New-York tribune., 1883-03-15
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.

INCONSISTENT DEMOCRATIC SENATORS.
REVERSING THEIR OPINIONS OF A YEAR AGO IN
ORDER TO SECURE THE NEW CAPITOL PATRON
AGE.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE IRiboShl
ALBANY, March 14.-When the Democratic
leaders plotted to grab patronage of the New Capo
they little suspected that their scheme would meet with
such firm opposition from the Republican members OF
the Legislature as 1t has encountered The Dill was
stOutly opposed IN the Senate anu '"o
ruling OF Lieutenant-Governor Hi yeSVei
day is pronounced untenabe by some
OF the best pdrliamentarians In the Senate In enect
the LeutenantGovernor ruled that the cons'itulona
requirement that at least twenty members OF the senate
shall be present at the passage OF bill appropriating
money from the State Treasury is Obeyed IL only
eighIeen OF these Senators vote on tue DILL
The Republicans contend that the only evidence or
twenty Senators being present is their vote recorded
either for against the bill.
An astonishing feature of the dispute is that the DEM
ocrats abstaned from voting year ago and
thereby prevented tho passage OF the Railway
Commission bill in its first form. Then they told
the Republicans that 1t would be unconstitutional to
consider them as present" although they were In the
Senate c. amber. Lieutenant Governor Hoskins, @ he-
publican cOncded in this vew and day after day had
the bill put aside for lack OF sufficient votes This year
the Democrats turn ngbt about face" Through their
cedure is legal now which was illegal year ago. Tho
Republicans are consistent, as in both years they
have declared that If the LieutenantGovernor
should consider Senators present., although they
should vote, IL would be contrary 10 the cOmnanus
OF the Constitution graO for spos 1t is evident has
caused this remarkable change OF opinion on the part o
Upon the meeting OF the this morning Senator
Thomas behalf " the Republican Senators, appeaed
that the Journal should corrected where declared
that certain hepuhcan Senators were present .b pne
ruii, g Of the Lieutenant Governor which
lasted oil the morning aud far Into tne
aide by Senators Pitts, Thomas Ellsworth, Mccarthy
and F. lansing and upon the Democratic side by SEN
nors Jacobs Grady, Homer A. Nelson and Others sena
Tor Thomas said questioned he right OF the clerk to
the presence o. the Senator'S who bad refused 70
dent and the clerk by which the entry IN
Ss.n ag sfe9ey Hd Snd 9G Rout e
knowledge OF the Senate. It not based on the af
present The ruling OF the President was improper.
senator Jacobs, the Democratic leader OF the senate
said 1t error to declar- that the journal dd
not show the presence OF the Republican Senators The
Senators who refused to vote were In their s1ats
senator Pitts said " We claim that neither tine Lieu
clerk had righ: to inter-
pOate the jour al anything else than the usual
siding officer to direct VIII It shall appear I'm the Journal
The speaker of the Assembly has right to such au-
thorty as he is member OF the Assembly II YOU are
decide this matter under the rules the presiding officer
is certainly wrong Isubmit thai the argument OF the
LleutenantGoyernOr mas no place mere IL Is DANGER
precedent-One that you cannon afford to
make Take an INSCRIPTIONS partisan officer
In the heat OF excited political contest Dere over
bill could direct the clerk TO make certain record
Bad always upOa such precedons In violation
OF the rules OF the Senate and the Con-
stitutiOn. The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS has no legislative
power. What the facts The roll was called
Six sena aid They followed the Democratic
Senators precedent OF last If LeutenantOverio or
Hoskns year ago had ruled as Lieutenant Governor
Hill rneo this year we should have had Railroad Com
controlled by mOnOpoes and In the interests
OF the people,"
Senator Jacobs maintained that the Lieutenant
Governor has every right except 10 vote, as member
the senate.
In the eud the motion of the Republicans TO amend
the journal defeaed, all the Democrats voting In
the negative The bill will be returned to the Assembly,
some having been made TO t by the Senate
The Assembly Republicans will oppose its passage.