The said William McDonald, after refusing to answer the said and similar questions, refused to attend further before your committee or to be examined by it, and pending his examination declined to testify further, and, against the direction of your committee, left the room. in which it was sitting.

The committee are of the opinion and report that it is necessary for the efficient prosecution of the investigation ordered by the Senate, that the said William McDonald should be required to answer the questions which he has refused to answer, and that he should be required to attend before your committee until his examination is concluded, and that his refusal to answer and to attend before the committee as aforesaid is in contempt of the Senate.

FRED. GIBBS, Chairman.
ALBERT DAGGETT,

D. MCCARTHY,

F. LANSING,

JOHN J. CULLEN,

JAMES DALY,

JOHN BOYD THACHER.

In connection therewith Mr. Gibbs offered the following resolution: Resolved, Good and sufficient reason therefor appearing in the report to the Senate of the standing committee on cities, charged by the Senate with the duty of investigating the department of public works in the city of New York, which report was presented to the Senate on this 25th day of February. A. D., 1884, that the President of the Senate is hereby directed to forthwith issue his warrant directed to the Sergeant-at-Arms, commanding him to take into custody the body of William McDonald, of the city of New York, wherever he be found and to bring the same forth with before the said Senate at the bar thereof, to then and there answer why he should not be punished as guilty of contempt of the dignity and authority of the same, and in the mean time to keep the said McDonald in his custody to await the further order of the Senate.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative, as follows:

The Assembly sent for concurrence the following entitled bill:

"An act to center responsibility in the municipal government 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.

Mr. Comstock introduced a bill entitled "An act to regulate certain proceedings of the board of supervisors of Rensselaer county," 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 16 of title 4 of chapter 598 of the Laws of 1870, relative to the city of Troy, as amended by chapter 248 of the Laws of 1882," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on cities.

The Senate then resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and proceeded to the consideration of special orders, being the concurrent resolution entitled as follows:

"Proposing an amendment to the Constitution by adding an additional article thereto, to be known as article 17."

After some time spent therein, the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Murphy, from said committee, reported progress on the abovenamed concurrent resolution, and asked and obtained leave to sit again. Mr. Low moved that said resolution be made the special order for Monday evening, March 3.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion, and it was decided in the affirmative, two-thirds of all the Senators elected voted in favor thereof.

Mr. Low offered the following:

Resolved, That the mayor of the city of New York be and hereby is requested to furnish, for the use and information of the judiciary committee of the Senate, on or before three o'clock, P. M., of Wednesday, the 27th inst., the original petition in pursuance of which he appointed the so-called Rapid Transit Commission, November 30, 1883, in compliance with chapter 606, Laws of 1875.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said resolution, and it was decided in the affirmative.

Mr. McCarthy presented a memorial from stone-cutters asking for an appropriation for continuing work on the Capitol; which was read and referred to the committee on finance.

Mr. Fassett moved that the Senate do now adjourn.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion, and it was decided in the negative, as follows:

The Senate again resolved itself into a committee of the whole, and proceeded to the consideration of general orders, being the bills entitled as follows:

"An act to amend chapter 205 of the Laws of 1883, entitled 'An act to abolish the office of Canal Appraiser and the State Board of Audit, and to establish a Board of Claims, and define its powers and duties.'

"An act to regulate and fix the tare on hops, the weight of hop baling and a standard weight of bales of hops."

"An act to amend the Code of Criminal Procedure."

After some time spent therein the President resumed the chair, and Mr. Comstock, from said committee, reported in favor of the passage of the first-named bill, which report was agreed to, and the same ordered engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Comstock, from the same committee, reported in favor of the passage of the second-named bill, with amendments, which report was agreed to, and the same ordered engrossed for a third reading.

Mr. Comstock, from the same committee, reported progress on the last-named bill, and asked and obtained leave to sit again. On motion of Mr. Bowen, the Senate adjourned.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1884.

The Senate met pursuant to adjournment.

Prayer by the Chaplain.

The journal of yesterday was read and approved.

Mr. Thacher presented a petition from the stonecutters employed on the Capitol for an appropriation to continue work on the Capitol building; which was read and referred to the committee of the whole. On motion of Mr. Thacher, the same was ordered printed.

Mr. Coggeshall, from the committee on engrossed bills, reported as correctly engrossed the bills entitled as follows:

"An act to amend the Code of Civil Procedure."

"An act to extend the operation and effect of chapter 40 of the Laws of 1848, entitled 'An act to authorize the formation of corporations for manufacturing, mining, mechanical or chemical purposes." The Assembly returned the following entitled bill with a message that they had concurred in the passage of the same.

"An act to amend chapter 621 of the Laws of 1857, entitled 'An act to condense and amend the several acts incorporating or relating to the village of Skaneateles.' Also chapter 148 of the Laws of 1867, amending said act.”

Ordered, That the Clerk deliver said bill to the Governor.

Mr. Ellsworth introduced a bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 409 of the Laws of 1882, entitled 'An act to revise the statutes of this State relating to banks, banking and trust companies,"" which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on banks.

Mr. Vedder introduced a bill entitled "An act to provide for the valuation of life insurance policies issued by life insurance companies authorized to transact business 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 insurance.

Mr. Nelson introduced a bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 49 of the Laws of 1878, entitled 'An act in relation to noxious weeds and brush in public highways,"" which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on roads and bridges.

Mr. Robb introduced a bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 336 of the Laws of 1883, entitled 'An act to authorize the selection,

location and appropriation of certain lands in the village of Niagara Falls for a State reservation and to preserve the scenery of the Falls of Niagara," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on finance.

Also, a bill entitled "An act to amend section 264 of the Penal Code," 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, by request, a bill entitled "An act to facilitate the transfer of land situated 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, by request, a bill entitled "An act to provide for the appointment of commissioners to prepare and report to the Legislature a bill to facilitate and lessen the expense of the transfer of land and dealing therewith in certain 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 the judiciary.

Mr. Thomas introduced a bill entitled "An act to incorporate the Young Men's Christian Association of the city of Binghamton," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on miscellaneous corporations.

Also, a bill entitled "An act to provide for changing the site of county buildings," 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. Murphy introduced a bill entitled "An act to provide for the repavement of Fifth avenue 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.

Mr. Jacobs introduced a bill entitled "An act to protect the rights of infants relative to costs in civil actions," 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. Titus introduced a bill entitled "An act making an appropriation to pay toward the expense of constructing an outlet to the trunk sewer under the Erie canal and Black Rock harbor in the city of Buffalo," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on finance.

The Assembly bill entitled "An act to repeal section 4 of chapter 40 of the Laws of 1857, entitled 'An act to extend and amend the charter of the Glen Cove Mutual Insurance Company,' passed March 29, 1837," was read the third time.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to the final passage of said bill, and it was decided in the affirmative, a majority of all the Senators elected voting in favor thereof, as fol

Ordered, That the Clerk return said bill to the Assembly, with a message that the Senate have concurred in the passage of the same.

The Assembly bill entitled "An act to amend chapter 192 of the Laws of 1882, entitled 'An act to withdraw and reserve that part of the public lands known as Esopus and Rogers islands from sale or lease under the land laws of the State, and to dedicate and set apart in order to preserve it as a distinguished feature of beauty in the natural scenery in its locality,"" having been announced for a third reading, On motion of Mr. Newbold, and by unanimous consent, said bill was amended as follows:

Strike out" statue" and insert "statute."

Said bill, as amended, was then read the third time.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to the final passage of said bill, and it was decided in the affirmative, a majority of all the Senators elected voting in favor thereof, and three-fifths being present, as follows:

Ordered, That the Clerk return said bill to the Assembly, with a message that the Senate have concurred in the passage of the same, with an amendment.

The bill entitled "An act for the relief of persons who performed the duties of janitors of district courts in the city of New York, between September 30, 1878, and May 1, 1880," having been announced for a a third reading,

On motion of Mr. Campbell said bill was amended by striking out, in section "May" and inserting "June."

Said bill, as amended, was then read the third time.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to the final passage of said bill, and it was decided in the affirmative, a majority of all the Senators elected voting in favor thereof, and three-fifths being present, as follows:

Ordered, That the Clerk deliver said bill to the Assembly and request their concurrence therein.

The bill entitled "An act to provide for furnishing an increased supply of water for the city of Brooklyn," having been announced for a third reading,

Mr. Otis moved that said bill be laid aside until to-morrow.

The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to said motion, and it was decided in the negative.

Said bill was then read the third time.

The President then put the question whether the Senate would agree