that the amendment proposed will require only about $7,500 from the payments by seamen, which does not vary much from the amount that would be abstracted, as the provisions of the bill now are. They also submit, that upon every just principle, that hospital should be sustained out of both funds-because it is provided to minister to the sick of both seamen and passengers-and for both classes, equally, must be kept provided at all times of quarantine, with all necessaries of medical attendants, medicine, provisions, clothing, and domestic comforts and attendants, whether there be any quarantined seamen or not, requiring such aid. This report has swelled already far beyond our wish, but some of the committee cannot forbear to submit farther, that the effect of the two bills in their present form, and particularly the second referred to, is to throw the quarantine establishment upon the public treasury of the State; and although we would not say that the payments by passengers would not be adequate to sustain it, yet the amount from that source cannot be said to be stable. A war in Europe would arrest the immense masses of emigrants which have of latter years flocked to our shores, and the signs of the times admonish us that a reliance upon this source is peculiarly contingent in the present state of the old world. But pestilence in our city and along our shores would produce a similar effect, and no one can safely calculate that our port will never be avoided on that account. In such an event, the amount could not be safely calculated upon> to sustain the establishment; and any deficit would necessarily be drawn from the State treasury. But the mode of compensating the officers of the health department of New-York, provided in the second bill, has heretofore been tried by the State, particularly in respect to clerks' fees of the Supreme Court. It is conceded generally, that the practical result of the experiment was to draw from the treasury the salaries of those officers-but the fees returned, by a diminution of the amount and the difficulty and inability to collect them by the State, made it a profitless arrangement and a losing experiment. It has been abandoned. We are not aware that any complaints have been made of the amount of fees paid to the health officer for the services he personally renders in visiting and boarding vessels, at all times and through every danger. If there be any just grounds of complaint, it should be obviated by a reduction of the fee allowed for the service. There can be no reason why the personal earnings of the health officer should be paid over to the support of the House of Refuge: the connection or relationship cannot be conjectured by the committee. The majority of the committee, accordingly, report against the passage of the second bill, and recommend the passage of the first, with the changes and amendments above suggested, and submitted in this report. IN SENATE, April 1, 1831. REPORT Of the committee on claims, on the petition of Mr. Hubbard, from the committee on claims, to which was referred the petition of Gilbert D. Dillon, REPORTED AS FOLLOWS: That the petitioner is a resident of Kingston, in the county of UIster. In 1828, he was a lieutenant in a company of artillery; and shortly after the death of Governor Clinton, received an order from the Adjutant-General, commanding certain artillery companies to discharge their pieces at stated periods. In pursuance of this order, he assembled his company for the purpose of discharging that duty, like a good and faithful officer of the State. Whilst engaged in its performance, the piece, through the negligence of some of the men, was accidentally discharged, and the petitioner severely wounded in the side and wrist. For several months after the accident happened, the petitioner was confined to his room, and suffered excruciating pain. His right arm and wrist still remain stiff, and nearly useless. Such are the facts in this afflicting case. By obeying the orders of the Adjutant-General, he has been rendered a cripple for life. But while the committee sincerely sympathize with the sufferer, they are compelled to state, that there is no existing law which will afford him relief. The law relating to the militia, provides that "every person who, whilst in the actual service of the State, shall be wounded or disabled in opposing or suppressing any invasion or insurrection, shall be taken care of and provided for at the expense of the State." The [S. No. 69.] 1 petitioner does not come within the provisions of this section of the law; and the committee are not aware of any precedent which would authorise them to introduce a bill for his relief. Yet his case is one of peculiar hardship. In the discharge of what seemed to be his duty as an officer, he has been disabled for life; and if any disaster of this description would authorise us to overstep the bounds of a prudent and cautious policy, to gratify the better feelings of the heart, this is one. And although the committee have come to the conclusion to offer the following resolution, yet they do it with regret; and should the Senate be of opinion that the peculiar nature of this case requires relief at their hands, they will most cheerfully introduce a bill for that purpose. IN SENATE, April 4, 1831. REPORT Of the committee on so much of the Governor's message as relates to the distribution of the surplus revenue of the U. S. among the several states of the Union, and also the concurrent resolution of the Assembly proposing such resolution. M. Benton, from the select committee to which was referred so much of the message of the Governor as relates to the distribution of the surplus revenue of the United States among the several states of the Union, and also the concurrent resolution of the Assembly proposing such distribution, REPORTED AS FOLLOWS: That the importance of the subject referred to the consideration of the committee, and its immediate connection with some of the cardinal interests of the country, seem to call upon them to submit to the Senate views in relation thereto, which they have endeavored to embody so as to present the questions involved and intimately connected, in a shape to be understood. The means of arriving at the object contemplated by the Executive recommendation are not indicated in the message; but it must be obvious that the most direct and feasible are the best, as they will present the fewest obstacles to be surmounted and the readiest means of arriving at the desired result. Some might consider the adoption of the resolution as equivalent to a declaration on the part of this State, that Congress now have the power of making the proposed distribution without resorting to an amendment: but it is believed such a conclusion does not necessarily arise from the premi |