The New York herald., 1871-02-17
THE WATER SUPPLY BILL.
Passage of Boss Tweed's Water
Bill in the Assembly.
A Waterloo Defeat for the Republicans Twenty
Country Republicans Voting for IRE
joic,ngs Among the Braves,
ALBANY, Feb. 10, 1871.

N,
The New York Water bill came up in Committee o.
the Whole in the Assembly this evening" and as was
expected, created considerable excitement. When
the House reassembled every seat In the galleries
was occupied AMI even the floor was 80 crowded
that the doorkeeper had great difficulty In preserv
ing order. The Senate had no night session. ana
several OF the Senators took advantage OF the cr,
cumslance 10 be on hand to witness the
fight, All the democrats, with the exception OF
Randal were III their seats when the House was
called TO ordev aud, thanks to tho efforts Of the
conrers which the "Boss" sent IN search OF the ab-
sentee, ne, too, in his place before the bill had
reached a vote. Randall DID not seem to relish the
way he had been caught; for, it is sad he was hav-
ing line time OF it with friend in town when the
conriers nabbed him. But he died game when his
name was called, and placed himself "rightn Oh
the record to the delight OF his coVferes, who con-
sldcred him ..unCertan.'
The majority OF the democrats had not been
posted beforehand as to the way things had been
fixed. They evidently expected strict party vote
on the measure, and In the absence or Randall and
Larry 0'Bren, who Is in New York, the vote w0uld
have been tie-n other words, virtual repubi-
can victory. This view OF the thing was nade all
the more plausible from the fact that one OF the
democrats-Drew, OF Putna m-had expressed his
determination TO vote against the bill ], come veal
| come woe. But the leaders had forseen all diii-
| culties IN their way, and had acted accordingly
/ The result of their labors was made evident when
l the vote was taken.
The task OF opening the first fire on the bill was
allotted to Alvord and he for and the .Bossn
| III scathing style, that made even some OF the
"hXed" republicans feel rather uncomfortable. In
fact, his speech was an exceedingly able one from
| an opposition point Of view, and Tom Fields had q
hard job OF 10 IN endeavorng to destroy the effect 1t
4 e on s o asRea snew M ne WAS IN nor
for upwards OF an hour the TWO questioned
and crossquestioned and answered each other as TO
a
| tickle the galleries Immensely. Fields desk was
covered with law books, irom which he gathered
his ammunition to assail Alvords position The
| latter pftcned law against law TO make his views
good, ana disputed the ground inch by men, and
which would have materially changed the character
OF the oil. sekreg followed suit, as aid nusted.
/! During the debate amendments new thick and
| fast, but every one was Knocked in the head as
quickly as it was offered. All sorts of ngenuities
measure to retard action and annoy the other side,
| but it was all no use. The democrats kepr up
1 vigorously that when the motion put to report
| progress upon the bi the opposition became SO
scare up enough votes TO cali for the yeas
| and nays The vote on the final passage OF the
fusion The Boss agents were on the door in strong
force, ana kept running about among the republi-
cans as though they knew they had business gu that
| side OF the house. The Clerk finally began The
| call. Before all the BIS had beed exhausted
seven ss, ~, republicans had, voted for the
/ the measure at this startling discovery Of how tho
| powers tnat be manage their wonders to perform
/ can be easily imagined. Alyord looked chopfaien.
Littleohn shook his head, much as to say, his is
| too mueh.n and Fields grinned knowingly. The
CLERK went on and when the last name was
| reached it found that twenty-five re.
publcans had gone back on their leaders and placed
Themselves larry and squarely with the majority,
the total vote standing s4 to 3s III favor OF the bill
| The following are the names of what one OF The
country members calls the 'trators:''-Barney, Big
nall, bacAali, Bolt, Y. T. Brown. Bunce, Burhans,
| Chadwick, Clifford, Green, r. Johnson, G. p. Lord,
| McDougaI, Payhud, Pierce, Sage, SanbOrn, Snep.
| ardson, Sunderlin, wagner, Wilson ana Woosey.
/ True to his determination, Drew stuck out to tile
last and voted no. This is the second time
! he has kicked against the traces, and another
k black marx has been placed under his name
The great question now agiiaiing the minds OF the
| few who votea against the bill is now much the
| twelty-two republicans got per mead. There are
some ugly stories afoat about several OF them. or
course they all voted for 1t on conviction . but
] conviction Is often purchasable article at
| Albany. The vlctors are having a hlgn old
time OF 1t at the Dclavan, and the ''Boss''
| looks younger by several years. He talks OF the
matter IN Jocose way, ana says that the defeat Of
the republicans was simply Waterloo. The de-
feat, at any rate has had very decreasing effect on
the republican leaders, for this makes the second
time this session they have tried to fight shoulder to
shoulder and have been beaten by disatfectiOn in
their own ranks. Truly, money makes the mare 20.