New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-19
ASPINALLS PLUCKY FIGHT.
FAILURE OF SHEEHAN's ATTEMPT TO BROW:
BEAT THE BROOKLYN SENATOR
THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS ExTRApRDINARY
C0URSE-MR. ASPINALL's MOTION TO TAKE
THE CONTEMPT CASES FROM THp
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE LOST
by PARTY VOTE.
lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNAL

tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRfBUSkJ
Albany Jan. ls.-The Democrats in the Senate
| tonight had an opportunity to undo much OF the
evil which they committed on Thursday last. when
they deprived the people of the XXth, XXvIlIth
and XXIvth Senate districts of the representatives
which they had in the Senate by taking away
| from Senators Erwin, SaxtOn and OConnor the
right to vote and to participate in the deliberations
| of the body to which they were elected by the
voters of their respective districts. But the Demo-
cratic majority, in place Of undoing the evil only
added TO it, and the Lieutenant-Governor did his
| best to goad another Republican Senator
| up to such pitch that he, too would refuse to
vote, and would thus render himself liable to
be deprived of his rights in the Senate by the
votes of an intensely partisan and unfair majority
This was Senator Aspinall, of Brooklyn, and the
efforts Of Mr. Sheehan to drive him to point
where he could have the ma aiority silence that
Senator too were absolutely indecent. Senator
Aspnall is a fearless legislator who cares nothing
for the threats OF the Democrats who have been
running the Senate thus far by the most patent
exhibitions of bulldozing and browbeating ever
seen in legislative body. Tonight he intro
duced the following resolution, which stirred up
all Shcehan's pugnacty, and called from him a
series of rulings that would make a fair-minded
Democrat blush:
Resolved That the Judiciary Committee be discharged
from further consideration the contempt proceedings
against Senators Erwin saxton and OConnor and THAI
they be purged Of their contempt.
Senator Aspinall stood while his resolution
was being read SO that he would have the fioor
and have an opportunity to speak to it. This Is
a custom that always prevailed heretofore, but
precedent has no voice in the present body.
Sheehan ignored Senator Aspinall's hold on
the floor and his right to speak, and recognized
Senator Cantor to make a motion to lay the res
olution on the table. This move made to pre-
vent Senator Aspinall speaking to his resolution.
motion to lay on the table is not debatable.
but the Lieutenant-Governor could not shut of
Senator Aspinall in any such way as this The
rasping voice of Senator Cantor had hardly
squeaked the words Il move to lay the resolution
on the table, when the Lieutenant-Governor ex-
claimed, accompanying his exclamation with a loud
banging of his gavel on his desk A motion to
lay on the table is not debatable, and the Senatof
from the Hid (AspinalD will take his seat"
This attempt to deprive him of right Of long
standing made Mr.. Aspinau indignant, and he
asked the Leutenant-Governor if he had yielded
the floor TO any one. Sheehan got around this
by declaring that he only recognized Mr.. Aspin-
all to send in his resolution. Then he ordered
a rou.call to be had, without giving the Senator
a chance TO reply.
Senator Aspinalps name is first on the roll
that he could explain his reasons for voting
Il object" shouted Cantor and McClelland In
chorus.
Is this a deliberative body? asked Mr.. Aspin-
all.
How does the Senator from the Hid vote %
Sheehan could be heard to ask, above the din Of
his gavel.
"The absentecs have not been called" replied
the Senator.
There is no provision in the rules for calling
the roll Of the absentees," was Sheehans reply.
The rules provide that the Senators shall VOTE
Aspnal-I would like the president OF this body TO
refer the rule in the Blue Book.
Mr. Sheehan-Rule IA.
Mr. Asplnall-I understand is the rule by which
three members this body have been stricken from the
rolls.
Senator McCleland here wanted TO know if Mr.
Aspnall was speaking by unanimous consent "
he was, Mr.. McClelland objected.
Mr. Sheehan-He Is lie is simply seeking for in.
formation which the chair IS unable to give.
Mr. Aspnall-I would like know. Mr.. President aud
gentlemen Senate the Senator from the IIId
resenting constituency a 100000 voters. with
taxable personal property of over 500 ooOI would o
know gentlemen Of the majority, whether have right
my No. will change that have right tn
sit my whether not the floor of this
Senate, have a right to represent my constituency
elected 10 perform duty.
Senator CantoI-Iie will represent his constituency Iy
holding the resolution.
Mr.. Aspnall-Are you the LieutenantGovernorf
don't ask the Senator from the Xth (Cantsr for in.
formation.
Here Mr. Aspinall was choked of temporarily BY
the loud banging Of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
gavel and Sheehan also burst out with the threat
that the Senator had all the latitude that he would
be allowed to have.
TO that assertion Mr.. Aspinall replied: Il don't
want TO be discourteous to the chairman
shcehan, breaking inlhe chair insists that the Sens-
tor the lid must vote or refuse 70 vote
Mr.. Aspinall-I have asked the president
Again the Lieutenant-Governor interrupted with
his voice and gavel and exclaimed:
i" How does the Senator vote?'
Mr.. A>nina-I have risen TO question Of information.
sheehanThe chair is unable to sve the Senator tho
desired Information.
Mr. AspnalIf the president Is unable give the Sen.
ator from the lid the desired Information. vote against
the resolution. aye. vote against the PROPOSE.
ton Of the Senator from the Nth.
Here Sheehan purposely attempted TO mscon-
strue Mr.. Aspinals vote, and record him as hold
ing against his own resolution, although, he clearly
intended TO vote, and did vote, against Cantors
motion to lay the resolution on the table. But
Shechan sald that Mr.. Aspinall would be recorded
against the resolution.
TO this barefaccd attempt to record Senator
against his wishes, Mr.. Aspinall said: 1t IL
very nice the president of this body to insult
the Senator from the HID
Does the Senator desire to change his vote? ?'
asked Sheehan, in mOckery
desire 10 vote on this resolution, and intend
10 vote notwithstanding the unscemly act of the
president of this body" was Mr.. Aspinalls answer.
How does the Senator vote?' again asked
Sheehan, not trying to cxtricate himself from the
position which his own partisan hot-headedness had
got him into.
Il vote against the proposition of the Senator
from the Xth to lay the resolution on the table,
was the answer.
The Senator from the Xth changes his mind"
,neered Sheehan.