Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-03-22
CHECKMATE T0PLATT
Le1oW Police Bills Opposed BY Leading
Republicans.
MEASURES UNCOysTITUTIONAL
They Arc So Declared by Number
of Eminent LawyerS-stroug and
Morton WorId Veto Them, I'm Any
Case.

ALBANY, y. Y, March I.-1he Piatt
programme TO send the Lexow police
bills through the Senate to-day was rude
ly disturbed this morning. when Senator
Charles Lamy. OF Erie, announced that
he would not vote for the measures until
he had received the most positive as
surances from Mayor Strong that he
favored them. Just after reaching the
Senate chamber Mr.. Iamy dictated the
following message TO Mayor Strong:
Hon. William Strong. City Hall. New
York city:
II shall not vote for bills Nos. III and
rs unless you approve Of them. l await
an early answer at the Senate chamber.
CSigned) CHARLES LAMY."
With Lamy against the bills the Re-
puhllcans have only II votes. or bare
majority.
STRONG IN OPPOSITION.
NEW YORK. March H--Charles Stew
art Smith. ex-President OF the Chamber
Of Commerce and a confidential friend Of
Mayor S,rong's this morning made
known the Mayors feelings regarding the
Lexow police bills by sending the follow
ing telegram:
NEW YORK. March q. 1895.
Hon. Charles T. Saxton, Senate. Alba
ny. y. Y:
I'm the opinion OF the best members
Of the Republican party the majority Of
senators, by their caucus action last
night. are deliberately digging the grave
Of the party in this STATE. | know that
Mayor Strong H. absolutely opposed to
the provisions providing for the election
Of police commissioners contained in the
LeXow bills. and he considers the bills
proposed by the Committee Of Ten to be
far more in the interest ot the people
and good government
"Can It be possible that the deliberate
judgment Of the Mayor and the people Of
New York should Toe ignored by the party
in power regarding laws which affect the
government OF this city?
(SigneN
CHARLES STEWART SMITH"
VETOEs READY.
Mr. Smith said that II the bills are
passed. as he expects. the Mayor will
give the people Of New York all the op-
portunity they want for hearing on the
measures during the fifteen days M viii
have them for consideration.
ON that time there will be such 2 cry
Of Indignation that Lexow and his friends
ride over the people Of this city; and
can add" went on Mr. Smith. that
Mayor Strong will send the bills back
10 Albany without his approval.
'"rhe Legislature viii then have to
pass them again. and II II dos 90 in
defiance Of public opinion Governor Nor
ton will veto the bills "
FAVORABLY REPORTED.
ALBANY. y. Y. March 2l.--The LexOw
police bills were reported favornblv In IN"
Senate to-day by their author, Senator
LcSUW. and. after debate lasted nearly
all day, advanced TO their third read ng.
Final action, which II was intended
should occur to-day. was postponed be
cause OF an error in the printing Of one
OF the bills The vote. under the rules.
cannot be taken until next Tuesday
The bills drawn up by the Committee
OF Ten. which represent the ideas and
wants Of the reform element IN New
York city, were reCommitted to the
LeN0w Committee. This practically kills
the bills.
The attempt OF the Republican ma
jOriiy 10 pass the LeXow bills resulted in
y on the part OF Senator Reynolds
who refused TO be bound by the caucus
held last night. Senator Stapie'on for
n time Joined In the bolt. but later in the
the majority to advance the bills to their
third reading Senator Lamy. from his
actions to-day. will probably vote against
the LeXow bills when they come up for
final passage next Tuesday. Early In
the day he teegraphed Mayor strong
that his vote would be controlled 10y the
Mayors approval Of the bills lie re-
ceived a reply this afternoon, which ke
refused TO give out. He said be con
slered II confidential. and that he wished
To take 1T TO Buffalo tonight and con-
suit with the people mp there about II.
STRONGS POSITION.
Mayor Strong has not thus far given
utterance to any comments on the LeXow
bills. favorable or unfayorabe but 1t is
generally believed his views on the mea-
sure are I'm accord with those expressed
hy Charles Steward Smith to-day IN his
letter to Governor SiNton.
From this IL can be- easily guessed how
he answered Senator Lamy and how
that gentleman viii vote
Ii requires seventeen votes 10 pass the
Leyow bills. and should Senator Staple
ton vote for the bill on its final passage,
As ne has announced. his vote VIII carry
the measures. regardless OF the votes OF
Lamy and Reynolds But Senator staple
ton to-day established for himself a repu-
tation as a slippery customer. ana ne
may slip again from the position ne ras
now assumed In that event the LeXow
bills will be lost unless some Tammany
Democrat comes to the rescue.
MEASURES UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
NEW YORK. March ?L-The printed
comics Of the LeXow police bills Were
received from Albany in this city to-day
and the Committee of Ten, Of the COM
mittee Of Seventy. Immediately asked for
the opinions of number OF eminent law
vers on the consttutionality OF the mea-
sures. Eight lawyers-Messrs. James G.
Carter. Elhu Root, Joseph Larocque,
John r. Parsons, Charles G. Beaman, @.
l.. Rives, Lewis l.. Delafield, and VIII
liam H. OrnblOwer-cOmplied with the
request. seven Of them uniting in one
opinion. and the eighth, Mr.. Hornblower.
writing a separate opinion. The latters
opinion differed from that OF his fellow-
lawyers only in his phraseology. All pro-
nounced the Lexow measures uncOnst-
tutional IN many points, and declared
that they could not stand.