New-York tribune., 1882-04-20
AFFAIRS AT ALBANY.
IN FAVOR OF A RAILWAY COMMISSION.
ruR .ssrMpry pAssEs THE RAKER BILL AFrE


THE ASSEMBLY PASSES THE BAKER BILL AFTER
ADOPTING AN AMENDMENT PROVIDING FOR THE
ELECTION OF THE COMMISSIONERS BY THE
PEOPLE.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE. ]
ALBANY. April I9.-The Baker Railroad Commits
sion bill, which is substantialy that recommended
by the Hepburn Railway Investigation COMMITTEES
in 1880 after being debated by the Assembly Tor
three winters at last passed to-day, oy de-
cisive vote; not, however, without important
amendment. The Hepburn Committee thought
that the Governor and Senate ought to be ntrusted
with the naming of the railway commissioners The
Assembly has amended the bill so as to give that
power to the people at the polls.
Mr.. Poucher, of Oswego who is rapidly becoming
the leader of the Assembly Democrats was the au-
thor OF this important amcndmont to the bill. No
sooner had the hill been announced for third read
ing than he Offered hi- amendment which alSo pro-
vidcd that none of the commissioners should be re-
movable except by The Affirmative vote of two
thirds of the State Senators This last pro-
vision Mr. Poucher explained. was to pre-
vent tho removal of commissioners for poililcal
reasons This might be done under the original
bill as the vote of only majority OF the Senators
was required. Mr.. POucher aimed blow at Tam
many Hall during his little speech III support or MS
amendment. The Tammany Hall Assembiymeh
had offered an amendment comforting the rlght 10
name one OF the commissioners on several CONNER
cal bodies among them the Anti-Monopoly League
Mir Poucher said "By this amendment the power
of appointing the railway commissioners VIII 20
TO the people-the born anti-mOnopolists OF the
Stateu Mr. Roosevelt of New-York, spoke for
large number of Republicans when he sald that no
hoped that the POuChcr aInenuflenJ Wouiu hou w
adopted, and expressed Willingness 10 pos. p9Ge -
the appointment If commissioners until 1900 II
thereby the power of appointment cOuIi DE pre-
served to the Governor ana Senate. Mr; BAKER was
also opposed to having his Dill allcnucu IN tHiS
manner arguing that to confer the light of electlne
the commissioners upon the people WouIu inake tny
bill d" the strongest KIND OF poitlcal measure
MIR Ayord SAID that he should vote against the DIil
Neycrlhclcss he could moi why RepubDcdnS
who intended 10 vote for the bill should put upon
Governor Cornell the indgnlty OF refusing 10 grant
him the power t. name The COMMISSIONER
A vote was then taken upon Mr. Poucher
amendment 1t was adopted by vote OF 90 to o.; o.,
The affirmative votes were even by nity-efLh, L
Republcan b'ing Armstrong Brodsky,
DENIES, Fenncr. Grilfn, hickman, Holmes ana
5eilG' 5ers that Armstrong Brodskl, Demiek and ,
Griffin voted with The Democrats LOT
pOpcal Teasons !hey ,aIs are N9 4 co9s~ eTt5sIqS
personal representative from Utica, elected chiehy
by his efforts. II is argued that thcy nave a'teu
under Mt COnkmgs OruerS to assam tile OoEcihoI'
even If il is in such an Indirect way as 10 deprive
HIM OF the power to nominate railway commission
ers MIR Fenners oeomargarne bill was VelCed
by the Governor last Ac'll, anu las li'.Ni iVA-
given Mr. Cornell for tins act. Messrs. Hickman,
Holmes ana SchooDma>er who are Garfield Re
pubhcans voted Ior the amendment IRON the con-
VIctiOn that It's option would secure the passage
of the hih for winch they were anxious. lhe 81
votes cast against the amendment were gwen Dy U
Democrats and 81 Republicans, -
MI Sprague offered an amendment providing thai
the commission sEOuld keep railway reports SUB
united TO them secret. Mr. Chapln resisted the
abortion of the amendment. He argued tnat the
commissioners, should net be cIrcumscrDed III any
way Tn, Tc was "A ,rOng popular uoIlahd LOT the
bill People seeing wealth rOlled up py
railroad directors with rapldlty tnat was
not eoulle in other lines of trade .Mr Spragues
amendment was rejected An amendment ohercd
by Mt HaggeTty providing Tor tne appointment OF
one OF the commissioners Dy the Chamber Oh Com
merce, Anti-MonOpoy League and Board oi Trade
was rejected by vO,e oi Al 10 10; An amendment
of Mr Pmney s reducing the salaries ol the COM
missiOners from Is, 600 each to $4,000 was adopted
Ihe bill thea passed by the remarkable vote OF
lO5 yeas to 10 nays. 4 he negative votes were
gwen by Alvord, b.. f. Baker, Farrar, Fletcher,
Green, Griffin, jackson, Lghton, A. NJ Patterson
PotteT, Robertson, Ross Sprague, Van buIen, an
Orsdale; II Republicans anu Democrats.