New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-19
THE SENATE In AN UPRoAR
ARB1YRARy RULING BIZ ILEuTENANrGoV-
ERxoa JONES ON MAYOR GRANTS BIIdA

BALLOT REFORM AND EXCISE COMMISSION
BlLLs-RrPUBLroAN SENATORS LEAVE
rHE .cmAMBER-rHE DEBATE on
THE RAPID TRANSIT BILL
rsr rKrEanAPH TO THE TRIBUNAL
Albany April Is.-Governor Hill does not wans
the Excise Commission bin or the saxon haiio'
Reform measure 30 reach him. This anernoon
he and Senator Grady he'd long %, ooni0r' nv
IN the EXECUTIVE Chamber, The ne
putIicars anticipated mischief tho result OF this
Iptsrvcw and when tho session of the Senate began
tonight they saw at once the nature Of the plot which
Hai ana Grady had concooted. 1t was also obvious
thai Lieutenant Governor Jones was willing accom-
pl,oe From an appearances, indeed, Mr.. Jones was
present at toe conference, and got his instructions
from the Governor, because he had his
book Of senste rules already marked certain pages,
a. If IN readiness to mako certain rulings. he car
RED out bis part Of the scheme TO the letter, and made
rulings which, II he were Speaker of the Assembly,
would cause his impeachment
The plot, Ia brief to the Rapid Transit bin
a. m obstruction to the further advance Of the Ballot
Reform and EXCISE Commission bills 1t was known
10 the Democrats that Senator Robertson, chairman OF
ne judiciary Committee and Senator Arnold, chair
uan Of the Committee on General Laws, had the bills
on their desks, and would submit them to tho Senate
this evening. II possible
The Rapid Transit bill was down for consideration
tonight but II "a the custom Of the Senate to receive
committee reports Immediately after the Senate meets,
and then to take up the important matter Of the ses
sen. With this In view, Senator Fassett Immediately
after the evening session opened, moved to
lay aside the Rapid Transit bin, with the
Understanding and promise that after the conmttee
reports had been received the Rapid Transit bin would
be taken up and discussed until midnight II desired
Then tho plot Of Governor Hill was revealed. Grady
sprsng to the 'front.' with objection. and then the
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS quickly showed his connection
With the scheme TO prevent the Ballot Reform and
Excise Commission bills from reaching the Senate The
motion of Senator Fassett to lay aside the Rapid Tran
SIT bal temporarily carried by vote OF II 10 IL;
but Mr. Jones decided that this motion required two
thirds vote.
swhatp exclaimed half dozen Republican sena
tors at once Senators Erwin and Fassett on their
seet IA instant Senator Fassett endeavored to get
recognition for motion. The Lieutenant Governor
would not recognize him. but finally did so when Me-.
Fassett requested permission to ask question. He
wanted to know II the chairman decided that It re-
CURED two thirds vote TO lay bill on the table Mr.
Jones answered that be did.
al appeal from the decision Of the Chair shouted
Senator Erwin.
sThe Chat refuses to recognize the Appeals an
wsred Mr.. Jones' pounding his gayel and calling for
she third reading of bills. 81 hold that this is simply
en- atsempt to do In Indirect way what the rules do
not intend should be done In direct way was the
Lisutenant.Governor's lame excuse for his decision.
Tho Chair has no right to make such statement
said Senator Fassett- I hope that the Chair win not
insist upon the ruling, which will hold long as the
Chair is the Chair II thcre single Senstor Of the
minority who thinks that this motion requires two
thirds vote, the majority WIN not raise single pro-
test
Not Democratic Senator moved, and by their
silence they showed that the president of the Senate
bad made ruling which even they did not dare to
uphold.
urged Senator Erwin. Again and again this appeal
was made, and the only answer the LieutensntGov-
srnor made was attempt to silence the Senator By
vigorous use Of his gavel.
Senator Erwin declared that he would not allow any
further business TO proceed unless his motion was
entertained. q insist he said, that my motion
shall be entertained. We are not hero TO be bull
doscd. We are the majority viii stand here until
my breath leaves me to-day before yin consent 10
doing business under an ofHcer who has violated the
Constitutions
Here Senator RAines interrupted him by moving to
rocommit the bill to the Railroad Committee Sem
aor Fassett made further interruption, and said: son
behalf of tho Republican majority of the Senate, duly
elected, do most earnestly protest against the arb
tTary and highhanded ruling Of the Chair, and, on
their behalf refuse to sit In the Senate Chamber under
presiding officer who win be guilty Of such an arrant
breach of parliamentary procedure This created
sensation, and confusion and disturbance followed.
&oope cfOW0eQ 10 th6 Sendle rail- anu IOOh aDSO
lntely no notice of the Lieutenant Governor who tried
10 pound every to order After his speech, Son.
stor Fassett Quietly withdrew from the Senate Cham
ber followed by nearly all Of the Republican Senator's
In the meantime Grady had obtained the floor,
snd was endeavortng TO talk to Kill time he could
he could not DO heard, and his speech was constantly
interrupted by the chairman. His remarks were OF
. rambling nature, and had no bearing on the
motion. He TALKED for nearly hour, and when
. he ad nut Of sue0gStnd thRf he
would give up the hoor TO allow motion TO ad-
journ TO be made Senator CogGpshalI made the
motion, and the Senate adjourned, without any busi
ness having been done. The Governors orders were
carried cut, however, and rapid transit was delayed
Tor the sake Of keeping back tho Electoral Reform
and the Excise Commission bills.
Tho ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS said tonight that he
would decide the motion Of Senator Ranes to reoommt
the bin TO the Railroad Committee to be- the pending
motion In the morning. This requires only majority
vote as ala tho motion tonight TO lay the bin aside
The Republicans win now beat the Governors little
game and send the Excise Commission aud Ballot
Reform bills on their way as quickly as possible
The morning session of the Senate was devoted
entirely to Mayor Grants bill The I'm
portant discussion Of that session was over
that scotion OF the bill which au-
thorses the Sinking Fund Commissioners to reject
any or ali bids for insucienoy Of amount or for any
other causes This any other cause phrase In the
opinion Of many, gsve too much power to the Com
u,tssionors. Mr.. Fassett therefore. submitted an
amendment providing that the highest bid shah be re-
sscfed by the sinking Fund Commissioners only be-
cause the amount OF the bid is insufficient
This amendment was made IN the interest Of fairness
snd 70 prevent Discrimination in favor Of or against
any person who might bid for tho frsncI1se As the
amendment first stood, this phrase ~ for any other
cause was stricken or leaving reflections to be made
only on the ground that the amount named by the
higbext bidder was too small.
We sbaaI object TO that amendment said Senator
ives
sYcs I thought so,' responded Mr.. Fassett On
ms point senator Fassett made short speech He
srsd thai the very power that allowed the rejection
81 bid allowed also the turning over Of the franchise
10 no pct bidders He thought that It would simply