New-York tribune., 1891-04-22
HILL DIRECTS THE FIGHT
THE GOVERNOR MAKING A vENOMoUS DE
FENCE OF THE CANAL RING.
HIS coNTEMPuBLE TACTICS IN REFERENCE TO
BILLS OF REPUBLICAN sENAToRs-soME-
THING FOR SPEAKER sHEEHAN TO Ex-
PLAIY-LIvELY TILT BETWEEN

Mr.. FAsSETT AND Mr.. CANTOR
rRoM THE RroUIAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRrsuxp.
Albany, April Ex-Governor Hill is making a
venom0us defence of the Democratic Canal Ring
All the malice that is felt by the corrupt canal
contractors, who fear that the sunlight OF pub
lefty will be let in upon their iniquities by the
Republican Senate IL it is permitted TO make an
investigation Of canal contracts, is expressed by
him with the added rancor of the Democratic
politician who sees his great source Of campaign
money threatened with destruction.
The Governor sent word to Senator Laughlin,
Of Buffalo, the Republican chairman Of the Senate
Committee on Canals, that he was about to veto
bill of the latter, amending the charter Of the
West Side Street Railway of Buffalo. 1t is bill
intended primarily for the benefit of the people Of
Buffalo. 1t authorizes the street railway COM
pany not to lay tracks in a certain street, where
the railway is not desired by the people who live
opon it; the railway being required by its char
ter TO lay tracks. Senator Laughlin informed the
Senate of the occurrence, and added that he did
not intend to ask that body to pass a resolution re-
calling the bill from the Governor to save it from
being vetoed. Let the Governor take the re-
sponsibility of vetoing desired by the people Of
Buffalo.
The Governor also is attempting TO browbeat
other Republican Senators in the same manner,
and expresses his confidence that he will have some
of the Republican Senators under his feet by thus
threatening to veto bills in which their con-
stituents are interested. it is contemplate
method to use-even for a champion of the Canal
Ring The public will be gratied to know that
the Republican Senator's are united to man upon
the policy of passing the canal investigation resolu-
ton and if Governor Hill vetOes the bills Of their
constituents, out of spite, he will bear the re-
tl,o 49,
pay the penalty
In their small way, the Democrats Of the AS
sembly exhibited their hatred Of the Republicans
by having Mr.. Ryan introduce q resolution pro
vdng that no bills of Republican Senators shall be
acted upon. Mr.. Fish objected to this resolution
as out Of order, and Speaker Sheehan was COM
PEELED to rule the point Of order well taken.
The Democratic Assembymen then objected to the
consideration OF the bills OF Republican Senator's,
and had them laid aside" 1t is one Of the jokes
of todays session that of these bills thus laid
aside" from malice was for the payment Of the claim
of two Democratic contractors.
The debate in the Senate upon the canal in
vestigation resolution was as fierce as before.
No business was transacted in the Senate beyond
considering the resolution. Senator Cantor opened
the days struggle with hours speech in
defence of the Democratic party for opposing the
ton that the investigation would be a partisan
one.
An able speech followed from Senator O'Connor,
of Binghamton He said that the only inference
to be drawn from the opposition of the minority
to the passage of the resolution was that their
parry would suffer by an investigation Of the
Canal Department. The canals were burdens to
the people, and not in the slightest degree source
of revCnre 1t was, therefore, especially incum-
bent upon the members of the Legislature to see
that this money not wasted III nothing
wrong had occurred in the Canal Department, how
would the Democratic party suffer harm by an
investigation of that department? Could Senator
Cantor explain? The minority's position would
never be sustained either by the people or the
press. Mr.. OflonnOr read an editorial in Ihe
Buffalo Courier" the leading Democratic news
paper of Western New-York, advocating an in
vestigation of the canals. This showed he stated
that some Democrats thought there should be an
investigation of the Canal Department. Then Mr..
OCOnnOr said
want call your attention TO article In "Ihe Bur
EXprcs OF February -, in reference to grant o'
miles OF canal land in the heart of Buffalo to the Bur
falo Dock and Connecting Railway Company. 1.-The Bur
falo ENpress that James Shanahan, the former
superintendent Public Works Informed cne OF its core
spcncents that this grant worth over slOOOOOO ana
yet grant made to this company OF which John O.
sheehan the principal stockholders and MI Shan
ahan SAYS that persistent advocate the present
Speaker the Assembly, William +. Sheehan Mr.. Prcs'
dent neither call question the integrity the pat
the Speaker of the Assnbly Personally he is
gentleman In integrity have the utmost condencei
not believe that the Speaker OF the Assembly OF
this state or any gentleman similarly situated Afford
nor his friends Afford 10 prevent an investigation
which would exonerate him from the insinuations and
charges contained that publication. 1t does not seem
70 the friends OF this gentleman, occupying the
no
their own honor and with their consciousness OF rcc
ude oppose an investigation such is suggested by these
resolutions.
In closing his speech, Senator O'Connor said that
one of the hidden purposes of the obstructive tao
tics of the Democrats was 70 prevent the Freedom
of-Worship bill from going to the Governor. They
were also afraid Of the Excise bill, the Conspiracy
act, the AntPinkerton bill, the bill to reduce
the rate of interest from per cent to per cent.
Where is the Conspiracy bill ?" inquired Mr..
Cantor.
III tell you where" answered Mr.. O'Connor;
1T is in the Judiciary Committees hands, and
as long as / have vote it will stay there. 1t is
q law 70 allow boycOtting and will never weaken
the executive arm of the law to satisfy organized
law-breakers" ,"
You have made the statement" said Mr.
Cantor. II that organized labor and organized law
breakers are the same thing"
Il guess not, said Mr.. O'Connor. smiling, bat
that is about as near as the Senator from the Xth
Cantor can confne himself to telling the truth"
Mr. Cantor-I appeal to every gentleman around this
circle
Mr. OConnor-I did not make any such statement.
Mr.. Cantor-Wklt did you sayi
Mr OConnor-I said 1 would never consent 20
weaon the executive arm satisfy organized
awbreakers-not organized labor.
Mr. Cantor-weL It is the same thing.
Iauchlin-It the statement because the
organized labor has been in favor OF this BILL
Senator Cantor then went of upon a new tack.
Fraudulent labor organizations, he said. oppose
this bill"
You are a pretty man 10 talk labor said Mr..
Fassett TO Mr.. Cantor, and yet vote for Jay
Goulds bills
This allusion to the fact that Mr. Cantor had
voted for the bin limiting the time in which