Bruns department-of-public-works bill.

.AYE.

JACOB A. CANTOR. 23D ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.

[23d Assembly district includes all of Manhattan Island east of 7th avenue and north of 91st St.; and also Ward's and Randall's Island.]

UNITED DEMOCRACY. LAWYER, 115 Nassau St.

House, 132 East 105th St.

Member of standing committees (1) on judiciary (2) on revision, (3) on two-thirds and three-fifths bills.

He introduced about thirty bills, covering a variety of subjects, some of private nature. Less than onehalf of his bills affected New York City. Among them

were:

To provide for the erection of a building for a free public library in New York City (No. 72.-3d R'd'g.— Int. 242).

Establishing and incorporating a free public library in New York City (No. 74.-3d R'd'g.-Int. 241).

To provide for the removal of the reservoir between 40th and 42d Streets. The removal of this reservoir

would permit the building of the library on the land (No. 73.-3d R'd'g.-Int. 243).

"An act to abolish the office of chamberlain of the "city of New York, and to create the office of city 66 treasurer, and relative to the board of estimate and apportionment" (No. 398.-G. O. 310.-Int 454). A bad bill, giving to the treasurer large powers, without due responsibility for his acts, and making the office elective. As a law it would have worked to the advantage of the city politicians and the detriment of the city. Protests against the bill were sent to Albany by private citizens, and by the mayor, the comptroller, the corporation counsel, and Judge Davis of the Supreme Court.

The so-called "Cantor franchise bill," which provided for the sale at public auction of street railway franchises to the company which will pay to the city the largest percentage of its gross earnings (Nos. 24 and 105.-G. O. 19-Int. 65). Became a law (Chaps. 65 and 642, laws 1886).

Extending jurisdiction of justices' courts to cases involving $500.00 (No. 454.-G. O. 356.—Int. 719).

In relation to the power of the department of public parks over the opening of streets, parks, etc., in certain parts of N. Y. City (No. 665.-G. O. 503.-Int. 971).

Requiring a deposit, to guarantee good faith on the part of parties bidding for public work, supplies, etc. (No. 978.-3 R'd'g. 788.—Int. 1250).

Striking out subdivision three, section fourteen hundred and sixteen of the consolidation act of 1882 (No. 1009.-3d Rdg. 898.-Int. 1278). Became a law (Chap. 678, laws 1886).

Mr. Cantor's record is bad. As he is a comparatively able man, he deserves the stronger censure for his course in the last assembly. In advocating the Nooney excise bill, he said in the assembly that he thought “it "eminently proper that the president of the board of "aldermen should have sole power to appoint excise "commissioners."

His votes are :—

Comstock excise bill.

Nooney excise bill.

Aqueduct commission bill..

Bruns department-of-public-works bill..

.No.

. AYE.

. AYE.

AYE.

JOHN B. SHEA. 24TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT.

[24th Assembly district includes all annexed district east and north of Harlem River.]

UNITED DEMOCRACY. LAWYER; Fordham.

House, 735 Kingsbridge Road.

Member of standing committees (1) on excise, (2) on roads and bridges, (3) on public printing, (4) on public health.

He introduced about twenty bills, most of which related to the altering, improving, and opening of streets in the twenty-third and twenty-fourth wards, which are in his district. Among his bills were :—

Providing that buildings be constructed of substantial materials, and regulating the construction of them, with a view to preventing fires (No. 168.-G. O. 130.— Int. 17).

"An act to establish a ward for the surgical and "medical treatment of persons wounded or taken ill in "the city of New York, north of one hundred and "seventy-fifth street and east of North Third Avenue' -(No.287.-G. O. 222.-Int. 369).

To change the line of the Bronx River Road in the Woodlawn district of the 24th Ward, by the department of public parks (No. 291.-G. O. 218.-Int. 200). Became a law (Chap. 575, laws 1886).

Providing for an additional alderman from his assembly district (No. 563.—G. O. 422.—Int. 357).

Although Mr. Shea must be commended for his votes, it cannot be said that he exerted much influence for good during the session. He was the only assemblyman from this city who voted right upon the four bills considered in the table.

.......No.

Bruns department-of-public-works bill...

MICHAEL C. MURPHY. 5TH SENATE DISTRICT.

[5th senate district includes all of city south of Leroy St., Bleecker St., Hancock St., and Houston St., Bowery, Chatham St., and Roosevelt St.]

COUNTY DEMOCRAT. PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN. Clauson's Hotel, Desbrosses and Washington Streets. Member of standing committees (1) on finance, (2) on miscellaneous corporations, (3) on state prisons, (4) on rules.

He introduced twenty-five or thirty bills. Among

them were:

Establishing and incorporating a free public library in New York City (No. 35.-G. O. 33.—Int. 122).

Providing for the erection and maintenance of a building for a free public library in New York City (No. 36.-G. O. 34.-Int. 123).

A cheap gas bill known as the "Murphy-Thomas" gas company bill, one of the cheap gas bills which was received generally as a good measure. It allowed new companies to be formed with restrictions, lessened the price of gas to $1.25, restricted the capital, and prevented consolidation, etc. (Nos. 135 and 372.-G. O. 150. Int. 354). Introduced on behalf of the special committee of the last senate to investigate lighting companies in the City of New York. The bill became a law (Chap. 321, laws 1886).

Restricting the hours of labor on street surface railroads to twelve hours out of twenty-four, with suitable time for meals, and providing that extra time shall be paid for (No. 175.—Int. 400). Became a law (Chap.

151, laws 1886).

The Arcade Railway bill, which allows the company to build under part of Broadway and Madison Avenue, with restrictions regarding the disturbing of vaults, pipes, and mains, etc., and providing for subways at the expense of company for sewers, electric wires, etc. (No. 348.-G. O. 411-Int. 387).

Providing for the opening of a new street parallel to Broadway,—spoken of generally as the Elm street improvement. The bill aims at relieving pressure of travel in Broadway (No. 419.-G. O. 519.—Int. 509).