New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-03-16

FACTS ABOUT STOLEN LEGISLATURES.
| ;BY TELEGRAPH 10 HE TnIBUNET
Albany, March 15.-The crime OF the theft OF inc
! state Legislature by the Democratic party was nj
| tngly denounced TO-DAY by Senators Saxton, Erwin
and O'Connpr and feeble defence OF that theft was
| made by Senator'S Osborn and Walker, TWO on Inc
| Democrats who occupy seats in the SENATE to which
they were not entitled Tn, o,ccnblc subject under
| discussion was Senator SaNtons amendment To tho
Constitution transferring from the Legislature to the
courts the RICH; to decide contested Legislative Cleo
ton cases, but Senators saAton. Erwin and OCohnor
| made this peg upon which to hang a powerful In
dictment of the Democratic party. Their main ar
gument that the state Board Of Canvasscs having
under the leadership of David HI, Frank Rice and
Isaac n. Maynard, benn converted into returning
board Of tho most unprncipd character IT would he
best deprive Of all power to cheat senators and
Assembiymcn who may be elected, out OF the right
60 take seat In the House t. which they are ac'
credited.
Senator saxton said that Legislative contests
always partisan and usually were decided uniusty.
II was therefore, proposed to cnrust to the courts
this power Of passing upon their merits. Senator
Osborn had said that he occupied his seat according
to the decisions Of the II he believed this he
should not low be opposing this amendment. lie
did not think that Senator Osborn knew exactly how
he got to the Senate. If he did he would regari the
occurrences In Duchess County with the ioating ana
adherence tEat other citizens feel. Figures had been
falsifed and transferred and forgery had been com
mttcd TO give majority for senator osborne. Apph-
cation had been made &c honest Democratic
judge, who made an order that the proper return
should be forwarded TO the State Board OF Canvasscr
But the State Board went ahead and seated Mr.. Os-
borne This never would have happened had
the courts had absolute power To settle
the cases. The conspiracy would never have been
conceived or carried out, and the certificate would
never have been awarded TO Mr.. Osborne. Senator
Deane was dead, but there were those who had the
right to investigate the title of senator Osborne 10 his
seat. The people of the district had right u do It,
lie had offered resolution empowering the Democratic
judiciary Committee to investigate the case and
Senator Osborhe himself the man who Should have
been first 10 press the investigation had voted 10 de
feat the resolution and TO cut OFF debate upon it.
senator Osborne said that his had occupied
much of the time OF the Senate The old chat
was being thicshed over and over again. lie had
heard great deal Of stilted oratoly about 1t. lie
despised the low, petty manncr OF the attacks upon
him. lie willing to rest upon the decision OF the
Court Of Appeals and on the opinion Of "The New
York Journal Of Commerce" which was sevcnty-hvc
years old. He thought that senator Saxton would
have done what he had had he been placed in the
same position. lie had much right 10 his seat
senator SaxtOn had.
so you claim that you were electedlD asked Sena-
tor Erwin.
81 do" replied Senator Osborne.
ItOW Nds lIe HcNI HlcSuol'
Senator Osborne In reply, asserted that ballot wcre
marked for Identification in Fshklll, and that the
quad ked ballots marked for Identification
Under the amendments made by senator saxton those
ballots should have been destroyed. lie knew much
about the senator Saxton did lie knew that
the Board of Canvassers OF Duchess County were
honorable men Senator Ssxton, who reflected on
himself In rejecting on them.
Senator Saxton replied 1T is remarkably singular
then that this honest Board OF Supervisors OF DutchesS
made such series Of mistakes. Why every one here
knows that Judge Barnard declared their action Illegal
and had them reconvene and pcanvass the vote for
senator and that when that final con
cludcd it showed that Mr. Dctnc elected by 20 |
plurality. But never able to get that cor
rcctcd certificate before the state Board Of Canvasscrs
and Of its members, Mr.. Rice, surrendered his |
COPY Of the corrected return. which OF the |
records of his Office, to man who had no right 10 It,
:" take pride in my position hcre,' said Senator |
Osborne.
You take PRIDE said senator O'Connor smngls. |
" Well. must say that it remind, Of the pride OF
Satan in his infamy. l am surprised that man |
standing tie edge oi the grave, senator Osborne
does should glory In the frauds IN his district / |
much prefer the modcy OF senator Walker who knows
lie was forced into his seat by party boss
This attack brought senator Walker TO his feet |
lie said lie not held In his seat by an parts |
boss The Court Of Appeals had decided that Mr.
sherwood was Ineligible the senate had seated him
and gave fair notice that lie intended to keep his
seat and vote independently the Senator from
the XXlVtl (O'CoLnor)
Senator OConnor quoted the decision of the Court
of Appeals showing that II Of two Candidates
was ineligible, that did not imply the election Of the
other Moreover, ex-Judgc DanfOh and George Rancs
had given opinions that Mr.. Sherwood eligible. |
senator Walker would hardly claim that be elected
unanimously by the people Of the XXNIIth District.
senator oOonnor then closed his speech by saying:
Mr.. President, last year voted against this pro
posed amendment TO the Constitution because feared
that il might lead to less respect and confidence being
felt toward the judges OF courts. have de-