New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-25
AT THE STATE CAPITAL.
CONSIDERING O'DONNELL'S NOMINATION.
DETAILED CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST HIM
LIVELY DISCUSSION IN THE sENATE-THE DE.
BATE ADJOURNED.

|
! lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUEEI
ALBANY, Jan. PA small man wearing
black broadcoh coat sat in of the seats of the Sem
alto Chamber today One might have thought that he
from funeral to the session Of the Senate
There was look OF dependency indeed on the rudy
face tipped with long gray beard and surmounted by
high forehead which struggles silky gray hair. But
the gray eyes looked keeny the network Of cum
niDglnes surrounded the and the evident
y thinking about the proceedings before him than
about any grief in the past. John O'Donnel-ths was
the mans name-had come to the New Capitol for the
purpose OF learning how the Senators voting for
him as nominee for Railroad Commissioner. Some
overdeeate persons had limited that this was not
very modest proceeding his part, but their absurd
objection had been rightly met by Senator Macarthur,
when that Senator had moved that Mr. ODonne should
be given seat the very floor OF the Senate Chamber
The motion adopted and Mr. O'Donnell entered the
In sort of triumphant procession OF AntiMonop
osts Chefn this noble band Francis B. Thurber of
New York. whose seldevoted Efforts by unlimited sales
OF oeomargarine TO break down the butter monopoly
long since the admiration OF farmers Mr.. Thurber
was accompanied by A. b. Killmer, MS pedler,
and the secretary Of the Anti Monopoly League Of Kings
County. There also present throng OF other Anti
Monopolists
The Senate debated Mr. o'DonneI's merits for three
hours The conflict chiefly several letters that
passed between O'Dennell and A. c. Miller,
the agent Of the New-York mills at Utica, in June
last, regarding the Railroad Commission bill The Legs-
lature bad adjourned when these letters written,
and Governor Cornell was inspecting the bill. ODon-
nell may at that tune have had promise from Mr..
Thurber that II the bill should be signed he should be
nominated for Railroad Commissioner Dy the AntiMo-
nopoy League and the New-York Board OF Trade and
Trausportatou-bOards controlled by Thnrber. OD0n-
nell therefore, had powerful personal reasons for de-
string that opposition should be made TO the bill In
the presence OF the Governor. Perhaps the $4,000
paid had attractions OF its Ho was aware that the
Merchants Manufacturers and Producers Association.
OF Utica. OF which A. c. Miller a leading member,
intended shortly to appear before the Governor and
present arguments against the bill II this association
could be induced TO abandon s design, the bill would
have better chance Of being signed by the Governor
Tempted in this manneg, 0Donnell wrote the following
letter TO Mr.. Miller;
LowvfLLE, n. Y, Jane 3, 1882.
To He Hon A. c. MILLER.
DEAR SIR; AZ We have had some correspondence on
the Railroad Commission bill and as owylllesl IN
Identical beg suggest for your eonsidera
signing the commission bill That is settled Now, i'll
correct, is II Tor Utcas business make
themselves conspicuous IN heading the opposition 10 the
bin Your fregBls very low. VIII bitter Opposi
ton TO the bl and coarse, low attacks on the boards
recommended by the boards friendly TO
UdeA's aud oil Our northern freight interests
when distributed at your place You may not
know but is true, that we have met more opposition
Utica thIn all The rest OF toe state put together,
our organizaaons.
Pardon me IL repeat because oar interests are iden-
teal suggest thai Utica Il taking c0Grse to PREJUDICE
in advance the Commissioners when appointed. syria
cuse under the wise leadership OF Senator Mccarthy
bas taken no sucn position; and suggest that II you
Will advise Win senator Mccarthy who mas the ear OF
the Governor more than any otner se1atOrl you may
md lis opinion accord with In reference 10
only prejudice Yours truly, j. ODONNELL.
Il viii be perceived that In his letter ODonne plainly
says shat The attacks which the Uucs merchants
then making upon ar Thurber's Board OF Trade and
Transportation and the AnttMonopOly League would
cause the Railroad Commissioner whom the law
horized these boards to nominate to be unriendy
them. In other words Mr. oDonnel, II aware that he
was TO be appointed that Railroad COMMISSIONER threat
ened The Uuca merchants with retaliation when no be-
came Railroad Commissioner unless they ceased oppOs-
ing the b This at least the argument OF Senator
Thomas in the Senate to-day In opposing tue connrna
ton Of ODOnne. other letters passed between ODon-
nell aud Miier The latter inquired what use he could
make OF sne above letter 70 which O'DOnnel replied
be shown 10 some Of the opposing merchants. Mr.. dter
then replied Win spirit 9o Tessd 90 am t1S x the
coming Railroad Commisaion as by the present railway
these letters were oil read the at the request
OF senator Boyd, the Anti Monopoly senator, who de
clared tbaL the epistes mercy the OF
business another In alton TO the charge that
MIR O'D0nuc is special rater " Senator Boyd said
Mr. ODonnen after resisting for years tue seduc
tive custom OF the railroad managers In tails respect
at did get his goods transported TO his store at
Iowyillo nj special rate.
senator Boyd then presented a long ex-
PLANTATION from 0Donnell OF his conduct. Senator
this document saying AIR oDonnell is virtually here
arguing his own case. lie had better be permitted
address the senate. thought it rather crOwdng
mOurDers when be was gwen the privilege OF the
floor. but THIS Is too much" Senator Boyd withdrew
'' senator Thomas followed with a bitter attack on
O'DOnnel. lie declared that theTe was not senator
| VINO had confidence that ODOnneu had the
integrity aud ability TO do the work OF
Dor bad protested against his confirmation Waving
IN air above mis- head bundle of legal documents
VCpuIa ed he Vf
dence that ODonncll had been guilty OF misdemeanOr
| ana had declared guy Dy the courts OF traudu
lent intent deprive another mAn OF his property One
Gordon, wnO jailed In business, gave hs property TO
| recover aud inc cInens ned against bm. Sena
/ tor thomas also charged that ODOnnru had falsely
said that ne dLd not apply for special
/ Railroad. IL then exhibited a postal card from
opnne M king the application, and SAID the latter
hau mad gOOus at special rates up 10 Janu
airy l6 Senator Thomas also read an adavis charging
that " Donnel had exhibited telegram purporng 70
como from joan Kelly. ana requesting the three lam
! mlny senators to vote for O'DO0nel whereas John
Senator Macarthur defended o'Douneu, declaring
that could not see anything wrong In his conduct
| lie concluded his speech by sayings 1T Is
| our duty to confirm the nomination, because
the Autobiography power is TOO great TO be
refused recognition might say that Donnell planted,
THAI IhurbeT wsIered or OutteTed don't know which,
and that the Democratic party has eaped the increase
undertake. TO say that the Antt1onopoy sentiments
has prevailed IN the election II the Republicans defeat
head OF Bank Department may be named but do the
Republicans want any Hepburn In theirs don't.
what nei5a VINE be has oppor
/ tunity regardless Of oil other considerations,
| he will put Democrat In Office even IL he has
! TO displace a Republican, IL we defeat 0'Donnel We
shall simply permit the Governor further the inter
eats oil the Democratic party. ODonnefs record stands
clear lie represents che thought which brought the
commission into existence, and In my Judgment We
should confirm HIM"
Upon motion OF Senator Jacobs the Senate then ad
iourued until tomorrow, when tho debate ODOnnel
will be continued Several Senators have said that they
| intend to make speeches ON the subject.
| REFORNiERS IN THEORY, NOT IN PRACTICE.
(FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT I'm. TRIDUHE.I
ALBANY, Jan. 24.--The Democrats showed
.h devnton In tho causo NJ Civil Serytce