New-York tribune., 1875-03-11
ALBANY.

THE DIGNITY OF THE ASSEMBLY.
C. A. STEVENS ARRiIoNrD FOR coNrKMPr-ARGV-
MRNTs ON THE CAsE-HE is REPRMANDED BY
TIKI sPEAKER.
lrRox rHE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.]
ALBANY. March 10-rhe Assembly argued for
three mortal hours this morning to the best way
of vindcating its dignity, and then concluded that
il had none. A witness who had used Insult
ing language toward a standing committee OF
the House. and charged its counsel with
being a common thief. allowed to
escape with a formal reprmand by the Speaker
after having enjoyed for two days the pleasing emil
neuce of prisoner for contempt The whole cpl
sode is discredtable in the first instance, to the
ab-Cemmttee on Commerce and Navigation and
in the second, to the Legislature. II was local
quarrel, which was transferred to the fioor OF the
House. and the singular spectacle was presented OF
anember (Mr. Vosburgh) appearing as Chairman OF
a subcommittee to investigate the affairs of a COM
pany against which bo had already appeared IN
proceedings before the courts. while the House
afterward refuses TO punish with suitable penalties,
awitness who had grossly insuted one of its Com
mittees.
Mr. Stevens who is the acting President Of the
Albany and Greenbush Bridge Company, the con-
test for the production of whose books brought on
the disgraceful dispute between the witness and
the Committee, was produced at the bar OF the
House thlS morning Dy tne III
reply to the Speakers question. he denied the alle-
cations of the report Of the Committee which de-
tailed his offensive remarks to its members and
counsel Ex-Lieut.-Gov. Alvord demanded that
the prisoner be Immediately brought up for
judgment his denial having placed him in
contempt, but Mr.. Kenpaday of Kingsiurged that
the prisoner had probably denied merely to bring up
the issue of fact and Mr. Avord's proposal was Wig
orousy contested by Messrs. Davis, Lincoln. Prince
and It c. Campbell, as conflict with every cons1d-
Grafton of decency and justice Mr. Prince said
that if the witness had pleaded guilty, there would
have been some sense and propriety in Mr..
Alvords suggestion, but the charge had been de-
MED, the trial should proceed Permission of the
House was finaly accorded that Mr.. Stevens be
heard by his counsel, MeSsrs. A. j. Colvin and Luke
i. Cozans. Mr.. Colvin claimed that no power to
send for persons and papers was given the SubCom-
mttee on Commerce and Navigation in the
resolution which ordered the investigation into the
affairs of the Albany and Greenbush Bridge Com
pany aud further urged that this right could not be
claimed under the statute of 1872 because the Legis
tUre did not contemplate granting this power to
committees without special authority of the House.
II il did possess tins power, il despOic. If this
position could be maintained the question of con-
tempt wculd fall to the ground. Mr.. Colvin was
then about to charge that two members of the Com
mittce on Commerce and Navigation Messrs. Vos-
burqh and Christopher, had committed themselves
publicly in opposition to the Bridge Company, when
the point of order raised by Mr.. AlvOrd that
counsel had no right to reflect upon any members Of
the House Then cnsued long series of arguments,
points Of order decisions by the Speaker Messrs.
Lincoln. Prince and Others holding that the counsel
had rigbt,tO state. without comment the proceed
ings lad before the Committee, SO that members
might be able TO vote ntelligen,ly on the question
of contempt while the Speaker decided that counsel
could not be allowed to make any oral statement
except as to the abusive language and indecorous
behavior of witness Mr.. COlvin, under this decision.
could not proceed and contentcd himself with stat
ing that Mr.. Stevens had apolOgized to the Com
Inittee, subsequently. for his language The
witness was then brought to the bar, and re-
spouded to tue questions put to him by the
Speaker. He admitted having expressed his
fears that the books would be stolen if
they were produced but said that this was intended
TO refer to the counsel TO the Committee, the Hon.
Henry Smith, ex-Speaker of the Assembly, who. he
said, was known to have taken the books of the
Albany and Susquehanna RaIlroad-a statement
which dId not indicate any great degree Of contri
tion on the part of the contumacious witness. He
admitted most of the other charges-that he had
threatened his bOokkeeper with dismissal Iii the
presence of the Committee if he went upon the
stand chat he had said he should want policeman
to be present at the examination of the books, but
explained that this had special reference to Mr..
Smith. &c. His manner respectful, but he
was by no fearful or abject, and did not
retract any of his expressions though he explained
that they were employed while he was under great
excitement. Mr. Alvord offered resolution reciting
that the witness had been guilty Of misdemeanor
and directing his imprisonment in the County Jail
during the pleasure Of the House. Gen. Hustled
raised again the point brought forward by Mr.. Col
win that every of the appointment OF an in
vestigating committee, the power to send for
persons and papers is not geven unless specially
granted aud that therefore he was not in contempt
for refusing to produce the books of the Company as
alleged in the preamble to Mr.. Alvord's res
olution although he might be for his language before
the Committee while Mr. Alyord insisted that
the Committee had the right under the statute
which provides for the taking of testimony. MIR.
Burtis of Kings offered substitute, which pro-
vided that witness be reprmanded by the Speaker
for alleged contempt" This ludcrous resolution
was raised by a vote of 81 to 32 The prisoner was
brought in in the custody of the rather dimnutive
Sergeant-at- Arms was roprimanded by Speaker Nc
CURE in a few sentences, and went on his way
with his yitupeTative faculties unmpaired.
and leaving behind him the impression that what
ever contempt he had expressed for the Assembly
was justified by the way in which that body had
failed 10 resist it.