New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-21
PRICE THREE CENTS.
HEAT UNDER THE CEILING.
VIGOROUS DEBATE In THE ASSEMBLY ON
THE PENDING INVESTIGATION.
MR. FISH AND CHAIRMAN AINswoRTH, OF THE
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, ExcaAEG-
ING MARKED pERsoxALITIEs--MR-
AsPINALL's RESOLUTIONS ADOPT
ED-UNANIMoUs VOTE FOR
ANDREwss susPEN-

SION
Albany. Feb. 2o.-Hamilton Fish, H., certainly
has frst-rate abilities as prosecuting attorney.
He has had the most success of any of the vol
unteer counsel OF the Assembly Appropriations
Committed In extracting from secretive wst
nesses the facts which they wished to hide con-
cerning the Assembly ceiling scandal To-day
Mr.. Fish spurred up the Assembly to decisive ac-
ton regarding Charles B. Andrews, the Super
intendent of Public Buildings. who had charge Of
the ceiling job; and also. by drastic treatment.
compelled the Appropriations Committee to put
more yigor into their examination OF witnesses.
Scarcely had the Assembly met this morning
when Mr.. Fish called from The table the resolu-
ton which be offered yesterday requesting Governor
Hill, Lieutenant Governor Jones and Speaker Cole,
as trustees of the public buildings to suspend Mr.
Andrews from office. Mr.. Fish's action Instantly
drew the attention of the Asscmblymen to him.
In opening his speech be referred TO the high char
acter Of the experts who had made the report.
He added that the experts could have had no in
terest in making this report anything but fair
one and since by it public officer had been
found quite derelict of his duty, there was only
this action open to the House, except summary
expulsion. He favored the latter course because
it was the most conservative The eyes of the
State are on us in this proceeding" he said, and
it is in no sense a political question. Something
should be done, and at one. The expert in
vestigation was fair one, and the result should
be the suspension Of this man. 1t was remarkable
that the bill appointed man who is virtually
the janjtor Of this building, instead of the man
who, by virtue of his Office, should have been
put in charge OF the work.
Mr.. Sheehan said it was indeed not question Of
politics, but question of honor. II was in
20 Il.
with the gentleman from Putnam I have decided
that call for the suspension of the Superintendent
is sufficient, under the circumstances
Mr.. Hamilton, who yesterday objected to the
immediate consideration OF the resolution for
the suspension of Mr.. Andrews, said he doubted
II the trustees had the power to suspend the
latter from Office. He proposed an amendment
TO the effect that the resolution should give the
trustees power to consider whether or not to
move the Superintendent Mr.. Fish called for
the yeas and nays. Mr. Saxton objected to
Mr. Hamilton's amendment and the latter with
drew it, Mr.. Fishs resolution was then passed
by unanimous vote.
Immediately matter was precipitated upon
the Assembly which plunged it into one OF the
warmest debates of this year. 1t
will be remembered that yesterday
Mr.. Ainsworth, the chairman of the Committee
on Appropriations, refused to permit Mr.. Fish to
ask ]. NJ Sinclair, the sub-contractor who fur
nished the papier-nache panels to furnish the
committee with copy of his contract with John
Snaith. showing what he actually received for
the papier-mache. Mr.. Ainsworth furthermore,
refused to put the question to his committee
whether Mr.. Fish should be permitted to ask this
question. 1t was in view Of this act of sr.
Aiisworth that Mr.. Aspinal offered the following
resolution:
Resolved That the Committee ON Appropriations,
the e Ceiling bow be and Sfs y are 0h hereby
First-io permit any member OF the Assembly to
S any ay maS Covered By %e
Second-To compel the production OF any books or
papers that may be called for by any member OF
ThIrd~To refuse to allow any testimony tending
report re % Of the experts appointed by this House
Fourth-To refuse to allow counsel to appear be-
fore the committee.
On motion of Mr.. Crosby the following resolu-
tion was also passed:
Resolved, That the Appropriations Committee Of
this House investigating the questions arising
and they hereby required, when they make their
report thereon to recommend such legislation as they
deem proper, having for its object the prevention OF
frauds In the letting of public contracts
Mr.. Greene, one OF the members of the Appro-
priations Committee, hotly assailed Mr. Asplnalfs
resolution declaring that no Assemblyman had
been refused permission by that committee to ask
witnesses proper questions. Mr. Aspinali had
made strange insinuations regarding the members
Of the Committee on Appropriations, and he
should produce some proofs of his assertions
Mr. Aspinall, greatly excited, made the follow.
ing remarkable speech, assailing Mr. Greene and
Mr.. Ainsworth:
Mr. Speaker, with ali respect to the gentleman from
Orange beg to differ with him. Since this Com
mttee on Appropnstions began It's INVESTIGATIONS ,n l
on that committee who did not intend 10 do his duty
Il is strange thing that the gentleman from orange
tel ySa ypso6ss to lind a aavS who
Soass q intend to nd out Ii the the members
his Assembly would only take the pains e attend
the the con@itteeMtSey Hd % would SEQ that Is ali very
sSpercai aS questions ess The Chairman Of the com
mlttee SITS silent But when, through the skilled
wrists probe the knife down beneath the skin then
the gentleman from oswego nIr Aipsworthl rises IN
5s 20 ask gisS such quesons wish to know whether the
ias n this House win 60 upon the record , as
officer q the state Of New York really and truly
endeavoring TO get down aoo. to tbs bottom facts
any member go down into the mud6iod forbid it-but
we arc in this thing, and let US 60 through IL II
gentleman from Oswego, that have personality
In this matter come here from sense OF duty, and
trust this first proposition will pass this House, that
the witnesses may be compelled to answer questions
which we think are eminently proper, and which wo
think will throw light upon this matter. I trust tho
proposition will receive the favorable consideration Of
the House."
Assemblyman Crosby also assailed the Commit
tee on Appropriations. saying in part:
Mr. Speaker. this resolution undoubtedly reflects
upon the Appropriations Committee, and that Is ono
OF the reasons why propose TO vote for 1t. In tho
last two weeks Mr.. Speaker, numerous occasions
have in private conversations, defended that COM
mttee and It's chairman Since yesterday afternoon
I have changed my mind. IL seems TO me that tho
questions which the gentleman from osweeo ap-
proached wero the very ones that should have been
mt It seems TO me that Just the clews, II there
are any clews coming TO point ne stood up TO
block the way prevent the discovery Of the facts
that we ought TO be able TO discover am sorry TO
come to that conclusion Tho attitude of the AP
nronrations Committee through its chairman, 10 this
ceiling commission, reminds mo much OF the OLD
rhyme: -
Doth wash the city Of Cologne;
But tell me what, ye powers divine,
Shall wash the waters Of the Rhines
Now Mr.. Speaker, am going to vote TOR eysT
resolution don't caro- what its character Is, wncn
Id