New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-15
HOME RULE TRIUMPHS.
,,,rrALo AND LANsINGBURG CHARTER
RESTORATION BILLS PASSED.

,. PROMISES OF TIE REPUBLICAN PARTY
,1FrlLED-INEFFEcTUAL OPPOSITION BY
nrvocRATIC sENAToRs-THE VOTE
WAS 90 TO H.
., THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE Tribunal
Albany. Feb 1.-THE Republican party has
I'm, IFS pledge 1t promised the citizens or
rr1alo irrespective of party, that If 1t was IN
,rusted with power in the Legislature II would
ras,ore to Buffalo the Home Rule rights which
wore wrested from it year ago by Nhhah r.
shoohan. The last and the chief of a series of
prfalo charter restoration bills giving to Mayor
Bjshop the authority 10 appoint the Ponce COM
r,,ssioners Of Buffalo. was passed by the senate
to-day. as it had previously been passed by the
po,uhIican Assembly The bill now goes TO
Governor Flower. who stands loglca"E COM
nitted to sign II, having said before the Novem-
her election that he should follow the adNlce OF
the representatives OF Erie County
senator Cantor. the Democratic leader and the
.bar Ner,-York Democrats disclosed their real
o,t,tude toward the Home Rule doctrine by vot-
too against this bill Moreover. all the other
democrats except two. although the platforms OF
the Democratic party yearly demand Home Rule
for cities voted with Senator Cantor against
the bill The two honorable exceptions We're
senator Parker of Albany, and Senator Bradley,
the Independent Democrat from Brooklyn.
William f. Sheehan fought the bill until he
was helpless to prevent its passage when 1t
was announced, Senator OSulvan presented
an amendment providing that 1t should not SO
into effect until May l. 1895. This. of course.
would leave the Sheehan commissioners in Of
fee until after the coming election.
Senator Saxton had resolved TO push the bill
70 vote to-day and to fight every proposed
ba ahl
onded by Senator OConnor. When the O'Sulli-
van amendment had been read Senator Lamy.
Of Buffalo. attacked II.
This amendment is not acceptable" he said,
"snce it would keep the present Police Commits
sioners in Office. When passed our present
charter 1t was unanimously supported by the
citizens of Buffalo irrespective Of party Hardly
had 1t gone into operation before it was most
basely amended Now we seek TO restore our
charter to precisely the form in which 1t was
before Mr.. Sheehan mangled it, This bill
has been here six weeks. 1t has been most
thoroughly debated. Only one man from Buffalo
has appeared here in opposition 10 this bill.
call upon the Democratic Senators here to
support this measure. 1t is most empha tically
Home Rule measure l opposed 10 this
amendment because the people of Buffalo are
opposed 10 any amendment to 1t whatever
Senator O'Sullivan, Of New-York. who had
evidently been PINNED by Sheehan. argued that
Mayor Bishop ought not to have the authority
to appoint the Police Commissioners for such Il
long period six years.
Senator Persons of Eric County. made an I'M
passioned speech in behalf of the bill just as II
stood ~
why did Mr. sheehan have the original bin
passed taking away from Mayor Bishop ms
authority to name the Police Commissioners!
he asked ut was because he refused 10 name
certain men who suggested TO him In
other words Mr. Bishop proposed to act as
Mayor Of Buffalo. The people of Buffalo at the
late election spoke very distinctly upon this bit
of legislation. They demanded the restoration
of their charter. We want no amendment 10
this bill Of any description. Our police force mas
been used to aid one Democratic faction In Bur
falo and to punish all other Democrats and the
Republican party" .,.
Senator Saxton followed with vigorous
speech in support Of the bill. Speaking OF the
bill which deprived Mayor Bishop of his author
ity to name the Police Commissioners of Buffalo
he said: at was passed at midnight here in
Albany after only half an hours consideration
II sprang upon the Legislature like thief In the
night 1t was vicious and absolutely indeiensi-
BILE legislation !; was violation 0l al me
principles of political government. Inc people
of Buffalo did not have chance even 10 re-
monstrate against the bill. Democratic lac-
lion obtained possession Of the Police Depart
ment and used its power relentlessiy at the
polls. There was verdict al me polis' he' i,
of the city TWO Republican Senator'S and hye
Republican Assemblymen are here as the result
Of
,iobts of which we were robbed last spring. Re
store to us our charter believe we ought
unanimously to heed their request beheVe AT
least every Republican Senator should vote lor
this bill The Republican party gave lts pledge
that 1t would pass this DILL ana mat Peose
should be kept .s ..,
The Constitutional Convention would give Buffalo
and other cities their home rule rights .
Senator Bradley Independent Democrat moved
that the bill should not go into effect until Janu-
srv I 1895 This would leave the Sheehan Police
Commissioners in Office until after the mex,
election for Governor All the Democrats, Oh
course voted for this amendment, and 50 also
did Senator Owens. Republican. but 1t was de
feated 10 to Is. the vote by which MI SUN SUN
vans amendment was lost Inc on Wa" ar,diey
and Parker Democrats. voting with eighteen
Republican Senators for the Dill Heha'oi
Coggeshall Republican. was absenI, pos
Mr. Chambers three Lansingburg Charter RES
+oration hills were then taken up ana passec
without discussion. Senator Bradley Voun n Io'
them and Senator owens Nouhs WIN VIC ~
Gratis on two Ct them.
Senator Mullin called UP his resolution EN-.
noWering the Finance and ways ana NieaI''
Committees examine the stare CoIilili n'. "
,,,i,b view to determining II they cannot 1T
consolidated or abolished long dlscussiol
followed. the members of the minority a"ssint
,ar;ous reasons for their opposition MAN!
labor organizations have asked LOT the Ie'eh
ton Of the labor bureaus ,, .l
Cara+or O'Connor offered the resolution vote
for by the Judiciary Committee yesieIuay, s.o
ing tho committee power to examine witnesses
70 End ont whether there is any truth In lh'
charges Of bribery made in certain neWspdpc,
and complained Of YESTERDAY by the iheu.S,la"'
Governor Power was granted UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Sheffield's bill authorizing New-i OK W!
TO make an appropriation for the society Ioi va
Prevention Of Cruelty 10 Children was PASS sS,',
senator Saxton announced as the special com
,ntteo 70 Investigate the State Board OF fieaI'i
Senator's Smelzer. Stapeton and O'Donneh'
SOME PROPOSED LEGISLATION