New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-26
BLAME FOR THE CEILING.
THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE MAKES
IT'S REPORT.
FERMEsr IN TIE ASSEMBLY OVER THE DocU
MlsNT-aR. CROSBY MOVES FOR ANOTHER
SPECIAL COMMITTEE TO CONTINUE
THE INvEsTIGAIIoN-3fR sHEEt
HAMS FIERCE. PROTESTS ARE
IN vAIN-THE CONTROL
LER cENsURED.

Lbt 4ELEcbAfh 10 THE Tribunal
Albany, Feb. 25.--The Committee ON Appropr@as
tions of the Assembly having held that hot stov!
the Assembly ceiling scandal, for four or FIVE
weeks. in exceeding sadness of spirit this eveu-
ing dropped their burden in the Assembly Chamber.
Any other committee that cares to pick up tho
stove will meet with no resistance from the Cons
Inittee on Appropriations whose members are
desperately anxious, they say, to get nc ths
preparation Of the annual appropriation and supply
bills
There was an enormous crowd Of both sexes
In the Assembly Chamber before the session Of
the Assembly began, it had been ncised about
that something dramatic would occur. When, there's
FORE Mr.. Ainsworth, the chairman of the Coms
mittec on Appropriations, arose and proffered a
roll Of manuscript to Clerk Chckering q sensa-
ton passed over the great room. The Assembly-
men listened iDtently, and there was profound
silence as soon as it was perceived that the re-
port being read was that of the Committee on
Appropriations on the result Of their investigation
OF the Assembly ceiling scandal. 1t was early
perceived that the committee in their investigations
had come to the same conclusion as the experts,
namely, that the contractors for the Assembly
ceiling and stairway work had made clear profit
of at least s105,00o. The fact that Controller
Wemple, however, was censUred for auditing the
exaggerated bills submisted him by Charles b.
Andrews, the Superintendent Of Public Buildings
was an entirely new feature. So also was the
condemnation of the Ceiling Committee for gross
carelessness' in the execution of their duties.
When the reading Of the report had ceased
Mr.. Crosby offered the following:
Resolved That this report accompanying papers
be sent TO the judiciary Committee and b. It
Resolved That the judiciary Committee and hereby
instructed to report to this House February q
resolutions appointing special committee TO complete
satisfactorily the examination Of alleged cons
nection with the construction Assembly ceiling
This pointed to continuation Of the invests
cation by the Assembly with new committee.
Mr. Crosby strongly favors this course. But
before the Assembly could act on Mr. Crosby's
motion, Mr. Sheehan, a member of the Ceiling
Committee, arose to a question Of privilege, and
denounced in fierce terms the report submitted
by the Committee on Appropriations. His chief
complaint seemed to be that the committee had
not stated who were present at the first meets
ing Of the Ceiling Committee; but he was
present at the second meeting of the Ceiling
Committee and acquiesced in the granting of the
contract which has proved so unfortunate TO the
State, even the Democratic members of the Cons
mittee on Appropriations regarded this an
immaterial point and that il did not clear him
Of the charge of gross careleSsness in the execu-
ton of his duties
Mr.. Gallup. another member of the Ceiling Com
mittee made speech after Mr.. Sheehan. which
was better received by the Assembly. lie stated
that he had insisted npon the advertisement for
bids being put In Che newspapers for longer time
and that the other members OF the Ceiling Con-
mittee had outvoted him in this important matter.
The fact that the contract to be given out was not
properly advertised was of the strongest points
made by the Committee on Appropriations against
the Ceiling Committee
General Batcheller said that the Assembly was
not in mood carefully to debate the
report tonight and he, therefore, moved that the
report and its recommendations should be cons
sidered at special session TO be held on WedneS-
day.
Mr. Roesch resented the allusion made by tho
Committee on Appropriations TO Controller Wem-
ple's carelessness He moved that the report
should be considered tomorrow. Mr.. Sheehan
Mr. Roeschs motion, and said that the
report was partisan one forgetting that II is
signed by the Democratic members OF the Cons
mittee on Appropriations.
The Assembly by large vote rejected Roesch's
motion and adopted the motion OF General Batch-
eller. On Wednesday also. the resolution Of Mr..
Crosby for the appointment Of special committee
to continue the investigation Of the ceiling scendai
will be considered