New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-01
THE EXCISE BILL DEFEATED.
SENT BACK TO The COMMITTEE COVERED
WITH AMENDMENTS.
THE ALBANY DEMOCRATS VOTE WITH THE RE-
PUBLCANs TO SPITE MURPHY-REPUB-
LICAN ABsENTEEs.
IBT TELEGRAPH 10 The IRiBUHE.i

Excise bill is now where it cannot possibly be
passed before the adjournment OF the Legislature.
For this result the good people of the State muS6
thank the chairman OF the Democratic State Com
mittee. Edward Murphy jr., is a brewer he is
" boss" who runs the machine" with an iron
hand and he believes in using club where mo-
lasses would be more etiectual. He was educated
in the Hill school OF politics. but while he has all
Of the mendacy and the lack OF sefrespcct OF
IIill he mas not his shrewdness nor his diplomacy.
Mr. Murphy has father-in-aw named Nike
Dcahanty. Deahanty is in the plumbing business
here. and at the same time he is a member of the
Albany Water Commission, the criminal actions
OF which causes yearly the death Of nearly 500
people The people Of Albany are anxious TO get
rid of this commission. They want men put there
who will give the city pure water. But Murphy,
whose home is in Troy where are his beneiciarics,
wants the criminal commission retained. II gives
TO his fathcr-in-law much plumbing and increases
the sale of the Democratic chairman's beer. The
- boss" therefore, ordered the Democrats in the
Assembly and the Senate 10 kill the bill for which
the coo people of Albany are camoring.
Murphy wanted the Excise bill passed not with
the Sunday clause in it, because that clause
would not permit him further TO blackmail the
liquordcalers for campaign purposes, but with the
spy clause, the "dive-keepcrs' clause, and the
special license clause retained. When he
told the people of Albany that they must still
drink the wafer, polluted by 1roys refuse, or his
beer, they rebeed, and they instructed their
representatives in the Assembly, MessrS Hit,
German and La Grange, 10 vote against all of
Murphys bills. They did this morning. anG
that is why the Excise bill Is almost good
dead
II the intention Of the Democratic Leaders
this morning first to throw out DR.. Curran. of
Buffalo and then 10 pass the Excise bill with the
vote of Horace Howe, the Prohibitionst, who had
agreed TO vote for il if he were seated in time
This plan not followed for good reasons. and
soon alter the Assembly met Chairman Foley, Of
the Excise Committee moved a call of the
House. The call showed that six Asscmbymen
wcrc abscnt-fonr Republicans and two Democrats
Tie four Republicans who were away deserve
10 have some pretty severe talking to from their
constituents. Mr.. Foley called up bis bill and
moved that IL be- scnt To a thirl reading.
Asscmblynan Woodbury. of Chautauqua County.
then presented the first amendment. 1t provided
that in towns and cities where the Excise Com
m,sioners were not elected in accordance with
the charter Of the town or city.
they should continue to be so chosen
General Hustled and A>-cubyman Iloag spoke in
support of the amendment. The roll call the
amendment about as long drawn out as any
that ever has been mad in the Legislature. The
ahsentees were called again and again. The vote
vas the crucial test to the vote on the final
passage of the bill. The Democrats skirmishcd
here and there 10 get votes, because Murphy had
ordered that the bill ,houd be passed without a
change The Albany Democrats and Mr. Hall, OF
Clinton voted for The amendment. II a bomb had
exploded in the Assembly Chamber IT would not
have caused more surprise. Mr.. Halls vote was
ffs hat lt
WIS against the bill After him came Soon :.
Laing OF Chautauqua County lie sitting near
his wife and his name was called several times
before he voted lie finally declared that he was
being intimidatcd by woman who had asked
him 10 vote for the amcndment. lie
did So Immediately Asscmblyman C'Connor,
Sullivan and other snloonkecpcrs surrounded HIM
and tried TO get hira to chan-c his vote lie
would not do il That made many black faces.
Then Asscmblyman Mccormick voted for the
amendment. That was another blow to the
whislcy men. The amendment was carried by
"A vote Of - to 80.
This vote showed that tic Democrats did not
have votes enough either to pas, tie bill or to
defeat any amendment that might be offered.
Assembly nun McNanus presented an amendment
TO section > of the bill. allowing tie Mayor of
Ncw-York City to appoint his own Excise CommS-
port of his amendment. He sail that the
incoming Mayor of Ncw-Yorl, City ought to be
made responsible for the Excise Commissioners
who are to serve under him. General Hustled
said that this was most excellent amendment,
and he was glad that it would bring tine question
of the selection of the Excise commissioners into
the elections Of the Mayors
Asscmblyman lloac also spoke for the bill.
He sad that il excellent amendment IN
every respect This amendment was adopted 10y
about the same vote the other. The Albany
Democrats voted rs before with the Republicans.
When this amendment had been declared carried,
the chairman of the Excise Committee moved
close call Of the House. This was declared car
red. although it could have been defeated If the
Speaker had allowed a roll call 10 be taken
Nearly an hour was wasted in the
call, while the Scrgeartat-Arms was look
ing for Assenblyman Lagrange, Of Albany.
La Grange could not be found, and the call WAS
suspended. 1t never has been the practice to
compel the women who are in the Assembly Cham
bcr 10 leave il when u call OF the House has been
ordered but today all Of those who were pres
ent were driven outside.
They are tie worst sort Ol inooNiS'S, sal"
one of the officials
After the call bad Lcen suspended. MI. Malone,
Of Brooklyn, moved an amendment to section
Of the bill leaving IL III the hands ot the Mayors
~ cities Ia remove ENciS, Commissioners VINO |
Jt ~ , ,orsor,n ther dutv The bill left il solely
,"ith Tho Goycrnor This amendment also WAS |
carried and the Democrats, now 5h3rough,LII
dcmorali7cd, wanted 10 recomnlt the bHl - lne
Excise Committee 10 save 1t from sure raJ ugi"nIJ
Before this was attempted an amcndmcnt oneIeu
hy Mr. Sclleck, extending To druggists certain
liberal privileges was voted down ..;.,.
There was then janale and mixture of motions |
ia ,ecommit to the committee, and motions 10
Inv motions on the table, which was straiShienel
ont BY n motion of General li''strd TO MI. '.r
LII This motion was defeated by vote OF |
"I ' 70 80 The responsibility for this defeat lies
With the absent Republicans and with krpuollcaIi
Asscn,blymcn Conrady and I.stman who Votcd |
So Tho hill \ motion - rccOmmt the bil |
to thr Excise Committee for amendment theh
was carried without opposition.
Tho biIl went back without retaining any place