The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-21
PRICE TWO CENTS
VOTES BOUGHT IN ALBANY.
AN INQTTRT ORDERED INTO THB
CONDUCT or MEuBERS.
Accusations Of Corruption In the Defent Of
the Broohiyn City Chnrtcr-W Waits Mnh
ina an Explanation 10 the NnrnmIftcr

Accusations OF Corruption in the Defiant of
the Broohiyn City Chartcr-Wnt- Mnh
Ing an Explanation to the Committee.
ALBANY, April 20.-IIardly anything else
but the rumor that corrupt influences were em-
ployed TO defeat the Brooklyn charter was
talked about the Capitol and hotels this morn
Ing. The feeling was intensified when the New
York newspapers arrived. Before the close Of
the session Mr. Watts Of New York, one of tho
Republicans who voted against the charter, ris-
Ing To question % privilege, said that an accu-
sation bad be II made against him Ia respect to
rec wing "a bribe for his vote. This was false In
every particular and done only to lnjuro him.
lie asked for an Investigation, saying that he
had tried to do his duty as well IA he could. aud
he doAei any charges. lie offered a resolution
directing the Committee on Privileges and Eleo-
tions to investigate.
Mr.. Fish offered nm amendment directing the
committee to investigate also the charges
against other members In connection with the
same accusa' ions MIR. Watts however. pre-
Tered that ths Investigation should b. confined
10 hih@ell. bthcr gchticm N could tex ire of
their own reputa' ions. Mr. Fish offered an
o'hcr resolution, directing the cImmlttre TO in
uuire whether any improper mems orinnuences
were used to defeat the bin, aud whether nnv
member hnd been guilty. of conduct rruutrirn
further ection, and authorizing the committees
70 send for persons and pers. This resolution,
which was adopted. gives the committee powe-
TO uring before them LOBBYISTS anu parties IA
ltroukYn, who are s1id to have raised money to
defe I the hill, ana also those officials VINO hnvs
been here lohbying against 1t. one Of whom 10
said to have brought the "boOdle" to tha lobby
ist who placed 1t where It would do the most
good.
The COMMITTEES met in the afcrnoon, ana Mr..
watts made his exDlanltion, that he was not
aware what toe til was Wnen he voted; ; that he
was over to Congress n II taking drink with
'st9m House Johnny O'iirien and Barney Big-
lin when some One entered aud told him there
wus call Of the House. lie hurried back to the
chamber and sscertaincI that ha had been re-
corded voting IT, tho Affirmative though
because that was always the safest
thing to do when "A man did not know
watching BUSINESS very closely. generally fol-
loving the lead OF such men as Forster and
sloan IN his votes. He denied that he had been
~ any way lrnuenc'd. anl said " he had known
what the Ulll was he should have vOtcd Tor 1t.
Inc committee decided 70 make fun investi-
CATION Of the case under Fish's resolution.
III concurrent resolution nxing the canal toll
o.
An attempt YVES m de by Messrs. Fallon and
Muller 10 get Morrissei's Labor bill to "A thicd
reading IN the confusion in the Assem- bly,. Mr.
laiNl LOOK hl" position near tne Cicrk, and
onered the resolution In n very low tone, but
before the Clerk mad finished reaGtng t. Mesars.
fish' PeabOdy. Strahan, and Forster, who seem
to have taken contra from MAYOR Wickham
Co defeat this III. their feet Oh Jecting,
ard a. the resolution required unanim Gus con-
sent, the effort He'd. lhe opponents OF tots
nm appear 20 be afraid To 10. ~ come before tho
Hous" FOR u vote. ant VIII endeavor to keep It
back until the session closes.
lhe senate Judiciary Committee paid tribute
60 the CentCnnial ny reporting bill to make
the 81 and ON Of July legal holidays Tor this
year only
Tne hil authorizing the use OF stalm cars in
Atlantic avenue, B5Ooklyn, from flatbush sv-
onue to the ely line. was ordered to third
reading in the Seuate
Tne Assembly Till providing a police force for
the tow ms OF Now Utrecht, Grayessnd, and Flat
oush was reported favorably in the Senate.