now York. Tbe bill fixes tho fees follows Inspecting vessels from foreign ports, $5, inspecting overy vessel from domestic portB south of Cape Henlopen betw een May 1 and No vember 1 each year, $1, sanitary inspec tion of every vessel a fter the discharge or cargo or ballast, $10; fumigation a n d disinfection of every vessel, $5, but no more than tw o fumigations or disin fections are to bo charged for any one vefBel at the sam e time; for boarding every vessel an d giving pratique between su n s e t and sunrise a t request of th e owner, consignee or mastor of th e vessel when such p r a tique can bo given without danger to public heath, ^3 vaccination ot persona on vessels on w h ich small pox had do velopod d u ring a voyage, each 23 cunts no charge for th e vaccination of any porson already vaccinated successfully by the medical officer of tho ship. A d d ed to disbursem ents required of the health officer he shall also pay the 6alu- ries of the follow ing officers and em ployes to be appointed by the commis sioners of quarantine $l.-> j O, superinten dent of Sw inburne hospital 3G0, su perintendent of Huffman* inland $ t.- •100, engineer of Swinburn.< island !?1.1 \il) carpenter $lMiO. laundrcm $;M) and boatman Sw inburne l^iand, $730, boatmau H u ffm an island §730. Tne health ofllcer s h a ll recicve not less tlmn 810,000 per an n u m compensation and should tho fees fall below that sum any ono year the quarantine commissioners on proofs of it shall pay tho deficiency out of the fund- m tin ir lmnils The bill amends section 1'SO ul tin1 m t cf but d<vs nut ufTe< t tin liability of m a s ters of o w ivrs .if veniels mult i the act Senator \ edder introduci il tod a y :i bill providing tw o < lasses of taxation on places where liquor is sold Places of the first class w h e re all kinds of liquors may bo sold a re to bo taxed $100 yeaily in addition to $5 j eurlv for overy 10,000 of population of tho city; places of the second class a ro to be taxed one-fifth as much as first class placeB in the sam e town Tho senato then adjourned till W ed- ne?day. J a n u a r y 11. a t 8 I’, ji ASSEMBLY Charles K Clnckering, clerk of tho last assembly called tho new assembly to order a t 11 A. M. After a short prayer by the Rev S S m a r t of Albany, the nc custuimd sw e.iring in of tho members was proceeded w ith Secretary of S tato Cook who occupied the speaker’s chair, was ,i'->iMt( d t>j Deputy liiedrich W il- lers ,n adm inistering the oath of tho aspi nil>l> men presi nt. Tho members being all duly sw o rn in the houso a t 11:31) proceeded to elect a speaker Tbo vote taken nhowed Freemont Cola 70, William I'\ Sheohan 02. Mr. Colo w as then declared duly elected by tho clerk aijd escorted to th e speaker’s chair. Mr. Colo mado a s h o r t address to (he assembly and thanked them for tho high compli- compliment payed by electing him speaker Tho assembly m o t again at 3 o'clock aud tho m em b e rs selonted seats. As usual the countesy of first choice w as given to recognized loaders. Kx-Speaker Husted chose his old Beat, No. 45. Mr. Sheehan chose No. 40 across tho aisle. Tho balloting for choico was attended by much pleasantry and when it was finished tho houso at 4:20 r. M. ad journed. The assembly adjourned to January 11 a t 8 P. M. A S im p le B a n k r u p tcy BUI. W a s h in g t o n , Jan . S.— Representative Seney of Ohio is going to introduce his bankruptcy lull in tho house. It is tho simplest plan over proposed and it is thought by m a n y interested in tho q u es tion tnat it will pass this session. It proposes m e rely th a t while a man m akes an assignment in trust in favor of his creditors, tu r n in g all his property over without reserve, ho can apply to a United States co u rt for a reloase w h ich shall be granted, after it is shown th a t he has actually turned ovor all his p rop erty. Tho settlem e n t is then to b j m ade through tho s t a te courts. H igher W a g e s Dem anded New B e d f o r d , Mass., Jan. 3.—On- wan! assembly, K n ights of Labor, c o m - po^e'i of cotton spinners, has requested an fcdvanro o f lity per cant, in spinners’ wage- thus restoring tho euts made in 1KH1 md 18135. No demand will, it is said. In mado n t Fall River, until u tlnal result ii reached hore. Loft H is B r o t h e r to Fraozo. W ilkkmiauuk , Jan. 3—Word tins been received hern th a t Jako Fox a resident of Lower L u z e rne was frozen to death ono cold d a y recently in a lonely spot on N o rth Mountain about 80 m iles from th is c t y . It appears t h a t he and his brothor. SanderBon, w e re tru d g in g over th e m o u ntains on foot from Dushore. B o th were u n d er the iuiluenco of liquor and the deceased w a n ted to stop and build a firo but his b r o th e r would not listen to the proposition. Ja k e gave up finally and was left to perish on tho frigid heights where his body w as subse quently found. Sanderson upon his arrival a t New Colum b u s w a s arrested a s ; a rum o r was abou t th a t he had poisoned his b rother. D ISPU T E D L A N D T h e G o v e r n m e n t W ill E n f o r c a Its C laim A g a i n s t T e x a s . W ashington , Ja n . 3.—President Cleveland has issued th e follow ing proc lam ation respecting disp u ted lands on the Indian territory. W h e r e a s , The title to all th a t terri tory lying botweon tho n o r th and south forks of tlio Red river a n d th e hundredth degree of longitude, a n d jurisdiction over tho game a re vested in th e United States it being a p a r t of th e Indian ter ritory as shown by s u rveys an d investi gation made on behalf o f tho United States, which territo ry tho stato of Texas also claimB title to an d jurisdic tion over, and W hereas , Said conflicting claims grow s out of a c o n troversy existing be tw een the U nited States an d the stato of Texas as to tho p o int whero the hundredth degree of longitudo crosses the Red river, as described in tho treaty of February 22,1819, betw e e n tho United tho U nited States an d S p a in, fixing tho boundary line between th e tw o countries, and W h e r e a s , The com m issioners ap pointed on the part of th e U n ited States under the a c t of J a n u a r y 1, 18S5,author izing the appointm e n t of a commission by t o president to r u n an d make tho boundary lines betw een a portion of the Indian territory and tho stato of Texas, in connection w ith a s im ilar commission to be appointed by the state of Texas, have, by their report, determ ined that the south fork i3 tho true Red river designated in tho treaty, tho com m issioners appointed on tho part of said stato refusing to concur in said rep o r t now , therefore I. Grover Cleveland, presidont of the United States, do hereby adm o n ish and w arn all persons, w h e ther claim ing to act as officers of tho county of Greer in the statu of Texas or otherw ise, aguinsL Belling or dit-posing of, or attem p ting to H e l l or dispose of, any of waul lands or from exerciBing or a ttem p tin g to exerciso any authority over said lands. And 1 also warn and adm o n ish all persons against purchasing an y p a r t of said territory from any person or persons whomsoever. ' PO S S IB L E C A N D ID A T E S . W h a t a C o r r e s p o n d e n t o f a n O u t o f T o w n P a p e r S a y s < n rris>po:i(lent H V racuao Time*. A iiiir n . Dee \ I .—C ity politics aro dull. Here a u d thero a nam e is men tioned for alderm a n or super% isor for this and th a t ward. F r a n k Eiger will be pushed for a lderm a n i n th e First and Thomas Hoyle’s friends desire him to ru n for supervisor. In th o Second ward Lawyer Fred I. Allen is being mentioned for supervisor These nam e s are all Republicans. Tlin D e m o c rats are very quiet watching the Republicans. In other words very little is s a id am ong the w o rkers of e ithrr party. F o r city assess or tho present in c u m b e n t H. II Rhodes has no com p e titor am o n g the Republicans. W h ethor th e present police commissioners, Messrs L a u rie and R ic\ desire a renom ination seem s to bo au open question. The correspondent of th e Times m et a prom inent p olitician yesterd a y on Gene- 800 street, who said th a t tbo county clerkBhlp would be a n interesting strug gle next year. Ho said th a t George L a n e h a rt waa now w o rking hard for tho position, although tho final struggle would not be until n e x t fall, but ho thought George w o u ld find it hard to displace Bon W ilcox w h o w a s now hold ing the office and w o u ld ag a in bo in tho field. He said Ben w a s both popular in th e country and city. T h e ro is hardly a m an from (ienoa to F a ir H aven but w h a t Ben knows personally. IIo has been very accom m o d a ting as clork, and tho law jers and peoplo generally speak in high term s of h is efficiency. George is solid with the “ b o y s” and Ben is equally as solid w ith th o farm e rs and lawyers. Ex-Supervisor C lark of Union Springs also thinks he s h o u ld have tho samo offlco. C o u ldn ’t O u s t t h e B o lt e r C olumkus , O., J a n . 3.—T h e troublobo gan enrly in the senato to-day, when Mr. Ronnoll’s raised tho question w h ether the president p ro tern had been legally elected bccauso ho had voted for himsolf. Thero has a lw a y s been a rulo tlm t no member could voto on m a tter in which ho is interested, nell moved to c o rrect tho p a r t of journal which states th a t Davis elected presidont C o w g ill then the chair. Towiihend talked in favor of tho right to vote for < nes-Kelf. citing the fact that oven senator had voted to put him self here and th a t presidents, judges and governors vote for them selves nt elections. Chairm an CowgiU decided th a t Ronuell'a motion w aa o u t of order. On nppeal the c h a ir w a s sustained by a voto of 10 to 10. P resident DaviB took his chair again. An effort to oust tho officers elected by yesterday’s “ b o lt” of tho 13 Republi can senators, waH to-day defeated by the same voto by w h ich thoy w ero elected. After a long w angle a u d m u c h dilatory opposition liy tho Demoi rats, tho senate passed u resolution condem n ing the president's recom m e n d a tion of the re- inoval of tl < tariff on wool. G ift to Hlo A lm a M a te r . N ew H aven , J a n !?.— A lexander Dun can, Yale 1820, of L o n d o n , Eng., has given Yulo $20,000, to bo used as the university a u thorities m a y deem boot. TBE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE. H is R e c o m m e n d a tions to th e Legislature. any Ron tho was took NEGLECT OF DUTY CHARGED. F o r m e r R e c o m m e n d a tio n s R e i t e r a t e d —T h e C e n s u s M a tte r C o m e s In f o r C riticism STATE OF NEW YORK, i EXECl'TITE CIIAXEBll. I A i . banv . Jan. 3 1888. To the Legislature The opening of the one hundred and eleventh session of the legislature of New York sinco tho establishm ent of our constitution, finds our com m o n wealth in the enjoyment of a large share of public prosperity, suggestive of the benefits of continued good governm e n t, and affording renewed evidence of tho permanence and inestimable value of our free institutions. I have determined to mako this a n n u a l message tho briefest on record. This conclusion is reached, not because there is n o t an abundance lo present, but be cause I fully realize that ho w h o gives his suggestions w ith conciseness and brevity confers no small g ift upon active men in this busy age. He secures, in addition, an attention which is o rdinarily refused prolix state papers. H a v ing spoken in other year3 at considerable length, in like messages, upon m a n y of the questions with which I shall deal in this, I shall content myself in tho main with a condensed rccitul of Bome of tho reforms and changes a lready accomplished, and reiterate m a n y o f the suggestions previously advocated. I maj be permitted to observe th a t muny important recom mendations here tofore mado by me, having already received tho favorable action of the legislature, my task at this time is materially lightened. General laws have boon passod by which much special legislation can be avoided. A general act for tho incorpo ration of tru--t < unpanies has been enacted, therein dispensing w ith the 111 ce-^Uy of npet l.il ai't.< The puw< r of the lui il authorities of villages and towns in tho m a tter of local improvements and expenditures have been enlarged and increased, thus relieving tho legislature from num erous applications to confer such powers in special cases. Appeals in capital cases have been au thorized to be takon from the C o u rt of Oyer and Terminer directly to the C o u rt of Appeals, by which tho adm inistra tion of tho criminal law in this class of cases will bo greatly facilitated. Preferences in assignments of insol vent debtors ha\o been regulated and re strieted. insuring hereafter a more equitabie d i-tribution of the debtor’b es tate among creditors, being a measure of considerable importance to the m e r cantile community. A State Board of Mediation a n d Arbi tration has been created for the am ica ble adjustm ent of labor disputes arising between employers nnd employes, which board is now in fairly successful opera tion, and reasonably meeting the expec tations of the people. Additional holidays, including the Saturday half holiday, have been estali liabed by law affording opportunity for much-needed recreation and enjoy ment to large c I ubhph of people, espec ially during the summer months. Private banker-., not already engaged in banking Im-iniM, have been proliib ited from making use of any artificial or corporato name, or other words indi cating that their business is th a t of a bank, by which legislation innocent peo plo will hereaftor bo protected from im position, and much fraud prevented. An a ct has been adopted p roviding for the preservation of the forosts belorging to the state, regulating tho control and managomont thereof and creating a for est commission for such purposses. Substantial progress has been mado in establishing a complete system for tho prevention of adultoration of articlos of food and drink. The sale of canned goods I as been regulated to a limited extent, the use of certain im proper sub stances in the m anufacture of co n fec tionery has been prohibited, as well as tho use of any substitute for hops or pure extract of hops in tho m a n u facture of ale or beer; and acts have been passed to prevont the adulteration of vinegar and wines. The employment of childrc n in var ious laborious industries has been regu lated and beneficially restricted. The Mechanic’s Lien law has been re vised and improved. RENEWAL o f PREVIOUS ItECOJISIENDA- TIONS. In tho diBchargo of my obligation to communicato to tho legislature inform a tion io-pecting the condition o f tho state, and to recommend mi' h m a tters as I may judge expedient, I respectfully commend to your consideration the fol lowing. 1st. An act regulating the employ mcnt of prison labor. After tho abolition of the contract syst'tu, il was hold that, undor existing laws ilm only system of prison labor that was logally availablo for operation was the public account system . Tho superintendent of state prisons lias, therpforo, no discretion in tho m a tter, in the absenco of aflirmativo legislation. That system, as has been repeatedly urzed, should be regulated, modified aud restricted, so as to provent, as fnr sis possible, unjust competition and inter ference with outside) labor Tho legisla ture IriH hen tofore neglected to d e ter mine this i|iiestion by necessary a n d ap propriate legislation. My views upon tlii.s futiject havo been so frequently ex pressed that it seems unnecessary to reit erate them Tho report of tho prison labor commission, authorized in 1H8G. ami presented to tho last legislature and unai ted upon by that body, elaborately dtscuBses tho wholo problem of prison '\bor and its conclusions and recom m e n d ations should be carcfully c onsid ered. 2d. A m e a s u re providing for spring m u n icipal elections in the city of New York. The details winch, m ray judgm ent, such a m e a s u re should contain, have been outlined in previous messages, and need not be repeated at this time. 3d. An a c t providing for a special counsel to th e legislature. My view s in relation to this m a tter aro so w e ll understood that further e x planation of th e m mny well bo o mitted. 4th. A revision of tho tax laws of the state, w h e reby real and personal p rop erty shall be placed upon an equal foot ing for all purposes of taxation, and per sonal property be compelled to b ear its ju s t proportion of the public burdens. This recom m e n d a tion is now mado for the th ird tim e , hut it has not thus far resulted ii. securing any legislation w h a te v e r. Public senti m ent has, how ever, beon awakened upon tho s u b ject, and tho partv in con trol of tho legislature, at its state con vention in Septem ber last, declared itself a s follow s “ We are in favor of such f u r th e r changes in the tax laws as shall equalize th e burden, and compel personal property to bear its proper share.” I t is to be hoped that this solemn pledge to the peoplo m a y in good faith be fulfilled. Otb. T h e creation of a commission to revise tho c h a r ter of the city of Now York. The arg u m e n ts in favor of this step wero presented a t length last year, and they are believed to bo as pertinent now as then. A w o rk of this im p o rtant character c a n n o t well bo perfected in tho legislature w ithout outsido aid. The necessity o f revision ia conceded, and the authorization of a commission to prepare a n d subm it a proposed c h a rter to the legislature for its action would be a practical effort towards reform in tho reform in th e righ t direction. Gth. The abolition of the board of regents o f th e university, and the trans fer of its pow era to the department of public instruction. The object sought to bo accomplished is tho unification of tho supervision of tho e d u c a tional interests of the state, and the abolition of unnecessary and o r nam e n tal offices. 7th. Tlio abolition of the state, board of c h a rities, and'the concentration of its powvr.s in a single officer s tli. The abolition of the state board of hi.ilth and tlio vesting of its powers in one ollicial. The p rim a ry object involved in tho last tw o m e a sures is the concentration of official pow e r and responsibility in some ono responsible head, by w h ich efficiency, unefulness and economy of the public s e rvice will be increased. iitli. A m e a s u re speciQcally p roviding for tho enforcem e n t of the “ froe ex ercise a n d enjoym e n t of religious pro fession an d worship without d iscrim i nation or p reference,-’euar.inteed in this state u n d e r the provisions of the consti tution “ to all m a n k ind.” It is c laim e d th a t Buch right is denied in som e of our penal institu tions. In this connection it is suggested th a t all penal institutions of a public or sem i-public character, re ceiving a id an d support from the state on account of inmates committed to them by th o courts, should be under the con'rol of m a n a g e rs, a part of whom, a t lej,st, should be selected by tho stnto, in order th a t th e s tate may havo some voice and influence in the administration of tho affairs o f such institutions. Ultli. A n act further limiting, regu lating and restricting the powers of cor porations iu tho issue of stock and bonds That som e check should be placed upon corporations in this respect seoms to b- urgently required. The existing laws a re defective and inadequate to properly protect the public, and to guard aguinst the issuo of stock and bonds rep resenting little or no valuable considera tion and w inch aro es-s‘ii'ially. though nerhaps no t technically fraudulent or fictitious in th e ir c laracter. Nearly all the m o n s trous fraudulent transactions of corporations in recent j ears aro traceable to this source, and tho time is opportune to render th e ir repetition impossiblo. 11th. A financial measuro affording a new source of revenue to the stato, spe cifically providing'.for the taxation of that spei ieB o f property which now alm ost entirely escapes assessment, to wit, tho ind. btednoss of corporations, joint stock companion a n d associations, represented in the scrip, bonds or certificates of in debtedness issued by such bodies,and tho imposition of a special tax thereon, to be fixed by law , and to be collected from such organizations by the comptroller of the state This plan, explained in all its details, has been recom mended in provious mes sages, and in various reports of tho com p troller, and merit* most serious consideration. A bill embodying itB p r in cipal features pussed ono house last y ear, but fuiled in tho other. An earnest effort to secure its adoption should bo mado this year, an d if successful, a meanB will be afforded of lessening in.a largo dogreo the present burden of taxation upon real estate 12th Tile creation of a stato gas com mission, w h ich shull possess over gas companies pow ers somewhat similur to iliiwn w h ich tho railroad commission has . . railroads, to bo maintained w ithout ci. > the suite, hut a t the expenBe of tl.' ipanicB affected. It is subm itted that such a measure, providing a proper tribunal for the hearing of com p laints and the correction of unjuBt e x a c tions, would hebeneficial, und relieve tho logUUtun from m u c h special legislation upon tins subject. It is suggested t h a t ull electric and other lighting com p a n ie s might with propriety bo included w ithin the provisions of the prop iced m easure. 13th A n a m e n d n u n t to the statute which lim its tho amount of recovery to $5 Out* in th e case of the death of a person < alined by the negligence o f another tierson or of a corporation, and increasing the am o u n t of damages th a t may be recovered in such actions to $10,000. The present restrict ion is unreasonable, and w o rks gri a t hardship in m any cases. Such an amendment passed the assembly^ last year, but failed in the senate. 14th. A statute m aking railroad companies absolutely liable for all damages by fires set by their lccomotives, irrespective of the question of proof of expre:s negligence on their part. Some provision of this character seems necessary for the better security of our citizens owning property on tlio route of railroads. 15th. Tho abolition of the office of state agont for discharged couvicts. Tho reasons for th is recommendation wero fully sot fo r th in last year’s message, and nothing has since occurred to change m y view s of its propriety. 16th. A m easuro providing for a special labor com m ission. The experienco of this Btate in paBt years lias dem o n strated that whatever objections m ay ju s tly be made to tbe creation of com m issions consisting of numerous mombers, to administer par ticular branches o f the statute law, no reasonable o b jection can be made to the appointment of such a commission to fram e laws upon subjects of g reat public interest, especially upon such as havo not had careful special investigation by the stato. Such a subject is presented to us now in the relations of capital to labor, and I believe th a t much good m ight be accom plished by the creation of a commission w h ich should consider this general subject a n d report to the n e s t legislature w h a t, if any, amend m ent _ tending to tho welfare of the industrial classes can be made to our laws, A commission of this kind, having ample time at its disposal a n d no legislative duties to perform, could deliberately and profi tably consider the m a n y suggestions that would bo made to it by employers and employed. Thoso who aro especially interested in theso problems of govern m ent, not infrequently advance ideas of much value, but th e generality of legis lative com m ittes havo apparently no tim e or inclination to devote themselves to a wise s o lutijn cf tho questions pre sented. The result o f such consideration as is usually given by oidiuary com mittees is tho passage, in many instances, of crude and im p e rfect bills, which aro unsatisfactory or oppressive to overy in terest affected. Tho tendency of tho time is toward rem edial legislation in these m atters, and if th a t tendency can be properly inform ed and directed, tho ro- fcult ought to be of benefit to all. I ac cordingly again recom mend the crea tion of a special labor commission. 17th Tho inauguration of a system of manual training in schools. Those who h a v e g iv e n careful atten tion to tho m e th o d s of education p r e vailing in ou r p u b lic schools beliovo t h a t som e a m e n d m e n t of o u r system , tending tow a r d m a n u a l tra i n i n g , is expedient I, therefore, re s p e c tf u lly again recom m e n d th a t th e a d v isab ility of the in auguration of s u c h a system bo given consideration ;b y th e Legislature, and refer to t h a t p o r tio n o f th e annual m es sage of 1887 w h ich presented m y view s upon this s u b ject. VF.TEUA.NS' RIGHTS. Tho right of inm a tes of the stato sold iers’ and sailors’ Home, at Bath, to exorcise the elective franchise, has ic- cently been questioned, and it is under stood that a large num b e r of the veter ans have even been indicated in the local courts for alleged violation of tho election law . S jm e legislative action in tho present situation of affairs is desirable, and I s h a ll take early oppor tunity to co n m u n icate with you upon the subject, and to m ake recommenda tion as to the w ay in which the rights of theso veterans can and should be more clearly established. t APITAL PUNISHMENT. In my first an n u a l message in 18S3, it was stated as follows “Tbo p resent m o d e of executing crim inals by hanging has come down to us from the dark ages, and it may well bo questioned w h e thor the science of tho present day c a n n o t provide a means for taking the lives of such as are con demned to dio, iu a less barbarous manner. I c o m m end this suggestion to the oons d eration of|the legislature.” Nothing was accomplished, however, th a t year, out, public attention having boen drawn to tho subject, the legisla ture, in 1880, appointed a commissijn, consisting of Eldridge T. Gerry, of New York. Dr. A. 1’. Houthwick. of Buffalo, and Matthew I lale, of Albany, to inves tigato and report to tho legislature tho humano and pratical methods known to modern scienco, of carrying into effect tho sentenco of death in capital cases It is expected t h a t this commission will soon present its report, which will un doubtedly receive th e prom p t considera tion which tho im p o rtance of the subject deserves. CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION In obedience to public sentiment in favor of a constitutional convention, os expressed at the election in 1880, I again recommend th a t prevision be mado, by law, for tho holding of such convention. Tho expressed w ill of the peoplo was substantially thw a rted and defied by tho unfortunate action of tho Inst legis lature, and it is to bo hoped that such action will not be repeated this .year. Tho constilutitniU duty to provide for such convention s till rem aining unper formed. it is c learly w ithin tho province of the prfsent legislature to discharge that ooligation. In th a t respect, tho same rulo applies as is applicable whero an enum eration or a reapportionment has been neglected by 0110 egislrture. In such cases, au y succeeding Legisla ture may and should perform the neg lected duty. COMMITMENT OF TUB INSANE, A decided interest has lately become m anifest upon tlio Bubject of the com - m im e n t of th e insano. An impression seems to havo b een m ade upon the public mind that a revision of the laws of the state relating to insanity, and especially as to tho m a n n e r of commitments, is urgently necessary. It is believed that this revision should bo in the direc tion of p lacing g r e a ter protection about the liberty of th e individual, nud of preventing incarceration except upon tho most indisputable cvidenco of its Continued on Eighth Pbpto.I INVESTIGATING MR, LAMAR C a llin g fo r His D e c isio n in th e Land C a s e . COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE U p o n W h o m th e C h a i r m a n s h i p W ill b e B e s to w e d — S h e r m a n 's S p e e c h . W ashington , Jan. 3.—C o n g ress will reassem b le at noon to-m o rrow , after tw o w e e k s of holiday recess. President Ingalls w ill he present to open the sen ate. M r. Sherman intends to call up hiB resolution after tho m o rning hour, re fe r r in g to the com m ittee on finance, th e president’s message, a n d w ill deliver a speech upon it, w h ich it is thought w ill giv e rise to m u ch political debate. H is speech will tako exceptions to the tariff rem a rks of the president p a rticu larly, an d will criticise th e policy of th e adm inistration generally, Mr. Voorhees will speek shortly a f t e r M r. Sherman', b u t he m a y not take th e floor till a day or tw o later. This a ll providing Mr. B lair, w h o h as the floor f o r the consideration o f his educa tional bill, will yield, and his friends say he w ill. The talk upon th e presi den t’s message may occupy th e week in the s e n a te. There will be s h o r t secret sessions e ach day for th e consideration of nom inations. It is not s h o u g h t that there w ill bo a report from tho com m it tee on judiciary this week o n th e n o m ina tion o f Mr. Lamar, or from other com m ittees on those of Mr. V ilas or Mr. D ickinson, and these aro the only nom inations pending over w h ich an y th in g like general discusssion will arise. It is stated that a resolution will be Introduced in secret session calling for all the papers in tho Omaha railroad land case w h ich Mr. Lamar recently decided and w h ich resulted in Land Comm issioner S p a rk s ’ resignation. If th is is done th e r e m a y not bo action taken in th e nom ination for weeks yet. Somo of the tim e of tho senato m a y be devoted to tho c onsideratiou of the direct tax bill a n d speeches by Mr. M itchell on his resolution looking tow ard establishm e n t of a naval station on the Pacific slope, S p e a k e r Carlisle inform e d a United Press reporter to-day, th a t ho intended to announce li.s com m ittees to-morrow, provided that some im p o rtant changes wero no t required. Ho has th e list all com p leted to night, but th e r e is alw ays m o re o r less changing a t the last hour. A f ter the committees aro announced, there w ill bo a call of states and terri tories f o r the introduction of bills. Tho first c a ll in a congress has usually taken th e g r e a ter part of two days, but sinco the adoption of tho new arrangem e n ts by w h ich private bills aro introduced at any tim e by merely handing them to the clerk to call, can be com p leted in one afternoon. The speaker says tliero is very little lobe done u n til th e com m ittees begin their,w o rk and report som e meas ures a n d it is probable th a t the house will havo but short sessions d u rin g the last th r e e days in tho week an d it may a d jo u r n from Friday, o r from Thursday over to Monday to give th e com m it tees a chance to organize and g e t to w o rk. The first m eeting of a committee is a lw a y s devoted largely to organiza tion, th e appointment of sub com m it tees, th e selection of a clork an d the out lining of the work. Those w h o are best inform e d upon the subject believo that the chairm anship of the principal com m ittees will be about a s follows W ays und m e a n s . Mills of Texas: apprDpria- tions, Randall of Pennsylvania, ju d i ciary, Bates of A labam a : elections, C risp of G eorgia, banking and currency, W ilkins of Ohio; coinage, weights and measures, P o lan d of Missouri: river an d harbors, B lanchard of Louisana, agriculture. H a tch of Missouri, foreign affairs, Bel m o n t of Now York, m ilitary affairs, T o w n shend of Illinois; naval affaire,H e r b e r t o f Alabtima; postoffices and post roads. Blount of Georgia; public lands, Ilo lm a n of Indiana. Indian affairs, Peel of» A rkansas, territories. Springer of Illin o is, railways and canals, Davidson of F lorida, public b u ildings a n d grounds, D ibble of South C arolina; Pacific rail roads, Outhwaite of O h io, education, C a n d ler of Georgia; labor, O'Neill of M issouri, invalid pensions, Matson of In d i a n . District of Colum b ia, Hem phill of S o u th Carolina; accounts, Dockery of M issouri; comm erce C lardy of M issouri. ---- T h i n k s L a m a r W ill P u ll T h r o u g h P i t t s b u r g , Jan. 3.—Solicitor-General G e o rge A. Jenks is in this city on private business a n d will retu rn to W a shington to-night. Ho Baid to-day t h a t ho had no d o u b t of Lamar’s c o n firm a tion. Senators S a w y e r and Stew art havo declared they w ill s u p p o r t him. Possibly Mr. Evarts will do so too, a n d alBO several other R e p u b licans. Mr. J e n k s considered tho opposition to Lam ar indicative of the “ b loody shirt'’ being m ado an issue in n e x t year’s campaign, along w ith the tariff question. He th o u g h t the tariff w o u ld bo romoved from somo raw ma terials, Ur was sure th a t tliore will be no B p l i t in tho Democratic p a rty on tho question. “ W hat m e n are m oat talked os fo r second place on the Democratic tick e t n e x t year?” A b o u t W a shington,” w a s tho reply “ S tevenson, Vilas and B lack appear to bo tho only ones thought o f .” D ied E a ting H is B r e a k f a s t P h i l a d e l p h i a , Jun. 3.—J . Bollnngoe Coxo, u member o f tho Philadelphia bar and secretary of the F a ir m o u n t Park A c t association, died suddenly nt the B ingham house this m o rning w h ile eat in g his breakfast. F a tty degeneration of tho heart is supposed to have been tho cause of liis death.
