ary 8th, relating to suits commenced to test the validity of manorial titles. (See Senate Doc. No. 26.) Mr. Carroll moved to print five times the usual number and 500 copies for the Attorney General, which motion was referred to the committee on public printing. A bill was received from the Assembly for concurrence entitled, "An act authrising the Governor to designate a judge or judges of the supreme court and the courts of oyer and terminer in certain cases," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read the second time, and referred to the committee on the judiciary. The bill entitled, "An act to regulate the salary of the district. attorney of the county of Saratoga," was read the third time and passed, a majority of all the members elected to the Senate voting in favor thereof, and three-fifths of said members being present on the final passage thereof, as follows: Ordered, That the Clerk deliver said bill to the Assembly, and request their concurrence therein. The bill entitled, "An act for the relief of suitors in the supreme court in certain cases," was read the third time and passed, a majority of all the members elected to the Assembly voting in favor thereof, as follows: Ordered, That the Clerk deliver said bill to the Assembly, and request their concurrence therein. The Senate then resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the bill entitled, "An act to amend an act establishing free schools throughout the State, passed March 26, 1849," and after some time spent thereon, Mr. Curtis, from said committee, reported progress, and asked for and obtained leave to sit again. On motion of Mr. Crolius, The Senate then adjourned until 11 o'clock to-morrow morning.' TUESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1850. The Senate met pursuant to adjournment. Prayer by the Rev. Mr. Wadhams. The journal of yesterday was read and approved. Mr. Schoonmaker presented the petition of inhabitants of Catskill for an amendment of the charter of the Schenectady and Catskill railroad company, which was referred to the committee on railroads. Mr. Carroll presented the petition of Fitzsimmons and Brady for relief from damages sustained by the construction of the Erie canal, which was referred to the committee on claims. Mr. Fox presented the petition of Charles Ehle for a law allowing him to present his claim against the State for canal damages to. the Canal Appraisers, and for a re-appraisal of damages, which was referred to the committee on claims. Mr. Cook, from the committee on banks and insurance companies, to which was referred the bill entitled, "An act respecting the taxation of banking associations and individual bankers," reported adverse to the passage of the same, which was committed to the committee of the whole. Mr. Morgan, from the committee on finance, to which was referred the bill entitled, "An act to authorise the commissioners of the Ogdensburgh and Canton road to borrow money and to convert the said road into a plank road," reported in writing favorably to the passage of the same with amendments. (See Doc. No. 13.) Mr. Dart moved that said report and bill be laid upon the table. The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to the said motion, and it was decided in the affirmative. Mr. Cross, from the committee on the incorporation of cities and villages, to which was referred so much of the message of the Governor as relates to local and municipal taxation, reported, and offered the following resolution: Resolved, That the committee on cities and villages be discharged from the further consideration of local and municipal taxation, and that the same be referred to the standing committee on the internal affairs of towns and counties. Mr. Cross, from the committee on the incorporation of cities and villages, to which was referred a petition for that purpose, reported a bill entitled, "An act to amend the charter of the village of Astoria in Queens county," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read a second time, and committed to the committee of the whole. A message was receved from the Assembly, informing that they had concurred in the resolution of the Senate of January 11, in relation to furnishing books to the Canadian Parliament. Mr. Beekman presented the annual report of the trustees of the State library, which was referred to the joint library committee. (See Doc. No. 29.) Mr. Beekman moved that 500 extra copies for the use of the Regents of the University be printed. Ordered, That said motion be referred to the committee on public printing. The President laid before the Senate a communication from the Comptroller, in the words following : To the Hon. G. W. PATTERSON, COMPTROLLER'S OFFICE, President of the Senate: SIR-I have the honor to transmit to you a copy of the last annual report of the health officer of the city of New-York, in compliance with a resolution of the Senate passed on the 14th inst. I am with great respect, Your obedient servant, WASHINGTON HUNT. Comptroller. Ordered, That said report be referred to the committee on retrenchment. The President laid before the Senate a communication from the New-York State Agricultural Society in the words following, to wit: STATE AGRICULTURAL ROOMS, Albany, January 15, 1850. Hon. G. W. PATTERSON, President of the Senate: The annual meeting of the State Agricultural Society will be held to-morrow, the 16th, at the Capitol, at 12 o'clock, the Hon. the Senate are most respectfully invited to attend the meeting. I am very respectfully yours, B. P. JOHNSON, The President laid before the Senate a communication from the Secretary of State, in the words following, to wit: The Hon. GEORGE W. PATTERSON, SECRETARY'S OFFICE President of the Senate. SIR-I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a resolution of the Senate of the 11th instant, requesting me to transmit to each of the judges of the court of appeals and of the supreme court, a copy of the report of the commissioners on practice and pleadings. There are no copies of the report in this office, I am unable therefore, to comply with the resolution of the Senate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, By unanimous consent, Mr. Mann, from the committee on the judiciary, to which was referred the bill from the Assembly entitled, "An act authorising the Governor to designate a judge or judges of the supreme court to hold the circuit courts and the courts of oyer and terminer in certain cases," reported in favor of the passage of the same with amend ments. On motion of Mr. Mann, Ordered, That said bill do have its third reading. In pursuance of previous notice, Mr. Cross asked for and obtained leave to introduce a bill entitled, "An act to incorporate the South Brooklyn savings bank," which was read the first time, and by unanimous consent was also read a second time, and referred to the committee on banks and insurance companies. Mr. Schoonmaker gave notice that he would, at an early day, ask leave to introduce a bill to obviate difficulties in certain powers of sale. On motion of Mr. Cook, The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the resolution heretofore offered by Mr. Snyder, in the words following, to wit: Resolved, That the report of the Commissioners on Practice and pleading be referred to the standing committee on the judiciary. The question being upon the motion of Mr. Cook, to amend the said resolution of Mr. Snyder, by striking out all after the word "Resolved," and insert the following, to wit: "(if the Assembly concur,) That the codes of civil and criminal procedure, reported complete by the Commissioners on Practice and Pleadings, be referred to a joint committee consisting of the judiciary committee of the Senate with two Senators added thereto, and such committee as the Assembly may appoint, whose duty it shall be to examine the codes and report thereon to the Legislature, and that they be empowered and directed to invite said Commissioners to appear before them during such revision. Mr. Stanton moved to amend the amendment of Mr. Cook, by striking out from the last part of the resolution the words " and directed," and by adding at the end thereof the words "if they shall deem it expedient," which motion of Mr. Stanton was accepted by M. Cook as a part of his amendment. Debate was had thereon, when The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to the amendment of Mr. Cook, and it was decided in the affirmative, as follows: The hour of 12 o'clock having arrived, Mr. Schoonmaker moved the Senate proceed to executive business. The President put the question whether the Senate would agree to the said motion, and it was decided in the negative. The President then put the question whether the Senate would agree to the said resolution of M1. Snyder, as amended, and it was decided in the affirmative. Mr. Carroll offered for the consideration of the Senate the following concurrent resolutions, to wit: Resolved, (if the Assembly concur.) That our Senators in Congress are hereby instructed, and our Representatives requested, to use their best efforts to secure the passage of an act establishing a uniform rate of postage throughout the United States, of two cents on all letters weighing half an ounce, if pre-paid, or five cents for each half ounce if not pre-paid. Also, (for the purpose of more satisfactorily testing the practicability of such a reduction of the postage rates,) to use their best efforts to secure by further enactment, the keeping of a distinct account of all matter allowed to pass through the mails free of postage, and to make the same, except such as shall relate to the business of the post-office department, a charge, at the rates of other mail matter, upon the treasury of the United States. Also, to use their best exertions, by further enactment, to provide for the conveyance by mail, postage free, of all regular newspapers [SENATE JOURNAL.] 10 |