New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-09
The Standard American
Toilet Soap,
Cashmere Bouquet.
THE ALBANY POLICE BILL.
ACTION UPON IT DELAYED FROM FEAR
OF PUBLIC OPINION.

REPUBLICANS WAKING Up TO THE NATURE of
THE MEASURE BY WHICH MP. PlATT
HOPES TO RESTORE HIS FORTUNES
IN THE CAPITAL CITY
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE rR:BuHE-l
Albany. March S-Mr Piati's bill to secure control
of the Albany police force lid not come Up in the
Assembly this morning as expected; evidently its
advocates were alarmed at the cutlery made against
it. Their in holding Il back was dictated by
prudential considerations. but 1t looks as If they
had made mistake In not pressing it. The only
hope for its passage rested IN the fact that com
paratively little attention had been paid TO H. Its
full significance moi at first appreciated even
here. At the public hearing before the Assembly
Committee on cities a delegation Of citizens Re
publicans and Democrats Including joan +. Mon
tignanl ex-Dlstr!ct- Attorney Eaton. Judge Reilly
and ex-senator Chase appeared in opposition Z" the
bill. and this the first time the people learned
what was really involved. Mr.. Platts local organs
ridiculed the protcs.ants and made hSAt Oh theh
criticisms but sensible people have long since ceased
TO be Influenced by the vaporngs OF Mr.. fiatt
young man. and the opposition developed strength
rapidly.
When the bill was advanced for a third reading
on Tuesday clear-headed Republican members OF
the Legislature began TO realize mat II violated
most important party principle that OF nome RUE
Mr. Malby and Mr.. Pavey fought 1t resoutey. IN
fortunately a large number OF Assemoiymen did
not understand the point CT ISSUE ana apparently
could not be made to It. For reasons best known
70 themselves they ordered It TO third reading
Since that vote was taken, however, they have
learned something as to It's real character. II -
nossible that the knowledge they have gained was
reflected in to-day's failure 70 act
The Republican Senators who are supposed to have
the partys conscience in their keeping are equally
,,.to and We
for II they pass their action will surely be De
nounced by reputable newspapers and decent Re-
nuhlicans from one end OF the State to the other
Preparations already under way Tor GU
zens' mass-meeting here to denounce the propoSei
outrage in case the Assembly and Senate attempt
10 follow out Mr.. Patts orders The people or Al
banv are perfectly that II the measure shohiA
become n law IL they should be compelled to go
hack 70 the unsavory methods that formerly char-
acter,zed the management Of the police force they
will have only Mr.. Plat &c blame FOR IT. Tor WIN
ont his aid Mr.. Barnes would be practically pow
erless.
The hill IS stu IN the hands OF the Senate Com
rnittee on Cities. but Mr. Barnes is confident that
II will be reported early next week. Possibly MS
expectations will be realized, but when 1t comes up
for debate Il Will be Interesting 10 hear the Inc or
argument which some OF the Senators will present
Senator OConnor. for example He II VIII De TO-
rnembered. IS of Mr. Plau's most valiant de-
feDQprS,
ure as this in the light OF mis- past utterances Is
difficult for consistent people 20 understand Three
years ago. when the notorious Troy Police BIZ
which was constructed on precisely the same lines
as those Of Mr.. Barness measure was up for con
sideraton, Mr.. OConnor made vigorous speech
against It, saying among other things:
move this bin be recommit'ed To the Committee
on cities. with instructions to strike out on Nh-7
three and four the words. NO more tnan tSo , .u.
party" ] am strongly opposed t. party repre- nia
lives on these boards. | believe bottles OF TINS chAI
acter should take the responsibility with the power
| believe more evil has flown from boards 81 CON
stitued than from any other single cause that am
aware of. ] take stock In bipartisan boar
or the representative OF the minority party In me
majority have right TO make their own selections,
and they ought not TO be accompanied by minority
representative, who simply affords an apology ior
the wrongdong Of the majority am dpposed 70
all boards so constituted. don't care whether II Is
in harmony with my political coiisagnes or no.,
Wherever l have seen them Instituted have seen
nothing but bad results nothing but cavils. nothing
but schemes by which the pubic is heeced. and each
eide lays 1t on the other Nae' ana oeCab ~ .ne
majority, and his party friends have got to stand
up and apologize for II ana Therefore 1on pphn ada
wants 10 attack its own man Let them have
simon-pure Democrats and let the Republicans Tight
have their mouths closed up by having one OF their
own men on the same board to be an apology.
Perhaps Mr. OConnor has reached the stage of
DEVELOPMENT in Plattism to which Mr.. Barnes has
attained. in which he mo longer has opinions hut
lust takes orders" but Mr.. OConnors worst en-
emies would hardly say that this is true OF him. He
does think for himself, and when away from Platts
influence usually thinks in straight lines and FOR the
pubic welfare regard for which. as he himself re-
Gently remarked Is after all. the best kind of Re-
publican politics.