The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-26
THE STATE CAPITAL.
Republican Demonstration in the
Assembly Over the Charter.
The Leaders Stand Aghast
at a Sudden Change.
Even by a TwO-Third Vote Were the
=, ''DisciplinarianS" Thwarted.
The Bill Ordered Back to the Commit.
tee Of the Whole.


tee of the Whole.
LAST EVENINGS CAUCUS QUESTIONS.
~ ALBANY, Feb. rs, 1874
To the utter amazement OF republicans OF the
Custom House order and OF the members of the mi
nority the leaders of the majority were made to
suffer an ignominious defeat to-day when the
question Of referring back the New York charter to
the Committee on Cities was made by the now
thoroughly Inundated Mr. Opdyke. Not one In ten
of the members on either side expected, in fact
even ventured to speculate to the possibility Of
there being aMal
"BREAK" IN THE RANKS OF THE FAITHFUL,
and so under the circumstances the turn affairs
finally took is all the more to be wondered at look
ut 1t In whatever point Of view one may feel In
cined TO. 1t was preconcerted plan that brought
about the thwarting OF the managers plans, no
secret caucus no social circle, nothing
OF the kind. 1t was simply the bold
ness OF one man in the majority,
who dared, despite all that might disastrously re-
suit to himself personally by the course he saw fit
to take to raise his voice against the tactics OF the
leaders, and without stint Of denuncation or
minclng OF words speak his mind freely, openly,
even bitterly. This man Is Mr.. Batcheller from
Saratoga county, as sound and incorporating
republican as can be found anywhere in the state
1t 30 happened that he was absent ON Friday when
the bill was ordered to o third reading and this
fact alone, outside Of oil other considerations az
forded him an excellent opportunity to take
A BOLD STAND
against the hasty legislation which he was unable
to protest against before. The real reason why
suspension OF the rules was not moved, as Orgi-
nally intended, was the well grounded fear that
two-thtrds majority, the requisite vote to carry the
motion, could not be obtained. When the order of
third reading OF bills was reached finally, instead
Of attempting to put the charter on its final pas
sage, al
1T FELL TO THE LOT OF MR. OPDYRE
rather, pursuant to the instructions of the men
who whipped him into line, and who are now max
ing him do their bidding the more to make him feel
the dependent position he occupes) to make the
first move for the leaders. He did IL by moving
that the bill be referred back to the Committee on
Cities, with instructions to divide section rs and
make one section OF sections II and 70, to strike
out sections 6S and 90, and change the title OF the
act 80 that 1t would read, IAN act to reorganize
the local government OF the city Of New York."
Batcheler here got the floor and made an
amendment to Opdykes motion that the bill be
recommitted to the Committee Of the Whole with
out any instructions. Opdyke endeavored to get
over this difficulty by raising the point Of order
that Mr. Batcheller's molten could not be enter
tanned until the vote was recOnsidered by which
@ t S T wSo
began to explain why he had made the motion he
had. He declared that to hurry the bill through
alter the fashion desired by those who had charge
OF it was In direct violation OF
TIE reform PLEDGES GIVEN By REPUBLICANS
at the last election He and all those Of the party
he acted with had been elected by the people be-
against hasy legislation and the disgracefu tactics
In passing laws under the whip and spur of the
previous question which had under Tammany Hairs
management, made the Legislature Of New York q
by-word all over the Union. There was no neces-
sty for hurry in the matter He did not want 1t to
party, or that I'm dong what he believed was his
duty in opposing the hasty passage Of the bill, he
was acting with the democratic party, for he
spurned that party and had always and would
always fight against 1t.
b., ,,, MT. AS PATTY QUESTION
Its final passage; but he was sworn to do his duty
to the people, and he would not swerve from the
closed by exhorting all those members VINO felt
that they were independent and owed no man
sbe a Me ,pe gooh 81 any OF
bill until 1t mad been more lengthily and more
calmly considered in Committee OF the Whole.
Mr.. Batchelers speech created q decided sensa-
ton and made the leaders stand aghast with
alright. 1t came down upon them, and, indeed,
upon most OF their followers, with ali the sudden
ness of whirlwind and as Batcheller took his
seat glance about the Chamber showed quite
plainly that the speech had made q telling effect
upon the country members.
The Speaker, before Batcheller had quite closed
his remarks, called Mr. Prince to the chair and
took seat1n the body OF the House, and when the
Saratogian sat down got the door. He at once
opened by denying that there had been hasty egis-
lation In dealing with the bill, and to prove his
assertion he went on to show that several ses-
SONS had been held ON one day, and that after
twelve hours discussion on 1t, and the minority
proving actious, 1t had been progressed and after
wards ordered to a third reading. He spoke
calmly and coolly, but he was evidently excited.
BY this time there was the utmost excitement
the moor, and here, there and everywhere about
the Chamber
THE COUNTRY MEMBERS OF THE MAJORITY
could be seen huddled together in little groups,
discussing among themselves the chances" or the
merits Of the situation according as the various
groups were honestly or dishonesty inclined. This
excitement was made all the more intense when
the Speaker resumed his seat and Lincoln, of on.
Batcheller in vigorous appeal for his republican
friends not to give way to impulse or bow the knee
lion Of people were involved Then, to the honor
OF the leaders, up rose Clapp OF Putnam and after
him West Of Saratoga, who took the same views Of
the situation as Lincoln. But when Manley, Of
Chautauqua, followed with the assertion that he
had Just come from the western part Of the State,
MUCH COMPLAINT AMONG THE REPUBLrCANs
as to the way the New York charter was being
mayed the democrats, with admirable good tact
ala not MAKE axe a.. move or utter word while
him were breaking out or the traces. Blumenthal
alone made the mistake to get up and '.congratu-
late" those republicans who were independent
enough to stand up for right and Justice How
ever, Blumenthals blunder was Of no great mo-
ment after all Tor the minority, inasmuch as he did
not make speech.
The leaders now saw that II they attempted to
force Opdyke's original motion they would get
ROUTED-HORsE, FOOT AND DRAGONS.
80 the word was passed round ana note sent to |
Opdyke, who got up, and, after withdrawing his
other notion moved to 60 into Committee oil the |
Whole at once on the bill. Had this motion been
made by anybody else 1t might have been carried: |
bat the country republicans had got their blood up
and under the impression that there must be some
dodge hidden under the apparently fair motion |
coming from man who Is now able to do only as |
he is Instructed, 1t was voted down. Only thirty |
four members voted for IL on O count "a fall two
thirds vote being against it, Then, after little |
discussion about the rules, the question
finally resolved itself into motion that the bill be
REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE,