New-York tribune., 1869-01-16
ALBANY.


CANDIDATE-MORGAN's FRIENDS CONFIDENT
-GRISwOLD's POsITION-THE RAILROAD IN
yEsTIGATIoN-A FIELD DAY IN THE SENATE
THE GOVERNORS CHANCES OF DISPENSING
PATRONAGE LESSENED-CHANGE IN TIE
COMMITTEES.
ALBANY, Jan. 15.-The Senatorial tight opened rs
intensely this morning as it closed last night The
excitement was at fever heat but toward afternoon
some of the hangers-on both sides departed Tor
their homes and this evening the hotel corridors are
not half full yesterday nor is the canvassing
| as active The friends of Morgan acknowledged to
your correspondent this morning that the odds were
fearfuy against them last evening, but tonight 1t
would be hardly possible Ito find moro jubilant
set of men. They claim that the whole matter is in
their hands; while on the contrary, the Fentonans
although not exuberant are as intensely satisfied
| that Gov. Fenton will be the nominee Both sides
rely the promises of members of the Legislature
and base their predictions on the pledges OF these
1t is evident that one side or the other IS to be
cheated. The fight has narrowed down to those two
men. Marshall o. Roberts went home this evening,
aud he will not be candidate. Judge Noah Davis
early this morning positively asserted that he would
not be candidate that he should endeavor TO OBJ
tain the reelection of Mr. Morgan Then the follow
| ing dispatch was circulated around the hotels
| WASHINGTON. Jan. Il, 1869.
To he Hon wM H. ROBERTSON, or mS Hon A. H.
j
Francis when accepted the nomination for Governor
understood Mr.. Morgan was to be the candidate for
| Senator. cannot therefore, consent that my name
| JOHN A. GRIswoLD
| These facts, and the impression they leave on the
minds of doubtful Legislators. are what the Morgan
| men base their predictions of success upon. The
Fentonites claim that notwithstanding all this, the
people of the interior of the State are in sympathy
with their candidate and that the majority of the
| laoic LOTT will ard
| Troy Times Griswolds organ, comes out this even
| ing in strong leader in favor of Mr.. FentoD 1t
says that Fenton is the choice Of the majority OF the
people of the State when Griswod is out OF the field.
| Yesterday afternoon the Senate Committee on
! Railroads commenced their Investigations into the
affairs of the Hudson, Central and Erie roads, dele
| gated TO them by resolution passed few days ago
j. Bancroft Davis, Director of the Erie road and.
! Counsel for the Board, first placed upon the
witness stand After asking him several questions,
| which she promptly answered, tho inquiry was
made as TO what was dono with the proceeds of the
sale Of the additional issue of stock. He declined
to answer this question the ground that the reso-
| luton did not authorize the Committee to make any
such investigation Upon this point the Committee,
after reflection divided and ii was finally agreed TO
| submit the matter TO the Senate and get its
opinion of the subject. This was done this morning
|
! port containing substantially the above facts.
| A discussion occurred, and Mr. 0'Donnell made a
| motion that the original resolution be so amended
as TO allow the Committee power to ask the question
in dispute and other questions of similar nature.
This was carried. yeas H. nays II. Then Mr. Folger
moved an amendment, that the Committee be also
| empowered 10 inquire If any director was
dealing in the stocks Of the road at the
time of the additional issue Before vote
was taken on il, Mr. Williams moved that
| the whole question be laid upon the table, which
| va, done The Iieuto utonant-GoyenOr having, under
misapprehension OF the rules decided that the sue
cess OF this motion carried the original resolution
with H. the subject was brought up again and subse-
| quently laid upon the table, it being decided and
| universally understood that this disposal OF II lett
the Committee in the same position they were before
making their request They VIII continue 70 pursue
! the investigation; but, unless they have additional
powers granted them, they cannot compel Mr.. Davis
OF any other witness TO answer this or question OF
a like nature. .
! At the Commencement of the present session Mr..
| Mattoon offered n resolution granting TO the Lieu
! tenant Governor power TO change the standing Com
mittees This at the time created some talh as IL
| was not generally known whas the Senator was
driving at IL became apparent that not salts
| fed with his position on the Canal Committee and
the Special Committee created last year to lnVestl-
gate the affairs of tho Eric Railroad, he longed for
additional hOnors-if he regards them IN that light.
| This movement alarmed the Republican Senators,
for they knew If there was one disaliected Senator
in their ranks tho Democracy would rule
| the Senate, and Gov. Holman could
| dispense his patronage his own way. Several cat-
cuses held on the subject and, while MT MAJ
to0n did not threaten 10 make league WIN the
Democracy, his actions were such as 10 eXclte sls
picion. Senator Williams also asked for additional
| honors and he, too, had TO be grathed. It was
hnay agreed that Mattoon and Williams should
| have what they wanted.Mattoon placed on Coln-
merce and Navigation. and Williams made Chairman
of Insurance. Several Senators objected TO placing
! Mr.. Afatto0n there unless another Republican
was associated with him. and, therefore, MI
| " n.
! was selected. Senator Parker agreed wlllhgly 10
resign as Chairman of Insurance. To-day these
| changes were made in open session OF the Senate.
! The Democrats through Senators Murphy and Gil
bort objected TO this increase but they were III 100
| much of q minority TO prevent IT. senator foiger
gave the best reasons he could for the changes ana
! the voting on the changes strictly partisan.
| Senator Bradley resigned from the Insurance Com
mttee. Mr. Mattoons anxiety to get on inat S9I IN
| Senate The rules for the government OF EX-
ocutiye Sessions had been altered lew MN
utes before, so, that all nominations Oh tno
Executive should be referred TO appropriate commit
tees and not as heretofore to the Senator represent
ing the district from which the nominee IL selected
Now the best places in the Governors gift arc those
| of Health Onicer, Captain Of the Port and liarbor
Master and Port Wardons for the city OF New YORK
All these nominations must be referred to the Com
eide upon their merits before reporting them TO the
| Senate There is immense power In the hands OF
this COMMITTEE but beside this, some OF the most I'M
portant bills introduced this year Will De referred TO
that committee One of these will be the bill giving
| the Sinking Fund Commissioners OF -iork-your
readers know who they are-supreme control OF tho
wharyes and piers OF your city, to do with them as
| they seem fit. Therefore tho Senator VIII now get
| what he seems most anxious to have plenty Oh -
| nOrk 80,
The Senate today put all the appointments of the
Government more enectually at their mercy than has
been the case heretofore. The rules heretofore in
| force provided for Executive Sessions once u
| week ard that all nominations other than those
for Notary Pubcs should be referred 70 the approp-
ate Standing Committees instead of the Senator rep
ltiplt tha N inaa