The above lots in Hamilton county contain 14,120 acres.

Township No. 5, Moose River Tract, in Hamilton and Herkimer counties, 22,384 acres, August 20, 1855.

Township 38, in Hamilton and Herkimer counties, 20 lots, containing 4,886 acres of land; also 1,000 acres on the northerly line of said township; also 1,110 acres in town of Long Lake, granted September 27, 1855.

Township No. 3, Moose River Tract, counties of Hamilton and Herkimer, 79 lots, containing 13,072 acres, granted October 3, 1855. Township No. 9, Moose River Tract. 1,680 acres, in Hamilton county, granted October 4, 1855.

Township No. 10, Moose River Tract, Hamilton county, 9,779 acres, granted October 8, 1855.

Township No. 9, Moose River Tract, Hamilton county, 4,182 acres, granted October 10, 1855.

Township No. 8, Totten & Crossfield's purchase, 3,648 acres, Hamilton county, granted October 8, 1855.

Township No. 22, Totten & Crossfield's purchase, Hamilton county, 16,620 acres, granted October 10, 1855.

Township Nos. 1 and 2, Totten & Crossfield's purchase, Hamilton county, 1,388, acres, granted October 12, 1855.

8,417 acres in Hamilton county, being part of Watson's East Tract, granted October 13, 1855.

Township No. 3, Totten & Crossfield's purchase, county of Hamilton, containing 8,960 acres, granted July 15, 1855.

In Hamilton and Warren counties between townships 29 and 31, containing 6,984 acres, granted July 15, 1855.

In Warren county, Township No. 11, Literature lot, Townships 13 and 14, and Gospel and School Lot 13 and 14, comprising 15,974 acres, granted July 15, 1855.

Also certain lots of land in Warren and Essex counties, Township 14; also in West of Roads Patent; also in Paradox tract, comprising 7,042 acres, granted July 15, 1855.

Summary.

In August, September and October, 1855, in Hamilton and Essex counties, were granted,.. 205,202 acres at 5 cts. per acre. In July, 1856, Hamilton county,..

20,000 do 5

do

No lands were granted by the State to the Lake Ontario and Hudson River Railroad Company, or to the Adirondack Company. The Sacketts Harbor and Saratoga Railroad Company, subsequently to the acquisition of the aforesaid lands was merged in the Lake Ontario and Hudson River Company, and both companies were merged in the Adirondack Company, after the organization of that company, by virtue of chap. 236, Laws of 1863.

ERASTUS CLARK,

Clerk of the Commissioners of the Land Office.

No. 98.

IN CONVENTION

August 23, 1867.

REPORT

OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE POWERS AND DUTIES

OF THE LEGISLATURE EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE REFERRED.

The Committee on the Powers and Duties of the Legislature except as otherwise referred, respectfully

REPORT:

That in the discharge of their duties they have been somewhat embarrassed to determine definitely what particular subjects, under their organization, have been committed to their charge. A reference to the reports of other standing committees of this body, discloses the fact that such committees have labored under a similar embarrassment in regard to the duties which devolve upon them under the peculiar division of the several subjects made by the Convention. A necessary result of this uncertainty is that different committees have examined and in many instances reported upon the same subjects, thus furnishing to the Convention the benefits of the experience and judgments of more than one Committee in regard to such subject.

Your committee have carefully and fully examined the several subjects which in their judgment were legitimately embraced in the range of their duties, and also such other matters as from time to time have been referred to them by the Convention, and after such examination have united in recommending the article accompanying this report, for adoption by the Convention.

It will be readily perceived that a considerable portion of this article consists of sections taken without change from the present Constitution of the State. Other sections from the present Constitution have been adopted by your Committee, with such modifications as, in the judgment of the Committee, are calculated to remedy defects and obviate evils which an experience of twenty years has disclosed in that instrument.

One essential object intended to be effected by a revision of the present Constitution, is to adopt such provisions of a general nature, as shall prevent the necessity of a resort to the Legislature in cases of private or local concernment, and thus diminish, so far as may be, the vast amount of legislation of that class with which the State has of late years been so largely deluged. In pursuit of this object your Committee have prepared and recommended for adoption by the Convention, divers sections which they believe will, to a great extent, remedy existing evils, and refer a large portion of this class of legislation to a tribunal, where the questions may be fairly and equitably disposed of upon just and liberal principles, and with a just and proper regard to the interests both of the State and of those insisting upon claims against it. If the Convention shall succeed in providing an adequate provision whereby all claims against the State, not arising in the ordinary administration of the State government, shall be withdrawn from the action of the Legislature, your Committee are satisfied that the labors of that body will be very materially lessened, and by removing this source of scandal its repution will be protected and its dignity promoted.

Your Committee have also sought to remedy another evil existing in the Legislature of the State, by providing for the passage of general laws under which other large classes of objects may be safely provided for, which under the present order of things cumber the action of the Legislature, and furnish, to a large extent, material

which has been used to fasten upon that body an evil reputation. It is with these views and for this purpose that your Committee have provided for withdrawing from the direct action of the Legislature, the class of private claims against the State, and requiring that they be submitted to another tribunal, having the power to examine the same fully, and the ability to decide them according to the very right of the case.

All of which is respectfully submitted,

GEO. RATHBUN, Chairman.

ARTICLE.

1 SEC. . The sessions of the Legislature shall be held biennially 2 only, at the Capitol of the State, or at such other place as shall 3 be by law directed, commencing on the first Tuesday in January, 4 1868, and on the same day on every second year thereafter. The 5 Governor may call special sessions of the Legislature by procla 6 mation, in which shall be stated the particular object or objects 7 for which they are so called, and no business shall be transacted 8 at any such special session except such as shall be stated in the 9 proclamation calling the same. The Legislature shall not adjourn 10 for more than two weeks at any one time.

1 SEC. No member of the Legislature shall receive any civil 2 appointment within this State from the Governor, the Governor 3 and Senate, or from the Legislature during the time for which 4 he shall have been elected, and all such appointments and all 5 votes given for any such member, for any such office or appoint6 ment shall be void.