New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-27
IN THE GOVERNORS HANDS.
THE HIGH LICENSE BILL PASSES TIE
SENATE BYA VOTE OF II TO Is.
mr.. RUSSELL CAST THE sEvENTEESTH VOTE
MEssRs. coGGEsHALL, LAUGHLIS. SWEET AND
WORTH HELPED THE DEMOCRATS IN THEIR
EFFORT TO DEFEAT THE MEASURE.

came from the Assembly. II is, perhaps,
needless to say that all of the Democratic Scn>
ators voted against the bill There are 81 Dem~
ocratic members of the Legislature. Only one
Of them, Assembyman Bagley, Of Greene County,
voted for the bill The measure now goes to
| David B. Hill. Democratic Governor: but it has
been framed to meet the many objections thai
were made to the High License bill passed last
year which only applied to the cities Of News
York and Brooklyn. II Governor Hill sincerely
desires uniform excise measure" he has it in
the present one. The bill will eb put in his hands
at once. having now passed both houses Of tho
Legislature. This will be done also in order
that he may lave the pleasure of acting upon ths
bill before the Legislature adjourns upon May
IL.
All eyes were turned upon Senator Russell OF
Albany, when the debate began, for every one
knew that if the bill was to pass it must be
passed by his vote. Sixteen Of the Republican
Senators had shown by their votes previously
that they should vote for the measure, but Sem
ator Russell had been absent upon every occasion
before when test vote was taken on the bill
His attitude toward il was unknown He had
voted for the prohibition amendment and for
the bill limiting the number Of liquor saloons to
one for every three hundred of population. There
was every to think, therefore, that he would
measure It was known however. that he thouRht
the beer license too high, and would vote to
amend the bill in this respect. Whether, IL the
amendment were not made to the bill he would
vote against it was the question that was In the
minds of its friends and opponents up to the
moment OF the final vote. Mr.. Russell, who 10
q tall, fne-looling man Of middle age whole
sale -four merchant of Albany, and a leading citi.
Of the city, sat quietly in his seat listening
to the debate while the conflict went on around
him. The opponents of the measure would NOT
permit final vote to be taken until they had
made speeches.
Senator Erwin, of St. Lawrence County, acted
the Republican leader, heretofore, in push
ing the bill His ability as a leader, cool, wary
and courageous was never better shown. Senator
Murphy at once made q stab at the bill. He
moved that the enacting clause should be stricken
out. The motion defeated-19 to g. There
were only two Republicans who voted for this
motion, jake Worth, Of Brooklyn, and John
Laughlin, of Buffalo, Senators Sweet and Cogges-
hall Reps) said that they opposed to the
bill in it's present shape, but that If amendments
were made to it which they desired they should
vote for it,
Senator Murphy followed up this attack with
another. He NOV ed that New York and brooklyn
bill. But this was too much for Senator Ives
(Dem.) He said that the Democratic party was
committed to the policy of a uniform excise law.
Therefore he voted with the 10 Republicans
against Mr.. Murphys motion and Leutenant-Govs
ernor Jones declared it to be lost
Then came the serious attack upon the measure.
Senator Coggesshall moved that the maximum
license fee for beer license should be reduced
from $500 to slOO and that the minimum license
fee should be reduced from s100 TO $50. He
then warned his Republican associates that they
would drive away the German Republicans IL they
passed the bill. He said he represented great
hop-growing district and the Republican hop
growers were opposed to the bill
Senator Arnold said that he also represented
a hop-growing district. 1t was the largest in the
United States, and yet man in that district
had asked him TO vote against the bill. On the
contrary, the sentiment of his district was al
most unanimously in favor Of the bill. Mr..
Coggeshalrs argument respecting the German
Republicans was fallacoGs.
Senator Lnson DEM said that the hop-growers
Of Schoharie County would not permit the return
of Assemblyman Stevens because Of his vote on
the High License bill. AS for the Republicans,
they knew that Governor Hill would sign
the bill and were only seeking to put him in
hole.'
Senator Sweet Rep.) followed with laborious
excuse for his desertion Of his party on the meas
ure. In opening his speech he said:
have listened attentvey to all that has been SAID ana
looked carefully at what has been written the
subject High License, and have yet hear any
argument the bill from moral political
standpoint There has been no man or paper that
dared to argue that 1t Is morally right shall myself
very glad support High. License bill, what is
preferable, high BILL IL 1t is fair 70 people, and
shall heartily. And yet do not know why. except
many my friends tell they want and that
may suppress regulate sales. and would like very
much please them The same preachers and the same
papers who condemn favoring this Crosby bill
any shape told last It wrong and corrups
license and regulate gambling pool-seing, and In
response that cry / found myself In the inconsistent
position voting against regulating gambling and in
Of licensing liquor selling But do not want to
be understood TO take position from moral stand
point for you would Justly call me insincere for my OBJ
econs 10 the bill In It's present shape are from other rea
sons. L shall not by any vote OF mine, be psrty 10
passage OF bill that discrminates unlusy against
my They tell that my personal interest In
nuences me- that am barley dealer. Well, am
barley dealer, and because know perhaps bet
many others what legislation most snect tho
barley growers and gentlemen so long as represent
people who raise barley to make malt shall endeavo 10
prect that interest The threats OF the press d. not
fear and shall be Influenced by when the leaves fail
1882 II my people want representative 10 be guided
by NewYork newspapers in matters that interest them
perfectly willing to acquesce but so long am
here shall do as sworn TO dO-what consider my
duty.
Senator Worth Rep) also opposed the bill
Hs represented more Germans than any other man
in the Senate. Nineteen of the twenty-one brew.
ers OF Brooklyn lived in his district.
Senator Cantor followed with short speech in
defence of Governor Hills vetoes Of temperance
measures.
Senator Erwin then said:
One would think from Senator Coggeshalrs argument
that the Germans going be deprived Of beer
II we pass this bill They " lose their beer Il
Is bugbear and scare This bill merely restrictive
measure represent OF great hopglowing dis
rcts OF the State. Not single man OF my district has
asked me TO oppose this bill protest against this sian.
ierous attack upon the Germans They a temperate,