New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-01-16
DEFENDERS OF FRAUD.
DEMOCRATS TRYING TO HINDER AN lNVES
TIGATION AT TROY AND ALBANY.
.,erpuCTIyE TACTICS IN THE STATE SENATE
.p CANTOR,S MOCK HEROICS-AN OLD
WHALER ALL AT SEA-FUTILE OPPO-



scbts and this morning they united in desperate
.ttempt to smother investigation into the Troy an"
Albany election frauds. and thus confirm the wiiin7
fools of notorious bosses in the possession OF %
stolen laures. Whether this attempt was aue -
Governor HIPS influence and threats. or SIMPLY %
the tmidty of conscious guilt, is not quite cear' ~
1t certain that. although senators Chase anu
whose seats are threatened, affect TO court an li'o
cation, the minority would have votcd so'uls "e
il if the Republicans had not shaiueo ""i" ~
doing otherwise As it is. two OF their hunioe'
sisted every appeal-Senator Cantor. OF Newhofh' 0
nominal leader whose actions are cChtIolic' w "e
onerated in the Executive Chamber. ana senator
Edward Hawkins the stolid old whaler rom o""oiA
County who is still dazeG al his ne" su'loun""'rS'
and lust now to be more at sca Una" 0 "
was before in his life -.
The debate vss started by Senator Vedder's intro
suction of a resolution authorizing the committee on
Privileges and Elections to sit and examine Ihlo Vo
cherces preferred in the petitions of General James
r. Rogers of Sandy HILL and Major George IL. Tread
we'll of Albany, the defrauded Republican canuoa'cs'
cat such times and places in the state OF New-horA
az 10 said committee shall most proper"
Senator Cantor, by preconoerted arrangement
~ once moved to table the resolution.
vote beinc called the motion lost. MesSrs
chase and Collins voted against ii. Senator Fas-
.ett explained that the object of the resolution was
simply 10 invest the committee with powers when
II row lacked.
ALL understand that harm is meant We know
that this is TO be very fair examination, at least
we Judge So from the absence of partSanship shown
in making up the committees Ironlcai laughter
greeted this touching display Of personal pique MI
Cantor continued: "The contest, of course, Is MADE
in the interest of pure elections, not at all for the
purpose Of seating two Republicans in place OF two
Democrats. OF course, also, the petitions emanateu
voluntarily from the gentlemen signing Them and were
not wrung from them by outside pressure stlli' l
ronfess can't bring myself to believe it,
"Why PREJUDICE the committee p asked senator
Vedder. "It is no starchamber afalr, ana you DIS
well as we should be anxious to have fraud dproveo
The committee will be just as free for the minority As
for the majority, and the utmost latitude will be
given"
Mr. President cried Mr.. Chase, who had been
getting uneasy Gas am of the members directly
interested there may be some Improperly IN my
speaking at all but do hope my Democratic brethren
will not put block of the slightest dimensions IN the
way of this investigation. wish TO court the far
est and fullest investigation so that the charges may
he shown to be absolutely false and without founda-
ton I therefore ask that the resolution be not OPP
posed" This Mr.. CDase's maiden speech us
lofty sentiment did not however impress MS fellow
Democrats. Senator Collins, who is an old hand ana
who knew what was coming, preserved discreet
silence.
Mr. Ives asked to have the resolution re-read This
uas done and he then moved to amend by striking
out the clause permitting the committee to travel
81 am opposed to these iunkcting committees he eA
claimed with the air of viItucus reio1ner' liere
is no necessity for their roaming all over the state
T. Like the Committee on Trusts" INTERCEPTED senator
robertson significantly The petitions allese fraud
In Troy and Albany. Troy is virtually here so Why
not conduct the investigation IN this budingF
"Does the Senator realize what that would mean
inouired Senator FaSsett. at might be very con
venient for the three members of the committee TO
remain here. But what about the 1900 or 1000
witnesses? I hesitate believe the gentleman would
Willingly contrive such obstruction, particularly dS
we are about to enter this winter the discussion
OF ballot reform. But do congratulate him on MS
new attitude with regard to junketlng committees
Less than year ago he Enthusiastically Favored theh
As to the petitions, neither of them came TO me al
my request, and no pressure Whatever that Aio"
Of was used TO produce them"
Senator Cantor however bOisterousy reiterated MS
vreyious insinuaton that the Investigation was
prompted by purely partisan motives, and declared
that Republicans had never thought OF dong such
thing before.
"What about the contest OF Mr. Wemples seat Jour
years ago?" asked senator Nedder.
"That isn't within my recollection crled Mt
Cantor stoutly. But he presently modified this a.
sertion and fell back on his former accusation.
"Mr. President" asked senator Fassett. "whai
ground has the gentleman for making such state
ment? How is it justified"
r..
first thing that justfes it is the construction Of the
committees That shows the partisan purpose running
all the way through this session, to control leglS
ton, even in spite of the Governor. Let no man
believe the resolution is meant to purify the ballot IL
is designed TO furnish some preteAt, however
slight, and through the arbitrary force OF huhDer'
on this floor to eXpel two Democrats from thef seats
The only thing that embarrasseS me is the atutuoe
of Mr. Collins and Mr.. Chase. But can very well
understand their position
Senator Coggeshsll remarked that he feared inc
leader OF the minority was indeed alone III MS edl
Ship expressed COMMUNICATION for ms chagrlh over
the committee arrangements and offered to Nlcld MS
own place in the Committee on Grievances In Mr'
Cantor's favor. Mr. Cantor thereupon temporarily
subsided and Mr.. Ives seized the opportunity to
modify his own amendment so a. 70
restrict the committees work 10 Albany
and Troy. When asked how TINS "0nid
accommodate the carloads Of New-lork repeaers who
are said to have visited Troy on November IT, Mr.
Ives calculated triumphantly An thought the
committee wanted to 90 down to New York;
~The senator is entirely right said Mr. Fassett,
dryIy. Then Mr.. Ives proposed further amendment
restricting the committee TO the XVIII and XNllth
Senatorial Districts.
There is no objection to that, Think said the
There was an objection but it was withdrawn ana
Mr.. Fassett and Mr.: Coggeshau paiiehuy " Ct
clustered about the committees ana wa wa,
prompted to interesting disclosures WIN fesaiu
Ia his own attitude as a servant Of the people
If il should be proved" MIR. Fassett asked MN
that Mr.. Collins and Mr.. Chase are Improperly hoiu-
ing their seats would you move to Ou't them =
would not" the prompt reply
Mr. Chase looked up with air OF ingenious sur
prise Mr. Collins grew interested. Mr. cantor,
however corrected himself and said that he mlsundei
stood the question. Then senator COggcshall asked
whether he thought the Republicans on the committee
would vote to GUST them the evidence showed That
thew had been fairly elected.
= IL the Republican caucus" he replied, "instructed
them 10 do so l believe they would yield their ludg
ment 10 the judgment Of the caucus"
Would you do the same III inc case OF a Demo
cratic caucus ?" - -, ~, . a. ~ l.,
trenidv Tbe reason offered for this engaging admis-
sion was that that would be Influenced by "a