New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-31
THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

IFRoH THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TnIBUsE.I
ALBANY, Jan. 3O.-The confirmation Of John
O,Donnell as Railroad Commissioner by the
Senate to-day reveals plainly the power
of Mr. F. B. Tnurber's little printing
press By flooding the Legislative districts with
pamphlets. broadsides and " black-lists" from
this press. Mr.. Thurber has impressed the
politicians who come to the Legislature as Its
members with belief that he Is parsonage
of enormous power in the political world. FER
sonal fear truly has had something 10 Go
with their confirmation of his nominee Tor hailroad
Commissioner All remember Mr.. Thurbers " black
list" of such members Of tho Legislature
of 1852 as ho considered had sold them
selves to souless corporations and were
therefore opposing the Anti-Monopoly
party. These lists were lavishly distributed IN
every Assembly district Of the State, and, bengln
many instances the only compilations showing
voters what their members had done, they had q
great effect The pamphlet with its black Dorder
and general deaths is-head- and-cross-b
style frequently foretold, truly the fate Oh
the members it denounced Nearly all tne oena-
tors arc candidates for reelection. They cOuld
foresee that if they had the independence to Vote
against ODonuel Thurber would flood their dis-
tricts with pamphlets intimating that they had
been bought up by the railroads, and furthermore
would send General sam" Cary OF ONO ana
Other professional auti-monopoy speakers through
their districts making speeches of the same tenor
Governor Cleveland must bear his share, however,
in any censure Of the lie isaure owing to its con-
tirmotiou of O'Donncl. 1t was through his adj
vice that no bill was introduced in the
IogisIoture bv the leading Democrats, as they de-
s,red TO do amending tho Railroad Commission law
so as to provide that MIR. Tnurbers boards shoulu
not have the power Of naming one OF tae CohlinIS-
sinners The Governor slId that the Antl-MOhop-
oiy sentiment must be respected" Politicians say
that this was a lofty way Of saying; 1t won 40
to quarrel wi h Thurber." The Governors influence
also. 1t Is believed was thrown at the last moment
in favor of ODonnelPs confirmation Up 10
the present week Senator Jacobs, the Democratic
leader. seemed undecided how TO act. other
Democratic Senator'S also who arc IN the Governor
confidence apparently had not rceeFe,. s,,- an ~
tmatIon OF how they shoad vote. lesusrua3t
there was suddenly n change In the atltun91 Oh
these men. They all spoke opcnly IN iaVor OF " DOH
oeIps continuation Senator Jacobs came into the
enate this morning and attempted To drlve HI
the Democratic senators INTO the support Oi " Oon
neil He had tine OOdncss To declare that tue Dem
"crata had madC an nliance with the Anti-Monopo-
i.ts last year when the Railroad commission
law was plsssd ana baa PgdIb5 Pn9d be arsped that
they oupht now 30 keep their pledge. senator
Pitts tho Republican leader. pointed out thaI .nis
vas a bargain he ween the Democrats anu tho ANU,
Munopolists Tho Republicans, he declared hau
,no"e nn bargain TO confirm OF reject any man.
whether he was n iit man for RalToan COWms-
m, Gebate ~ hich preceded the vote on the nom
inatiun was OF very earnest nature: senator
Abraham Lansing said ms oWn nts iJ,,n,s On, The
what ODOnueiPs character ~. he points OUT .n9
sp,,tGc Railroad COmmissU Uner who Is To be Oased
apaipst the merchants OF Utica u they persist "a
their oppo3itiun to the Railroad commission nli'
Th.n nntico the petitpps against his confirmation
IN, aflidavits against him. Why arc they here
NJ indgn,ent tends me To iho conclusion that Mr..
sione- and shall vote against hlm'
Senator DAly sid that Ie was satisfied that tue
CHARGES ugainst O'Dynneil were groundless Seut,,
tnr 4 hnmas said that bis ccnvciOu that ODonnell
vas NOT q suitable person for Railroad commissioner
had been strengthened b, the deoaio pay me ns'e ., he
friends of Mr.. ODOnnel, he said, ha' not met ths
rhnroes against him. They had laughed, they hao
an, cred but they hal not answered thenl Inc
hacks OF tho Utoa ard Black klVer kalfoau
shnyved that OiDonnell saved 80 year by accept
ing spectral rates For the paltry sum oi T.,3 ne
gave up his convictions OH the railroad a auestPn;
ao,IJouucllu said tho speaker, " ~ emphatlcaIly
the rannidate Of f. Is. Thurber. Now, Mr. huroer
~ the ouponent of thedary interests OF tho state
IIo the head and front oi ths on
nelp. confirmation. Every senator VINO represents
tho dairy interests OF the state should vote against
UDonnell. bccau,e nc VIII Oo ho'0i' '"o ~
ment OF 1hurber. ,
Senator Jacobs the Democratic leader, then said :
Mn PRESIDENT: The situation today is the logical
result the position taken by t5c Den"craue -
si5n bI OF our own. Then the Republicans trled ana
failed to pass bl wing tue Iu honna8 9 PIwet %rt ~
Governor whom that party hnri.I fon n
at its last State Convention In that conhtoh WIN
both parties were unaole to nave tr ,S way enu
Monopoly proposition was taken up Wy tue lvociavo .
scnafora by n solid Democratic ana soma anu
Monopoly yo a. In this Senate Tho biil was passed
I'anRIy the Dill was not NY nrst choice, but when
made n my second choice did not 90 SO WIN the
,'c naty plet is faith to H. and 10 have the Anti
Monopoly party accept pe1gea and nel us 10 oariy
and OF honor thus created when pretext or an oppo
uulty do was presented mn unable 70 s ssG wnSe
aIr chauce aud the duty t. 4, vote Xs, MopopSy r Sr
ODonncn can be drawn: ihS n,snaa ihis SIII
fne law passed by and by them explicitly makes their
organizations the nominator OF QUO Jo r ennr
has made his We are here 70 aci on lh1 nominees.
,ied 10 one choice OF the three because h made the
passage Of any bill possible am PREPARED ~ SOY 'ma'
less disquaiifyng objections are passed agalnst
him Tue attempt TO DO 80 mas M neSm 81 aaat
atiemrt am satisfied that the charges nave not peeh
Sustained aud that It duty 20 give 10 .ne nominee
Of 5o ne ,ha RasS Ra gwen au Tue
iovai acceptance that we Will give TO the Governors
operate with allies and prefer tho ulniment OF our
nsagements I, tho temptation u ishorc VI po" "'i
Senator Pitts said in substance:
lido not for a moment cOnccdc that we are bound 10
conartn the person nominated for Railroad C1mmls-
soner These nominations arc on precisely .ne 10 Sns
gain IN confirm Or reject any man, wne'uer
o was M or sav Tnn tnat the Den ssrale party made
bargain that IL would confirm tho nomination laae oy
tne Anil Monopoly Leagues whether the man nOinnhteg
shOud be III for Commissioner or not ht DO not tnnk
that John o ODonnch desires 10 be confirmed on thas
ground The interests OF nye hundred millions OF
corporate capital are concerned; ~ Is u.worny di w.
q low plane. All through tne STATE ,eo 20 =, ms
gust not only with John o'Donne but with some oI tue
other nominees The charges which nave been nude
are they true believe la fair play anu mar tne ROAD
reeollcct about the days OF rwoedi that John ODoh
nell was then faithful and an ineorrupuble Legislator.
I must say that Senator Tuonas put ~
little TOO strongly about conventional fraud. II u
had been fraud, doubt whetner MS hegngoIs
would have elected him Senator. H strikes
mo that these obarges nave no. oeen
sustafned think Mr.. O'Donnel when
he sets home will mia coming on the uoor OF the
Senate and seeking confirmation wac improper tnae II
was M bad taste hope will not be repeated py any
other nonineo for office. Ia sit III, proper nomna-
tiou think it is