Prayer by the Chaplain. The President then addressed the Senate as follows: SENATORS-In obedience to the requirements of the Constitution of our State, I assume the duties of presiding officer of this body. Having no experience in this branch of the legislative service, I solicit your generous co-operation and kind indulgence in the discharge of the responsible and delicate duties of that position. It shall be my aim to so impartially enforce the rules which you have adopted to guide your methods of procedure as to merit your confidence and meet your approval. We assemble under circumstances of peculiar significance in the political history of our State. The recent unprecedented expression of the popular will requires at our hands the greatest exertions and our best endeavors in order to meet, even to a limited extent, the expectations of the people. The demands of the hour, as thus evidenced by the voice of the State, are that the abuses of the past shall be reformed, that there shall be a better and purer administration of public affairs a reduction in the enormous expenses of government, greater economy in official expenditures, home rule for cities, honest. action in political primaries and conventions, and a return to the simple methods of the founders of our republic. In so far as the accomplishment of these salutary results can be aided by the action of this body, it will be your duty as well as pleasure to render such effective assistance as lies in your power. Let our legislation be in the interest of good government. Our aim should be to protect the prerogatives of tax payers, to foster the just demands of labor, to relieve the people from the unjust exactions of monopolies, and at the same time to guard and defend incorporated capital in its vested rights. Permit me to suggest that the experience of the past proves that there is always danger of too much legislation rather than too little. It is to be hoped that, in a business-like way, we may diligently proceed with the work before us by speedily enacting those measures which are actually and imperatively demanded by the necessities of the State, followed by an early adjournment. No good reason exists why the session of this Legislature should not be made conspicuous by its brevity. Little special legislation would now seem to be necessary, and the enactment of general laws should be undertaken infrequently and with extreme caution. Among our first most important duties will be the passage of a just and proper apportionment act. It should be made so impartial and equitable in its provisions so free from partisan advantages and considerations, that no fair-minded legislator can have any excuse for the continuance of the present manifestly iniquitous apportionment, which is so unfair in its discriminations against certain sections of the State. I desire to observe and emphasize the fact that this Legislature is competent to frame and shape its own measures without the aid of that class of individuals who, holding no official relation to it, yet make it their business to constantly hover about every legislative body seeking to dictate its policy and influence its conduct. These corrupt, lobbying influences, which are unfortunately increasing year after year, and which no honest man can view without concern, should be frowned upon and discouraged. These men, who thus surround us for such purposes, have neither the interests of the State at heart nor the wel fare of its representatives. Their motives are mercenary, their occupation disreputable, and their very presence is a reproach. I trust and believe that your deliberations during the session now opening will be harmonious. I know of nothing that should disturb them. All causes for previous differences among the majority of this body have passed away, never, I hope, to return again. We are all commissioned by the people to subserve their interests, and theirs alone. Partisan considerations should be secondary in our efforts for the public weal. "He serves his party best who serves the people well.” Let us, then, proceed unitedly together in the paths of duty which lie so clearly before us. Let our ambition be to perform our respective functions in an honorable and creditable manner to advance the material interests of our grand old Commonwealth; to add to its prosperity; to increase its usefulness, and to make it as illustrious in the future as it was in all its early history. Mr. Jacobs offered the following: Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to wait upon the honorable the Assembly and inform that body that the Senate is organized and ready to proceed with business. The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative. The President appointed as such committee Messrs. Jacobs and McCarthy. Mr. Grady offered the following: Resolved, That a committee of two be appointed to wait upon the Governor and inform him that the Senate is organized and ready to proceed to business. The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative. The President appointed as such committee Messrs. Grady and Pitts. The President of the Senate announced the following appointments: President's Clerk - John B. Locke. President's Messenger - Harris A. Corell. The Clerk of the Senate announced the following appointments: Messenger to Committees and Pages for session of 1883- William L. Lloyd, in place of Edward Brodie, resigned; Edward McCormack, in place of Charles A. Ball, resigned. Mr. Roberts presented a petition of the board of supervisors of Oneida county for an amendment to the law relative to railroad corporations; which was read and referred to the committee on railroads. Mr. Daly introduced a bill entitled "An act in relation to telegraph and electric light companies in cities of this State," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on miscellaneous corporations. Mr. Fitzgerald introduced a bill entitled "An act amending the Code of Civil Procedure" (§ 1338), which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the judiciary. Also, a bill entitled "An act to prohibit the hiring or letting of the labor of convicts, or of the inmates of reformatory institutions or penitentiaries to contractors," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on State prisons. Mr. Koch introduced a bill entitled "An act to constitute certain testimony, depositions, exhibits, maps and proceedings evidence in actions or proceedings involving a question as to the situs of lot No. 143 of the common lands (so called) in the city of New York," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the judiciary. Also, a bill entitled "An act to amend section 2642 of the Code of Civil Procedure," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the judiciary. Mr. Holmes introduced a bill entitled "An act to authorize the Hillside Cemetery Association in the town of Georgetown, Madison county, to control the lands used for burial purposes in the village of Georgetown, and to make assessments to maintain the same," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on miscellaneous corporations. Mr. Russell introduced a bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 378 of the Laws of 1878, entitled 'An act for the protection of life, and to prevent accidents by vessels navigating the port and harbor of New York and waters adjacent thereto,'" which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on commerce and navigation. Mr. Grady introduced a bill entitled "An act relating to certain dock property in the city of New York," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on cities. Also, a bill entitled "An act in relation to sureties on bonds for work for municipal corporations," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on cities. Also, a bill entitled "An act to pension teachers, tutors, assistant professors or full professors in the public schools of the city of New York," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on literature, Also, a bill entitled "An act relating to the salaries of certain officers and members of the police force and fire department of the city. of New York," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on cities. Also, a bill entitled "An act to improve the public health in the city of New York, by regulating the manufacturing of cigars in the tenement-houses of said city," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on cities. Also, a bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 175 of the Laws of 1870, entitled 'An act regulating the sale of intoxicating liquors," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on internal affairs. Also, a bill entitled "An act to regulate the fare to be charged and collected by persons or corporation operating elevated railroads in the city of New York," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on railroads. Mr. Pitts introduced a bill entitled "An act to abolish the office of the Auditor of the Canal Department," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on canals. Also, a bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 362 of the Laws of 1880, entitled 'An act to provide for the preservation of county and town co-operative insurance companies,"" which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on insurance. Mr. Boyd introduced a bill entitled "An act to regulate the use of certain slips, piers and wharves on the East river in the city of New York," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on commerce and navigation. Mr. Browning introduced a bill entitled "An act to authorize the board of fire commissioners of the city of New York to inquire into and determine the claim of William H. Wilson to be placed upon the pension roll of the fire department of said city," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on cities. Mr. F. Lansing introduced a bill entitled "An act to amend section 16 of chapter 179 of the Laws of 1856, entitled 'An act to provide for a more thorough supervision and inspection of common schools, and further to amend the statutes relating to public instruction in the State,' which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on literature. Also, a bill entitled "An act to amend title 3 of chapter 714 of the Laws of 1869, entitled 'An act to incorporate the city of Watertown,' which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on cities. Mr. Roberts introduced a bill entitled "An act to regulate the fees and charges for elevating and storing grain in and by floating or stationary elevators and warehouses in this State," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on canals. The President presented the following: UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, Į To the Legislature of the State of New York: Under authority of law and by order of the Board of Regents, I renew to the Legislature the notice heretofore given that a vacancy exists in the Board of Regents caused by the death of the Hon. Robert S. Hale, of Elizabethtown, on the 14th day of December, 1881. ALBANY, January 2, 1883. DAVID MURRAY, Secretary. H. R. PIERSON, Chancellor. Mr. A. Lansing offered the following: Whereas, Notification has been received from the Secretary of the Board of Regents of the State of New York, that a vacancy has occurred in the said board by reason of the decease of Robert S. Hale, therefore. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the Legislature meet in joint session on Wednesday, the 10th day of January, instant, at 12 o'clock noon, for the purpose of electing a Regent of the University in place of Robert S. Hale, deceased. The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative. Ordered, That the Clerk deliver said resolution to the Assembly and request their concurrence therein. Mr. Koch offered the following: Resolved, That the judiciary committee be and are hereby instructed and directed to examine the provisions of chapter 676 of the Laws of 1881, entitled "An act to establish a Penal Code," and the several acts amendatory thereof, and to report a bill to this Senate prior to the 20th day of January, 1883, changing, altering, modifying, amending or repealing said Code, as the said committee, or a majority thereof, shall claim just, proper and feasible. The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative. Mr. Grady, from the committee appointed to wait upon the Governor and inform him that the Senate was organized and ready to proceed with business, reported that the committee had performed that duty, and that the Governor in response said that he would communicate with the Senate in writing. Mr. Treanor offered the following: Resovled, That the judiciary committee report within the next thirty days a bill embodying such amendments to existing law as will secure to every person charged with insanity a trial by jury, or by the court, of the question as to their mental condition before their incarceration in any asylum or institution for the care of the insane. The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative. A message was received from the Governor in the words following: STATE OF NEW YORK : To the Legislature: EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, } In obedience to the provision of the Constitution which directs that the Governor shall communicate to the Legislature, at every session, the condition of the State, and recommend such matters to them as he shall judge expedient, I transmit this, my first annual message, with the intimation that a newly-elected executive can hardly be prepared to present a complete exhibit of State affairs, or to submit in detail a great variety of recommendations for the action of the Legis lature.' From the statement furnished me by the Comptroller, the details of which will be found in the annual report of that officer, it appears that the finances of the State are in a satisfactory condition. The total funded debt on the 30th day of September, 1882, after. deducting an unapplied balance in the sinking fund of the canal debt, was $6,385,356.30. Of this sum, $122,694.87 is the amount necessary to yield, at six per cent interest, the sum required to pay the annuities to Indians; $3,000 is the unclaimed bounty debt; and the remainder, $6,259,661.43, represents the canal debt. The only change in the |