New-York tribune., 1891-04-29


PARrIsANsHP AND EX-
PENsE--sENA AToR EKwINs
| STRONG SPEECH.
| rrox THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT THE rRrBcsra
Albany. April 2s.-Govcrnor Hill made to-day
another frantic attempt to bulldoZe the Republican
Senators into abandoning their resolution for an
! investigation Of the Canal Department ana the
| Canal Ring lie caused TO he introduced IN Ule
| Assembly, and passed, resolutions authorizing
Speaker Sheehan TO appoint six investigating COM
mittees, with vciled instructions 20 make inquiry
as to the official conduct of various Republcaa
officials
One of these committees is instructed to In
veStigate the Canal Department; and, OF course
especially the administration of Slas B. Dutcher
the last Republican Superintendent of Public
Works. Mr. butcher went out Of Office in 1888;
therefore it is surprising that the Democratic Leg
islature of 1888 did not then investigate his con-
duct. Mr.. Butchers friends are not afraid of an
| investigation of his administration. lie was the
! most economical Superintendent of Public Works
that the State has ever had. The yearly appro-
priations for tue Canal Department have been in
creasing by leaps and bounds" ever since he sur
rendered his Office and Democrats took charge Of it.
But why does David B. Hill confess that an
investigation of the Canal Department Is nceded2
| lie has been opposing one for fortnight. and not
permitting any public business to be transacted
| by the State Senate. He would not have any
investigation made unless there were specific
charges" In any case, the investigation must be
"non-partisan. Lastly. no investigation should
be made. because it would be too expensive"
| Yet here he authorizes a partisan Democratic
| committee of the Assembly TO make the invcstiga-
| ton no specific charges having been made in the
meantime; and he disregards altogether the ques-
tion of expense. Public opinion is mighty. and
il has penetrated even into the hard head Of
David b. Hill.
The Governor also had the subservient Assembly
| pass resolutions for the appointment Of committees
| 10 investigate the circumstances attending the
elections of United States Senator's Warner Miller
and Elbridge G Lapham, in 1881; OF Senator
| William NJ Evarts, in 1885, and Of Senator Frank
Hscock, in 1887. The Republicans regard this
investigation committee in the light of a mud
throwing machine, and consider il quite worthy
Of David b. Iill-who carefully refrains from
having any testimony taken to the methods
used to elect himself United States Senator, this
year
The Governor also directs an investigation to
be made Of the Quarantine Department Of New
York. This investigation is intended to besmirch.
if possible, ex-senator Thomas C.. Platt, who was
once Quarantine Commissioner. Mr.. Platt is
one of the chief men in the Republican party in
the State; and therefore this attack is made upon
him. 1t cannot hurt him. David B. Hill years
ago endeavored to obtain privately some evidence
that Mr.. Platt had acted wrongfully as Quaran-
tine Commissioner, but nothing could be found
against him. On the contrary, the evidence
| showed that Mr. Platt had been o faithful officer,
who had ably performed his duties as Quarantine
Commissoner-and Mr. Hill dropped the inquiry.
Possibly Ar. Hill is now attempting to intmidate
Mr. Patt. and, through him, his personal friend,
Senator Fassctt; but lie will find that Mr.. Platt
doesn't scare worth a cent" and is determined
that the Canal Ring shall be investigated. There
will be no "let up' of the effort of the Repub-
lican Senators to pass the Canal Investigation
resolution, in consequence of any action by Mr..
Platt
Mr. Hill also had his obedent Assembly pass q
resolution creating a special committee investi-
gate the government Of cities a special COM
mittee TO investigate the conduct of county clerks
and sheriffs; and special committee 10 invest-
gate political primaries and political conventions.
Mr. Hill was much exercised in mind week ago
by the cost to the State of investigating COM
mittees yet here he starts forty-two Assembly,
men through the State, with expensive counsel.
clerks, and stenographers Six investigating
mittees at a moderate estimate, will cost the
State about 100000. This will highly please
the taxpayers Of the State.
1t is said that Speaker Shcehan intends TO limit
the Republican representation upon the six in
vestigating committees appointed to-day TO two
out Of the seven members. Moreover, the Speaker.
il is said will select such Republicans as are not
lawyers, in order to make the representation OF
the Republican party on the committees as weak
as possible. lie will deny representation TO the
leading Republicans The Republicans may re-
sent this action of Speaker Sheehan By declining
to serve upon his committees The Republican
Assemblymen will probably hold caucus to-mor-
row TO determine upon their policy in this respect
The Democrats named as charmen OF the in
vestigating committees are Bumcnthai. FOR the
committee to investigate cities; McClelland, as
chairman of the quarantine committee; Guenther.
Of the canal investigating committee; Hit, Of the
committee TO investigate the election of United
States Senators q. II. Bush of the committee
primaries, and Mr. Webster, of the committee upon
county clerks.
The debate in the Senate to-day was continued
upon the old, familiar lines. The Republican
Senators were resolute TO continue pressing the
Canal Investigation resOlutiOn-cSpecialy so after
the Assembly had let loose upon the State SIX
; Democratic investigating committees " IL would
be suicidal for US to surrender now, said Senator
Saxton and no longer press the Canal lnvestiSa-
ton resolution This was the spirit manifested
! By all the Republican Senators. We stand like
adamant' said Senator Fassett, supporting the
resolution for the investigation OF the Canal
? Department
/ The Senate debate on the canal Investigation
opened with this strong speech from Senator
Erwin:
Mr. President I want TO say word in regard 10 this
resolution call the attention of the people of tho
state to its language where IL that tue committee
shall also investigate and ascertain hat leases, grants
or permits have been given by any state officer 10 any
Individual or corporation. That resolution makes .
specific charge what IL desired 10 Investigate
would Ike TO know II there is any IN the world
why that should not be done. Is there
any reason in the world why the peo-
pls OF the State should not find out what
leases have been granted and where they and what
they are Look moment what the Democrats are
doing this very minute In the House. You cry out