New-York tribune., 1884-03-27
DEMOCRATS IN AN UPROAR.
pIsGRAcEFUL SCENES IN THE ASSEMBLY.
A DESPERATE EFFORT TO DELAY ACTION ON TIE
Nrw-YoRK REFORM BILLS.

A DESPERATE EFFORT TO DELAY ACTION On HE
NEw-YoRK REFORM BILLS
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
ALBANY, March 26.-Strangers who entered tne
Assembly chamber to-day while the Assembly was
IN session. must have thought that mob was IN
nossession of the room and not its rightful occu-
pants 1t was not mob but merely the Democratic
Assemblymen indulging IN q riot with view OF pre-
venting consideration of the New-YoIk reform bIis
There has not been such tumult in the Legislature
in many years. So great was the uproar that most
of the members of the Senate attracted to the
Assembly chamber, and rumor spread about that
there had been revolutionary proceedings OF seri-
Gus nature in the Assembly.
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION TO REFORM.
The reform bills which caused such commotlon
were the nine measures presented by the special
committee that has recently been investigatng.the
New-York departments. These bills as is well
known deprive the Register and County Clerk OF
their fees circumscribe those of the Sheriff, reduce
the number of Park Commissioners, Abolish I'M
prsonment for debt and effect many other lmpor-
tant reforms in New-York. For week past IL mas
been evident that the officials and poliuclahs III
New-York who would lose money II the Dllls shoulu
become a law, not going to witness tameV
their passage by the Legislature. Agents of these
men have been flying between New-YOrk ana
Albany the last fortnight making arrangements for
opposition TO the bills. Naturally, as the Demo-
cratic officials in New-YOrk were assaed, the Dem
ocratc members of the Legislature were especially
appealed 10 when arguments were MADE III IaVor oi
opposing the bills Most of the Democrats, 1t was
ouckly evident to-day, have pledged their votes
against the bills.
TACTICS TO oBTRCCT BUSINESS
All the measures were a special order for to-day
Mr.. Roosevelt, looking especially alert, was ON his
feet the moment the Assembly began its work, seek
ing TO catch the Speakers eye, with the intention OF
calling up the special order of the day. There was
a stout cray-haired man, however, IN one CT the
front seats who vociferously bawled Mr.. Speaker,
whereupon Mr.. Sheard said, The gentleman from
New.York Mr. Oliver" The latter replied, Mr.
Speaker demand the enforcement OF the ninth joint
rule" The rule mentioned says that when there
are ten bills on the order Of third reading, no other
business shall be in order unless its transaction Is
ordered by two-thirds vote. Mr.. Oliver, by insist
ing upon the enforcement the rule was trying to
exclude the reform bills from consideration. He
WAS aided eagerly by number of Democrats who
cried ont ninth Joint rule" Mr.. Roosevelt moved
that the reform bills should be taken up, notwith-,
standing the rule. which could be Overrldden by a
majority of twO-thirds This he failed to obtain;
the vote stood sixty to fOrty-twO. Messrs. Little
John, Scott, and L. r. Locke, Republicans, voted
with the Democrats against the lotion, While
Messrs Nelson and Welch, Democrats, voted with
the RepuDlcanS Ill lls ldN OI' lho Ih9o0h"iJ 'hiNA
went TO work passing bills
MR. ROosEVELTs EARNEST EFFORTS.
MIR. Roosevelt was discouraged. He feared for
his bills having been informed by the Speaker that
The special order would lapse unless it was taken up
to-day. Then weeks might pass before the bills
could be made special order again. He consulted
with ex-Speaker Hustled, and determined as the re-
suit of that conference to press the bills. lie moved
that rule II be suspended in Order~that the New
York bills might be ordered to third reading with
ont consideration in Conmittee of the Whole. W.
T. Smith, the law partner of Smith Nj. Weed, IN be-
half of the Democrats made the point of order that
due notice of an intention to suspend this rule must
be given The Speaker ruled the point of order well
taken Mr.. Hustled then came to Mr.. RoOsevelts
rescue by moving that the bill then on the order OF
third reading be laid aside He intimaed that he in
tended to move that all the bills then on the order OF
third reading be laid aside until the New-YOrk bills
were reached. There were then forty-iive bills on
the order of third reading and the Democrats were
not much frightened at Mr.. Husteds motion, think
ing that they could get yea and nay vote on
every bill 1t would take all day TO vote on all the
bills, and in the meantime the special order would
expire.
Mr. Rice the Democratic leader, began the fill
clustering by moving as an amendment to Mr.
Husted'S motion that the Assembly should adjourn.
The motion was lost Mr.. Hustled modified his mo-
ton by moving that all the bills then on the order
of third reading should be laid on the table. This
was Jumping the bills. and thus making only one
barrier to pass before reaching the NewYork bills.
Mr. Ely of Ostego County, made the point of order
that all of the bills could not thus be laid aside in
lump and that vote must be taken on each separ-
ately The Speaker ruled that the point of order
was not well taken. Mr.. Ely appealed from the de-
cision of the Chair. Mr. Hunt Rep moved to lay
the appeal on the table. The Speaker was sustained
by a party vote of 64 to 43. Mr. Rice made the
point of order that twO-thirds majority was
necessary to pass Mr.. Husteds motion to bunch all
the bills and put them on the table The Speaker
ruled that the point of order not well taken.
A SCENE OF CONFUSION AND DISORDER
Instantly there was great cOmmotiOn. Nearly
all the Democratic, ,Assemblymen rushed out into
the centre aisle of the Assembly chamber, and
clamorously demanded recognition from the
Speaker The noise was great that it drowned
the raps of the Speakers gavel he pounded for
order. Many of the Republican Assemblymen were
on their feet demanding the enforcement of order.
Ten minutes of great disorder followed the Speaker
Vainly endeavOring TO secure silence. Finally
when quiet was restored, W. L. Smith said calmly,
but forcibly " Mr.. Speaker demand the yeas and
nays on Mr. Husteds motion to lay aside all bills"
The Speaker did not hear Mr. Smith, for he put Mr.
Husted's motion. Mr. Smith then repeatedly
screamed: l demand the yeas and nays" bat the
Speaker did not hear.
Meanwhile Clerk Chckerng was counting the
standing members and announced that there were
64 voting in the affirmative The Democrats
proaned and hIssed, and shouted out that they had
right to the yeas and nays. Mr. Smith was white
with indignation the Speakers refusal to grant
hIm the yeas and nays. When Mr.. Chickerng an
nounced that 81 votes given in the affirmative.
Mr. Smith said to the Democrat Don't voten
Some men did stand up. The Democrats cried ont
that the Republicans were voting twice. Mr..
Chickering announced that there had been four
negative votes given. Then the Speaker announced
that Mr. Husteds motion had been carried.