New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-04-14
AFFAIRS AT ALBANY.
VIOLENT METHODS IN THE ASSEMBLY.
HOW A BILL AMENDING TIE EXCISE LAWS WAS
PASSED FIIlBUsTERING WHILE ONE VOTE IS


PASSED FILIBUsTERING WHILE ONE VOTE 10
BEING oBTAINEp-EXCITING SCENES
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBUNE'
ALBANY, April 13.-The bill amending the
Excise laws, so far as they apply TO New-YorE and
Brooklyn, passed by violent methods In the Az
semby to-day This Is regarded as an unfortunate oc-
currence by many members of the Legislature Through
out the session the country members OF the AS
sembly most OF whom are Republicans, have
manifested willingness to consider proposed
amendments to the Excise laws that they
have not shown in years before Undoubtedly the fail
Of the temperance societies In the cities to
the enforcement of the present laws has brought about
this change of opinion Then also the leaders Of temper
sentiment In the cities themselves expressed the
opinion that amendments ought TO be made TO the
Excise laws Taking advantage OF these circumstances
the leading Democratic members from New-York and
Brooklyn drew up the bill passed to-day. An irrecon-
cable body Of country members led by Mr. Alvord at
once assumed hostile attitude toward the bill.
liberal body of country members led by General Sharpe
endeavored to compromise the differences between the
friends and opponents Of the BILL 1t this fact that
induced General Sharpe, when the bill
announced for third reading to-day, to move that
committee Of eight should be appointed finally to
amend the bill He proposed that Mr.. Alvord, Mr.
Chamberlain and other vioent opponents of the bill
should be members of this barmonizng committee. In
conclusion he asked Mr. Alvord what kind Of Excise
vote for simple Excise bill abolishng the three bed
clause" Mr.. McCleland. Of NewYork, said he did not
think Mr. Alvord sincere in this statement Just
you try by introducing such BILL" shouted Mr. Al
word. "Why didn't you come before the Special Com
mtee when it preparing this bill ?" inquired Mr..
McCleland. Because" answered Mr.. Alvord it was
wholly composed of friends of this might
well have attempted to up the Niagara River with
crowbar as to have got In amendment in that com
mittee"
Mr.. Chamberlain said he thought the bill q most vi
cious Erastus Brooks earnestly denied that the Civil
Damages act abolished by the bill He continued:
In every respect this bill is In the interest OF temper
ance people, have great respect for temperance but
nothing amazes more than TO members OF the
Legislature voting against such bill this, and then
going to take drink" Mr.. Stillwe OF Brooklyn,
accused General Sharpe OF being nsncere in pretending
that the Republicans favored amendment Of the Elk
else law when they did not.
standing vote was then taken on General Sharpe's
motion to send the bill to special harmonizng
uittee The motion was defeated by a vote OF fifty TO
1fty-three. The voting then began on the bil While
planning their r. Baker said that he would be
eomgeed 10 1 the @ in @ Sa OF ss
it could be noticed that the Democratic members were
it. Mr.. Benedict, a Democrat, Of Ulster said
The buebear OF temperance NIL , no,
MI. Crane. Republican Of New-York thought that the
criticisms against the bill just and he should vote
from Dr. Howard Crosby of NewYork the president Of
the society for the prevention Of Crime. crcising the
pressed the opinion that the bin abrogates the Civil
damages act The reading OF the letter made sen
S setS in the bill which would he said Of sef
nullify the Civil Damages act. This was a provision
Justice Of the cs He dsSargS that there
Br Soo Mr. RoSO The Democrat who represents the
"arisocraic Assembly district of York, said that
he regretted that the bill had been amended in
it's II.
quoted from THE TRIBUNE "a statement made by DR..
Howard Crosby in opposition to the bill. Mr. Tighe, who
las conducted bill through the Assembly said that he
was abstaner. still he dealt with the realities OF
life, and had therefore drawn mp the present bill TO
check ii possible the sale Of liquor.
When the roll had been finished It found tina
sxtyfour members had voted for the bill and oryseven
against it. There several members absent from
the Assembly chamber who were known 10 favor
the bill. AS one vote was still required TO
pass the its friends began to hbuser TO gain
time until the additional vote could be secured In
lyn who acting speaker He ruled against every
the result and recognized again and again MT Newman
of Kings who read the names of all the members OF the
voted Meanwhile messengers were sent to
the hotels TO find the missing members
an hour While this search Tor the additional vote was
being made through Albany. Mr. Newman had, in the
qnired how they had voted. Mr. Stanley with a grave
face would make the inquiry and then the clerk with
Patterson meanwhile looked upon this proceeding with
General Sharpe demanded in fierce terms that the
encouragement Of the result shonld be made
@ sharpe s4sn a n How Sns os OF srS sa
tleman from Kings (Mr. Newmanl hold the hoorT
e snoe vS Mr. oTa Tas Highly
exclaming: This is an outrage, the most damna6le
saw Other members looked al each other and ex-
pressed loudly their disapprobaton Of the proceedings
At last there came running into the Assembly Chamber
New-York He voted for the bill, giving it the sixty
fifth vote Mr. Stanley declared Ii passed The vote
was as follows Republicans in Roman, Democrats in