New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-03-20
FREEDOM OF WORSHIP.

HOUSE OF REFUGE BILL
fFRoM A REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRBUSEl
ALBANY, March 19.-The discussion on
senator Gibbs's Freedom OF Worship bill was
resumed in the Senate to-day as special order
Immediately after the reading OF tho Journal
The verbal amendments offered by Mr.. Gibbs on
Tuesday adopted without opposition. Several
other unimportant amendments were offered by other
Senators and accepted by Mr.. Gibbs. Mr. Baker then
moved to substitute the OF his bill for the first sec
ton OF the Gibbs BILL asserting that the latter restricted
tho right to freedom OF worship to inmates OF public IN
stitutious lie did not wish, said, 10 be under the
necessity OF getting sent to a penal Institution
I'm order TO the right to freedom OF worship on
this amendment a long debate ensued much OF which
was irrelevant the proposed amendment or to any
other provision OF the bill Mr.. Mccarthy made an I'm
FASHIONED speech and got into personal controversy
with Mr. Thomas IA TO the source from which the Gibbs
bill emanated. Mr. Thomas, In answer To question
from Mr. Mccarthy said charged that 1t onanated
from the Jesults.
It's false" replied SIR. Mccarthy.
Well, IL you know about it than do, what ala
Won ask me for :" retOrted Mr. Thomas.
Mr. Esy quoted the OF Bishop McQuoid to Sen.
ator Baker in which Bishop said that tho Bill was
the outgrowtb OF controversy between tho Cathonc
Union and the House OF Refuge. The ques-
tion was then raised whether the Catholic Union
has Jesuit organization not MT Gibbs, after con-
sutng with several Catholic Senator'S took the respon-
.hitv OF announcing 10 tho Senate that II not u
Jesuit organization but benevolent association incud
ing ALI Catholics and extending throughout the state
The discussion took irregular turn and several speak
ers avaed themselves OF the opportunity to reply to ro
marks made I'm the previous discussion Tuesday when
the debate was cut short by motion to report progress
Mr. Esy repealed the charge OF bigotry made again ST
him by Mr. DAILY on that occasion and said that he prob
ably had less OF that commodity than any man In the
Senate and gave as sufficient reason
for it that his ancestors had suffered
persecution and dungeons and even death
on the eallows in their resistance bgotry aud intoer
ance Referring Mr. Gibbss remark on Tuesday that
h. speech against the bill would be good thing TO take
10 campmeeting he said that Mr. Gibbs had probably
taken worse things than that speech to campmeeting
| "a retort that elected great laughter
In the miscellaneous discussion Senator Herman
aged to inject written speech, which moderate and
conciiaory It's Tone and in which he said that wha;
the Catholics asked the House OF Refuge Randas
| Island was nothing more than freely
| granted In all the other institutions OF like
| character IN the State, ana he pledged him
self that II the experiment was tried RandalrS
Island and should be followed by onehaf OF the evils
S he would be the first to vote for its repeal MI Fas
sett made finished and eloquent speech the subject
of religious liberation and the necessity OF dscarding
prejudice when discussing religious topics lilo agreed
In the main with the principles OF the Gibbs bin. but
thought that his bill preferable and might prove
MI Bakers substitute for the first section was voted
down. but the section was amended as
10 include all persons, in out OF prison
An effort then made 10 substitute
the third section OF bill for the third section
Gibbss bill This elected another prolonged discussion
IN which Judge Lowe took the ground that the general
provision the Constitution or this State and OF the
United States guaranteeing freedom OF religious opinion
| and worship 20 all citizens sufficient 10 secure
| eyerybody's rights, and legislation the subject
| was needed. Wherever. In whatever Institution II
IL was the hest evidence OF the wisdom OF our fore
fathers and OF the completeness OF their In framing
this provision OF the Constitution that II had answered
all purposes for nearly cen9ry. The first instance IN
tho history OF this state where demand had beer
| made for Legislature TO supplement, extend, thi
institutional provision In relation this House
Refuge ON Randalls Island, and he did think that
| those making the demand had made out q case tina
warranted or justified any Interference the part
the Legislature
The motion TO substitute the third section OF thu
Fassett bill finally prevailed but the section was frs
amended 30 to satisfy the advocates OF tho Gibb
bill Mr. Gibbs then moved that the conmtte,
| rise and report the bill TO the Senate and recommend
its passage Mr. Thomas rose 10 debate the motion
| pulled from his desk pile OF manuscript. Mr.. Gibb
| Immediately withdrew his motion, whefeupon no aat
| Mr.. Thomas came agreement that the bill nigh
| then be ordered 10 q third reading without opposition
provided was stipulated that should not be nut
It's passage until Mr. Thomas given an opportunity
Mr. Thonas's pile OF manuscript which 40. alarmed Mr.
Gibbs speech but copy OF the evidence takei
by the Special Gas Investigating Committee. The vo
| on ordering the bill to a third reading stood Is TO
several Senators being absent Appearances indicate
that the bill when put It's final passage will not ge
over fifteen sixteen votes, which not enough u
carry II through the Senate.