New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-11
TROUBLE IN THE SENATE COMMITTEE.

1T REFUSES TO I-SUE BLANK SUBPENAs-Io IN
vEsIiGATE THE AID RMEN.
The oft-postponed executive session OF the Senate
Investigating Committee TO decide whether 1t should
try TO lind out If Aldermen got money or brides Of
any sort for granting the Broadway railroad fran
cblse was held at the Morton House yesterday. 1t
lasted over an hour. Lawyers Miller and Strahan took
part in IT, When the members and lawyers returned
to the commtce-r it easy to that they had
not had pleasant time Of it. Senator Gibbs looked as
if he had been playing stoker before a red hot fire.
Senator Com,tock appeared worried and Lawyer
Mer dark features were several shades darker Il
usual. Senator's Plunkitt and McCarhy alone looked
serene They don't want the Aldermen investigated.
Whom the members had cooled down somewhat, it
leaked ont from one and another that at the
executive session something like the following had
occurred:
Senator Comstock offered a resolution that the COM
mitee should Investigate the granting of the franchise
and that the lawyers should be furnished with bana
snbpnnas signed by the chairman Of the committee,
Senator Gibbs This meant that the lawyers might
summon whatever witnesses they wanted without any
previous consultation with the committee. oven
without letting the committee know in advance what
witnesses they intended in short. that the
lawyers should run the Investigation senator Gibbs
opposrd the resolution lie thought that II seemed to
Indicate a lack of confidence IN the chairman He was
told that that correct inference. hen the
debate became hot and acrimonious. Senator Gibbs
flushed and said that It showed not only lack OF con-
fdenco in the chairman but susl icion that the com
mtce did not intend 20 he thorough IN its work that
he wac prepared 70 60 TAR Miller anybodg else
in the Investigation hut that aS long as he was chair
mAu OF he committee he would never issues ubpgnas
without knowing what witnesses were going ~ be
sun moned senator Mccarthy thought that the
members Of the committee also should know what
witnesses were 10 be examined. Senator PunKitt
didn't think that the committee had the right tn dele
gate its powers to lawyer. Senator Gibbs insisted
.1,,V.s. aLD fha ma .ptf ma
committee many Anomalous, and the chairman
mere clerk lie woudnt submit to that for any num-
her of LAWYERS lie asked Mr.. Miller what precedent
he had for such a procedure Mr.. Miller ctrd the
Roosevelt Committee. Senator Gibbs replied sar-
casticallv that Mr. Roosevelt no precedent for
him; that he hatterod himself that he bad brains
enough TO conduct his own investigation. Then Nj.
lcr rctorttd that Senator Gibbs had given IN
blank subppnas when the Excise Board was Under
inve.tigatlnn. That Mr. Gibbs said. was done VIII N
ne was much hurried merely 10 save time, and didn't
establish "a precedent Dir. Miller Ou lined the sort of
investigation he had IN mind, lie h'd no doubt that it
wodd disclose corruption. but be- added angrllv that
he would have nothing to do with the investigation
unless he could have entire control of IT, This didn't
seem to rightcn the committee much, tor when vote
was taken Senator COmStock the only member
who voted Tor his own resolution Senator DAILY didn't
vote. senator Gibbs then introduced this resolution:
Resolved. That this committee with ITS counsel.
Messrs Miller and Strahan, Investigate the granting
OF the broadway Railroad franchise by the Board of
Aldermen"
Senator Plunkitt opposed the resolution He held
that the committee had right TO question the right
of the Board of Aldermen to vote for any resolution
that might come before II, that beng legislative body
elected by the people the same the State Scna ors
lie remarked sardonlcaIly that the Aldermen who had
voted for tho franchise had been reelected, whle
those who had voted against 1t hal ben defeated and
that showed plainly what the people thought OF the
business. Senator Mccarthy also opposed the rcsOlu-
ton lie thought that il there hal been corruption
! the proper remedy could be found in the courts. lie
belle ed that the had been used to secure
! the Broadway franchise were employed to sec1re
9th street franchises and didn't know where the sort
oil inyestL ation proposed could stop. Senator Com
stock did not think Il @ solution thorough enough
but voted for il with Senators Gibbs and DAILY Sea-
ators Plunkt and Mccarthy, of course, voting against
it.
Mr. Miller did not attend the regular session Sen
! ator DAILY also hurried away. Senator COmst0cb
I started for his home. lie said that he would return
I it the Broadway franchise investigated but he
did not believe that there would be any investigation
Mr. Gibbs. when asked when il would begin, replies
that he could not tell that ho would probably have t
hunt up fresh counsel first.
John II Chambers. registrar OF the Bureau OF Water
Rents was the Jnly wit,ss mined. His testimony
! was listened % Aith langud interest.
The committee meets to-day at the Morton House a
| ! d. III.