New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-11
HILL TRIED TO SMOTHER IT.
DESPERATE EFFORT TO CHECK THE
AQUEDUCT INVESTIGATION.

EVE OF A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
THE SENATE VOTES THE GOVERN.
ogs WAY, REpENTs AND VOTES
ITS owN-AND THE INQUIRY
WILL CONTINUE HIT
TING wHoMsoEvER
1T MAY.
ALBANY. May 1o-Governor Hin attempted today
smother the Investigation of the of the Board
Of Aqueduct Commissioners Of NcwYork that has been
In progress for a month under the supervision OF
special committee OF the Senate. This committee mas
uncovered evidence highly damaging TO the Governor
perhaps damaging that the Democratic party may
not dare to renomlnate him. Mr.. Hill does not desire
to carry any heavier load than Is now his shoulders
in consequence Of these revelations, and therefore pu
forth all the strength no possesses in tho Senate among
the Democratic Senators TO smother the Investigation
There Democratic Senator'S however, not under
Mr. HIPS control but rather his mortal enemies In
political sense, who also strove to suppress all furher
investigation It IS believed that these men acted
under orders from william n. Grace and other County
Democracy leaders who for reasons OF their own DO
desire any additional investigation Of the Aqueduct
contracts probing into other city departments
The effort to kill the inv estlgaton was witnessed In
the Senate Chamber by John cBrien, OF o'Bren &c
Clark, and F. L. Rdgway, one Of the Aqueduct Com
mlssoners. Tho method chosen was to introduce
resolution limiting the time within which the special
committee would have authority to continue its work
sick several days and may not be able to work for
two months to come. Yet Senator Murphy proposed
that :he authority Of the committee TO continue the
investigation should end on July /. He offered res
oiuton to that purpose the presentation Of which had
the effect Of the explosion OF powder magazine IN
the Senate Half Of the Senators sprang TO their feet
and several demanded that the resolution should be
read again. Senator Ralnes CRepl objected to the
reception Of the resolution, but LieutenantGovernor
| Jones ruled that It could be considered
| Senator Murphy said that 1t was sus
pected that the investigation thus far
| had boon conducted by the Republicans with
partisan purpose. Clearly he said, the investi-
CATION should not go during the months preceding
the Presidential election In November. 1t cannot es-
cape having partisan carried during that
| time
To every ones surprise Senator Laughlin CRep)
Of Buffalo. followed In support of the resolution.
believe in fighting fair" he said and II Governor
Hill Is candidate for reelection he should not be
| embarrassed by any such investigation this one.'
Such solcitudc for the Governors good III fortune
on the part Of Republican caused general SURPRISE
but 1t was soon apparent that the Democrats were
relying upon some Republican support to pass their
! resolution.
81 am opposed to this investigation committee being
tied up In any way" said Senator Low the Republican
president pro tenn Of the Senate. II would also be
highly dscourteous to Senator Fassett. the chairman
Of this committee who is i'll at home. to take advantage
| of his absence to press such a resolutions
| Senator RsInes denied the statement that the In
| vestigaton was partisan one.
senator vedder-If this resolution passes I shall
offer a resolution providing for suspension OF the
Investigation, for this would so cripple the committee
that they could not do their work
Senator WOrth-It has not been shown that this
committee has acted In partisan way and it Is
to say that any facts are to be found
damaging to the reputation Of David B. Hill or any
one else connected with the aQuednct work. should
know these facts before election day. We do not
want to discover the damaging facts after election
day.
The supporters OF the resolution under these attacks
saw the necessity Of making some compromise Mr..
Laughlln said that he was willing that the special
committee should work until July IS:
you had better give till August IL said Senator
Hendricks, one Of the members of the committee.
"wn you vote for the resolution In that case IN IN
| quired Senator Murphy.
"The amendment would be acceptable to me-
Senator Cantor complained that the Democrats had
counsel on the committee.
ave shall give counsel TO the minority at the
next meeting of our committee said Senator Hen
bricks, who will be thoroughly satisfactory to them'
Then Mr. Hendricks made statement which startled
the Senate. II this resolution passes In It's present
shape shall resign my place as member Of t.e
would do likewise"
senator worthThs resolution Of Senator M, MURPHY
there Is to be Presidential election this fali II
Governor Hin is bad man his character should oe
known II there is anything wrong about these
Aqueduct contracts It should be revealed
senator Murphy said that he would consent TO the
resolution being amended 10 give the lnvestl-
eating Committee until August ] to do their WORK
fIe moved that the committee should be limited 10
Tho motion was adopted--1e to IS. Five Republl;,
ean;Hawkns oconnor Laughn kOoe the a aG
alive. The vote was as fOll0Ws - -,
Yeas--Cantor Collins, Foley, Hawkins, Ives, Lang
D DG Perc c Reilly Robertson stadsr, walher,1e
Nays--Arnold, Coggeshan, Dean, Erwin, Hendricks
K Ksn Ge L Tsdder t0 Worth han ms
But the Republicans did not give up the ngh sen,
ator Hendricks Indignantly said Il don't thlnK that
such resolution this has ever been adopted before
in this Senate, and hope it will not be today. II
this committee had been slow in performing its duties
or IL we had conducted the investigation as to meet
with your disfayor, then there might be some lsnGs
dismiss the committee from all further power In this
matter. In my opinion, this is shameful interfer'
ence with an investigation committee that is endeavor
Senator Cantor now threw off the mask "The
Republican party he said IS determined - VIII ths
vestication for tho purpose Of collecting campaign
thunder They boldne the threat Of an ny ws
CATION over all the Democratic departments In New
York City II Is done, / say, in order to gain the
Presidency, and opposed to the whole proceed
The Republicans swiftly made use of Mr. cantors
Lncauious admission Senator Ralnes sprang Into the
pit ard said: -
tors. You have all heard Senator Cantor
G Imitation of mo because he fears that Repuoean
will get evidence against eminent Democrats which
will have the effect Of electiDg Republican Presi-
dent. Why, then, should any Republican vote 10
limit the time of this committee?p
senator Low followed: " Tho fact Is this Investi-
eating Committee has done too well In the opinion
OF Governor Hill and his advisers. The facts that
they have discovered damaging and hence this
effort TO suppress further Investigations
Senator SOaHe-Let the committee go on hcwing
right and left let the chips fall as they will.
Senator Laughlln Repl-l think the committee
should cease from work two months before election
day And let me add that when Senator Raines says
no Republican would 10 limit the committee that
Senator Raines Unerrupting-I have not alluded 70
senator Laughln. For two months past | have nor
ciassed him as a Republican. daughter by the Re
senator Worth-Mr President, move reconsidera
ton of the vote by which the Investigation commit
tee was limited August ana not perthi''eo W "01A
after that date until November u -. -
senator o'Connor, who had voted Win the DemG
go ana senator Worth's motion was adopted by q