New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-03
ANGRY SEN ATORS AT ALBANY
"a CONFLICT OVER MIR. HILLS NOMINEES.


THE DHMoCRArs-BITTER WORDS IN THE
CHAMBER-TAUNTs AND ACCUSATIONS
FOLLOWED BY THE WHITE
WINGS OF PEACE.
rrY TELEGRAPH THR TRIBUNE.
ALBANY. March 2.-The differences Of opinion
among the Republican Senators in regard to tn
policy that should be adopted in dealing will
Governor Hills nominations for State offices lee
unfortunately to bitter conflict among them IL
the Senate to-day. The contest was over Gov
ernor Hills nomination of james McLeer and
James H. Breslin, both Republicans, and Arthur
Ieary, a Democrat, for Quarantine commissioners
of Ncw-Yorll These nominations were made on
February IL. but no action has yet been taken
upon them except to send them for consideration
to the Committee on Commerce and Navigation.
James McLeer lives In Brooklyn and is a friend
of Senator OConnor, Republican, who earnestly
desires Mr. McIeer's confirmation Senator
OConnor became suspicious lately, from the long
delay Of the Committee on Commerce and Navi-
ration in acting upon the nominations that they
had been hung up indefinitely lie communl-
Gated these suspicious to several OF his Republican
associates. and made the argument that 1t was
the duty of Senators to see that nominations made
by a Governor, even political opponent, should
be either confirmed or rejected and not ignored
lie pointed TO the practice of the Republicans in
the United States Senate I'm dealing with nOmi-
nations made by President Cleveland They
acted upon nominations made by the President,
he said. Senator O'Connor then sugg ,stcd that
steps should be taken TO get vote in the Senate
upon the Governors nominations for Quarantine
Commissioners.
These views Of Senator O'Connor met with the
approval of Senators Robertson. Sloan, Hawkins,
kellogg, Laughlin. Sloan and Walker all Repub,,
hcans. At the earliest opportunity they resolved
TO press the consideration Of the Governor nomi-
nations.
THE GOVERNOR TRIrs AN OLD TRICK.
News Of this decision, it is said, came to Gov
ernor Hills ears and had an amusing effect upon
him. He was alarmed lest the nominations should
be confirmed. He had not made them in good
faith and did not desire that two Republicans
should be confirmed Quarantine Commissioners
In this dilemma he resorted to old trick Of his.
lie determined, If possible. to stir up discussion
among the Republican Senators over the nomina-
tiOns and thus prevent confirmation. If a Demo-
cTatlc senator should move the connImat1on OF
the nominations, he argued. some Of the Rcpubli-
can Senators Nigh resent the work Of the Demo-
Gratis in taking the initiative in such matter and
IL the lack Of common agreement among the
Republican Senators respecting their action on
these nominations they might not act unitedly
Moreover, II was known that some Of the Republi-
can senators were opposed to the confirnation of
any one as Quarantine Commissioner in the place
of Thomas G.. Platt while that gcntlcmau's suit !
for reinstatement as Quaantine Commissioner |
was pending in the courts. Moreover. Senator |
Murphy and Senator Langbein. Democrats. had |
stated that they would not vote TO confirm the
Governors nominations because two Of the nomi-
noes were Republicans The Governor felt there
fore that there element Of safety for him
self in moving the confirmation of his nominees.
aud likewise that it would increase the chances
Of his nominees not being confirmed.
Senator Cantor made the first movement in
this sham attack Of the Governor by making q
motion in the Senate to-day that that body should
go into open executive session for the purpose
Of considering the nomination for Quarantine
Commissioner. This motion being put TO vote
there was the following result democrats marked
thus y:
Yeas-sCantor, sCollins 'Foley, Hawkins,
,,Ives Kellogg. sLangbcn. sLins9n Iaughlin FMc-
Nays-Coggeshall, Deane, Erwin, FssSctt. Hen
tricks, Lewis, Raines Russell, Vedder and Worth.
10
1t viii he observed that the seventeen votes
n the affirmative are divided between seven Re-
,ublicans and ten Democrats. The seven Rcpub- :
lean Senators who thus voted to open the door =
or action on the Governors nominations were
;obertson, Sloan, Hawkins, Kellogg. Laughn, t
'Connor and Walker Senator RUSSELL Of Al 4
any, also at first voted IN The affirmative, but
hanged his vote to the negative. c
SHARP FIRING AROUND THE CHAMBER +
Senator Cantor having carried one entrench- t
ent they thought be could carry another. lie
owed that the Committee on Commerce and O.
avgatOn should be discharged from the further
Of the nominations Governor Hill e
id made for Quarantine Commissioners Mr.. Can n
= then started off TO make one Of his customary
'litical hamngues but was called to order by d
e Lieutenant Governor, who wished TO decide q,
point Of order that raised by Senator Erwin, II
r. Erwin held that an action could not be taken m
the nominations until the committee had re- II
rted The Iieutenant-Govemor did not like on
e point Of order and ruled against il. Senator
Orth, who is chairman of the Committee on "
rnmerce and Navigation, was about the angriest S.
III in the House and he could hardly contain u
nself until the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS allowed
n the floor He said: =,
Il IS the first time in my experience of four years NJ
t the discharge of a committee has been asked for
ore the committee itself has had an opportunity a
report There has never been time IN this ses,
son in this extraordinary haste on the part of my NJ
ocates who ask tba, this comni,tee be dlsGharged m
my political associates desired that these Demo HI
S % % ppson who bas een e & fS S the
'ernor TO represent the minority in this house co
Senator Sloan said that he was in favor Of ms
ing on the nominations Of the Governor as soon
the occasion would seem to require in order to tn,
III his whole duty in regard to nominations. of
senator Robertson was in favor of giving the 49,
1mittee proper time in which TO consider the e ve
senator O'Connor replied that 50 far as he was Ma
sonaly concerned, he had no objections to the rel
senator Laughlin accused the Senators who are :
osed TO the nominations of trying to trade with
Governor and they were only putting the A.,
ter off SO that they could make. a better deal -
b him. INA
lr Worth again obtained the floor and said: "a
simply wish that the Senate give the committee Po
,ance Ia he beard n has aIwavs Leen The mo bet
nj that the action OF the committee is always by toti
win OF the majority of the senate - Ain
lr. Raines-I think that no harm will follow
ction in this matter is held over little. l =
not understand where the necessity arises for
Senator from the Xth Mr Cantor TO hurry so iau
loving for the confirmation. laul
enator Iiawkins-I am glad to hear from the to
rDAn OF the SOmmlttee on COmmeree ana Navl- bon
on that ne Is ready TO Drlng the subject or In
nominations before the committee the
cErn AVN cuppprSrn AT rr,r &. Co,,p,xr, the
" " ~ "'i-'A- to
.nator Coggeshau followed this speech by say
e Senator from the Ist (Mr Hawkins) saws that a
ust cypress his feelings. i Hike 10 hear ca pres o.
OF feelings i am unable IL ca plain how the GOV
itty OF this Senate should unite themselves with
minority believe that 1t Is proper thing that =