History of Westchester County, New York, Vol. I
During his first term in the Legislature he served as chairman of the Committee on Federal Relations, and as a member of the Committees on Commerce and Navigation, Roads and Bridges, and the special committee charged with the investigation of the affairs of the Brooklyn Bridge. His course was marked by such constant and carefiil attention to the interests of his district that he was renominated for and elected to the Assembly of 1880, as the representative of the new Twenty-fourth District of the city of New York, comprising the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards, as provided by the Reapportionment Act of 1879. During his second term he served as chairman of the Committee on Expenditures of the Executive Department, a member of the Committee on Commerce and Navigation, Roads and Bridges, and special committees apjjointed by the Speaker.
The following are some of the more important measures introduced and advocated by Mr. Wells and enacted by the Legislatures of 1879 and 1880 : Acts to facilitate the improvement of the Harlem River, and for the construction of bridges over the same ; to extend the water supply in the Twenty-third and Twenty-fourth Wards ; to reduce expenses and correct abuses in street-opening proceedings in the city ' of New York ; for the proper drainage of the Twenty-
HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COUNTY.
third and Twenty-fourth Wards ; to reduce the rate of interest on unpaid taxes and assessments in Morrisania, West Farms and King's Bridge ; to abolish the office of trustee of the town of Westchester; and also several acts amending the Annexation Act, and measures relating to Yonkers and Westchester. He also actively supported, by voice and vote, the various bills introduced during both these sessions, for the reduction of fare on the Harlem, New Haven and Elevated Railroads ; bills reported by the Hepburn Railroad Committee ; bills for the revision of the tax laws, for the taxation of corporations, for the reduction of official salaries, and for the more economical government of the city of New York.