New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-14
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DEBATING REFORM BILLS.
NO CHANGE IN THE BUREAU OF ELECTIONS

THE MEASURE PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT
OF A COMMISSION DEFEATED
fFRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT TRIBUSR.J
ALBANY, MAY 13.-The bill of the Committee Of
Fifty-three, OF New York. creating a new Bureau
of Elections and abolshng that connected with the
Police Department of New-York excited an ami
mated debate in the Assembly to-day The fight
was actually over John J. OBren, Chief OF tho
Bureau who would lose his Office If the bill should
become a law The Assemblymen frankly brought
Mr. O. Brien to the front in their remarks concerning
the BILL Mr. Moore declaring that certain men are
trying to drown John j. OBrien IN the vortex OK
public opinion" Mr.. O'Bren was IN the loboy'
outside of the Assembly chamber, while the vote
being taken on the bill.
Mr.. RoosEvELr's ARGUMENT.
Mr. Roosevelt. who introduced the bill, and
pushed it to a vote. spoke in its favor. His chief
argument was that the Bureau of Elections would
be much better managed if severed from all relations
with the Police Department. 1t would take tho
Bureau out of politics. 1t not aimed at Mr.
OBren, the present Chief OF the Bureau. In coi-
clusion Mr.. Roosevelt offered an amendment, sub
stitutimg Judge Miles Beach, of the Court Of Com
mon Pleas for Recorder Smyth as one of the Board
authorized to name the two chiefs OF the new
Bureau Oh Elections. The Board would then COLI
sst of Judges DAILY and Beach, OF the Court OF Com
mon Pleas, City Judge Cowing, and Judge oedg-
wick of the Superior Court
Mr. Dayton opposed the adoption of the amend
ment and the passage of the bill. There was no
good reason for theAxclusion of the Recorder. The
system proposed of having the chiefs OF the Bureau
appointed by the judges OF the courts was an oo-
jectlonable one. The judges might be called upon
to pass Judgment the acts of the chiefs they hah
appointed. The present system he thought good
one. He asked how two men could wisely appoint
T. 500 inspectors of elections and poll clerks With
out the assistance of the police, who knew the
moral character of men
Mr. Howe of New-York, theoretically supported
Mr. Roosevelt in his defence of the amendment
The amendment was then adopted.
EXPLAINING THEIR VOTES
The voting was constantly interrupted with tho
speeches of men explaining their votes. MI Burns'
of Brooklyn, protested against Mr.. OBuen being
forced out of office by the dudes of New-York'
Mr. Darra Oh thought that judges ought not TO have
ANYTHING to do with tie appointment OF inspectors
of election. Mr. Donahue, of Buffalo. said that the
bill was evidently an attempt on the part OF New-
York POLITICIANS ge' He T sbond Sb Therefore Vote
against the bill Mr.. Earl, OF Brooklyn, said tDss
| he had never heard anything against Mr.. u Brie9s
| character. He should therefore vote against tno
SIr Hasbrouck said that for six years Mr.. OBrien
had managed the Bureau OF Elections. rom al. ~"
could learn the votes had been honestly counted;
| That made him think Mr.O'Brlen an honest and
capable officer. Mr.. Clinton, OF Buffalo saa thas
the conclusion tnat il would be dangerous lnnoVa-
tion to make the judges OF high courts the appoint
| ing power when election officers were chosen. 10
| voted against the bill. -, o,o
| Mr. Hubbell said that the friends of Mr. % Brien
claimed that if the bill became law the RepuDlcsn
| party would lose 10000 votes. He Thought thas
this was.a dangerous claim to make on the part OK
any man. Mr.. Hustled replied that what was meahs
was that Mr. o. Brien would prevent the casting OF
1000 illegal Democratic votes. lie hlnseh nad
frequently been opposed in politics by MI " Obrlen.
but nevertheless of the opinion that ne was An
Ion and anahl la n1b 10
| was a bad time to swap horses while crossing
| stream and he should vote against the BILL 80,
| The bill was defeated by vote OF 5S yeas TO US
| nays -,
The members who voted against the bill were as
| follows:
Messrs. Bailey, Baker, Beckwith, Binder, Boynton.
riggs Burns Clarke, Clinton ,COey, DaTragh Dayton,
| Dean Dbble, Donney, Donobue Drelss, Dlny, ksfIs
FarnIm, Farrell Feter, Forsyth, Garbut Haggerfys
HULL Hasbrouck Haskell, Horton Hustled, Jo6es joyce,
| Kittle Lindsey, Littleohn, L. r. Locke, Mcdonald.
Moore Mullaney Murphy, Murray. Nage, NASH Mason,
Noxon, Oliver owen, Palmer. Pierson Pratlt Pulhnys
Roche, Rosenthal, scott, Shoemaker slpp -, ohhus
sweet Taylor, Van COtt Vedder, Westiai' ana Hinno'
/ man-63.
| THE BILL KILLED AT THE EVENING SESSION.
! Late in the session of the Assembly tonight Mr.
| Dayton moved the reconsideration of the vote W
which the bill concerning the Bureau OF Elections
was lost Mr. Daytons object was to Kill the biz,
| and he frankly expressed his intention. Mr.
| Roosevelt resisted the adoption of the motion. JIG
| said that he thought those Republicans VINO Dad
voted against the bill at the morning session w0uid
| regret their decision. Mr.. DaytOns motion was De
feated as he desired The vote stood 40 yaes to 90
| nays. A reconsideration Oh the vote having peen
| defeated the bill is lost.