NEW YORK. 



543 



at leant one company. Tho cost of 

 ning tlio militia fur tho year was $26,- 

 . I'nder tho present law it is claimed 

 tlint. the State has "a compact, well-officered, 

 drilli'tl, and disciplined body of men, availa- 

 ble at any time, for effectual service." 



The pilot system of the State is in tho hands 

 of a Board of Commissioners. The number of 

 pilots of all kinds licensed by the State is 57; 

 mnnlier of pilot-boats, 6; number of vessels 

 piloted during the year, 1,228. 



Tho following is the census of Now Jersey 

 for the years I860 and 1870: 



NEW YORK. When the Legislature of 

 New York assembled at Albany in January, 

 1870, its political complexion had entirely 

 changed from that of the preceding year. It 

 now consisted of 18 Democrats and 14 Repub- 

 licans in the Senate, and 72 Democrats and 56 

 Republicans in the Assembly. One of its first 

 acts was the adoption of a resolution with- 

 drawing the assent of the State to the ratifica- 

 tion of the fifteenth amendment of the Federal 

 Constitution. The preamble recited the amend- 

 ment and the action of Congress in proposing 

 its ratification by the preceding Legislature, 

 together with the fact that it had not yet 

 become a part of the Constitution, and the 

 resolution itself was as follows : 



Be it resolved, That the above-recited concurrent 

 resolution be, and it hereby is, repealed, rescinded, 

 and annulled. 



And bt it further retoleed, That the Legislature of 

 the State or New York refuses to ratify the above-re- 

 cited proposed fifteenth amendment to the Constitu- 

 tion of the United States, and withdraws absolutely 

 any expression of consent heretofore given thereto or 

 ratification thereof. 



And be it further retained. That the Governor bo 

 requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions and 

 preamble to the Secretary of State of the United 

 States, at Washington, ana to every member of tho 

 Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States, and the Governors of tho several States. 



Among the acts of tho session was a new 

 excise law which provides for the appoiutnn-iit 

 of three commissioners in each city and town 

 to grant licenses to sell intoxicating liquors. 

 In incorporated villages these commissioners 



consist of three members of tho Board of Trus- 

 tees ; in towns, they consul of the supervisors 

 and justices of the peace; in cities, with tho 

 cM-i'ptiim of New York and Brooklyn, they 

 are appointed by the mayors, and in the two 

 < -it ii -. named they are nominated by the mayors, 

 and confirmed by tho Boards of Aldermen. Tho 

 restrictions upon tho granting of licenses are 

 contained in the following sections of the law : 



SECTION 4. The Board of Exciao in cities, towns, 

 and villages, shall have power to grunt licenses to 

 any person or persons of good moral character, who 

 shall bo approved by them, permitting him and them 

 to sell ana dispose of, at any one named place within 

 such city, town, or village, strong ana spirituous 

 liquors, wines, ale, and beer, in quantities less than 

 five gallons at a time, upon receiving a license fee to 

 be fixed in their discretion, and which shall not be 

 less than thirty nor more than one hundred and fifty 

 dollars. Such licenses shall only be granted on writ- 

 ten application to the said board, signed by the ap- 

 plicant or applicants, specifying tho place for which 

 license is asked, and the name or names of the appli- 

 cant or applicants, and of every person interested or 

 to be interested in the business, to authorize which 

 the license shall be used. Persons not licensed may 

 keep, and, in quantities not less than five gallons at 

 a time, sell and dispose of, strong and spirituous 

 liquors, wines, ale, and beer, provided that no part 

 thereof shall be drunk or used in the building, gar- 

 den, or enclosure communicating with, or in any 

 public street or place contiguous to, the building in 

 which the same may be so kept, disposed of, or sold. 



SEC. 5. Licenses granted as in this act provided 

 shall not authorize any person or persons to expose 

 for sale, or sell, give away, or dispose of, any strong 

 or spirituous liquors, wines, ale, or beer, on any day 

 between the hours of one ana five o'clock in the 

 morning, and all places licensed as aforesaid shall be 

 closed and kept closed between the hours aforesaid. 



SKO. 6. The act entitled "An act to regulate the 

 sale of intoxicating liquors within the metropolitan 

 police district of the State of New York," passed 

 April 14, 1866, is hereby repealed, and tho provisions 

 ot the act passed April 16, 1867, except where the 

 same are inconsistent, or in conflict with the pro- 

 visions of this act, shall be taken and construed as a 

 part of this act, and be and remain in full force and 

 eflect throughout the whole of this State. 



The law providing for the registration of 

 legal voters was repealed for all parts of the 

 State, excepting the city of New York, wljere it 

 was left in force. A new election law was framed 

 but not passed. New charters were adopted 

 for the cities of Albany and New York. 



The New- York city charter effects a com- 

 plete return to self-government for that great 

 municipality, all commissions appointed at the 

 State capital being done away with. The 

 mayor, common council, consisting of alder- 

 men and assistant-aldermen, corporation coun- 

 sel, and comptroller, are elected by the people 

 of the city, the aldermen being chosen on a 

 general ticket and not by districts. The 

 Street and Aqueduct Departments are con- 

 solidated in a Department of Public Works, 

 and a Department of Docks is created. There 

 is also a Department of Public Parks, a Fire 

 Department, Health Department, and Police 

 Board. The heads of all the different depart- 

 ments are appointed by the mayor. The De- 

 partment of Charities and Corrections remains 

 substantially unchanged. While the charter 



