The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-22
LExOW REFORM BILLS SHAM.
THEY FAIL To MEET THE VIEWS
OF MAYOR STRONG.

II They Are Passed the Mayor VIII
Return Them Co Albany without
His APprOvaI-If the Legislature
Then Persists in Their Passage
GOV. Morton VIII Veto Shem-Sen-
atOr Lamy Refuses 90 Vote for
Them.
Albany. n. Y, March A.-The pro-
gramme 20 send the LeXow police bills
through the Senate to-day was rudely
disturbed this morning when Senator
Charles Lsmy Of Erie. announced that
he would not vote for the measures until
he had received the most positive assur-
ances from Mayor Strong that he favored
them. Just after reaching the Senate
chamber to-day Mr.. Lamy dictated the
following message TO Mayor Strong:
Hon. William Strong, city hall New
York / shall not vote for bills No. 771
and rs unless you approve of them.
await an early answer at the Senate
chamber. Charles Lamy.
With Senator Lamy against the bills,
the republicans have only II votes. or
bare majority.
The Lexow police bills were reported
favorably in the Senate to-day by their
author. Senator LeXow. and after debate
lasting nearly all day, were advanced TO
third reading. Final action. which II was
intended should occur to-day was post
poned because 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 .I.F a..
wants OF the reform element In New York
city. We're recommitoed to the Lexow
committee This practically kills the bills
The attempt of the republican majority
to pass the Lexow bills resulted I'm the
bolt of Senator Reynolds, who refused to
be bound by the caucus held last night
Senator Stapleton for a time joined In
the bolt, but later in the day switched
back and voted with the majority to ad-
vance the bills to the third reading.
Senator Lamy, from his action to-day.
VIII probably vote against the LeXow
bills when they come up for final pass
age next Tuesday. He received a reply
from Mayor Strong this Afternoon which
he refused TO give out. He said he con-
sidered II confidential and that he wished
TO take II 10 Buffalo tonight and con-
suit with the people up there about IT.
Mayor Strong has not, thus far given
utterance to any comments on the LeNow
hills, favorable or unfavorable, but IL Is
generally believed that his views on lie
measure are ia accord with those eX-
pressed by Charles Stewart Smith to.
day In his letter to Lieut. Gov Saxton.
From this il can be easily guessed how
he answered senator Lamy. and how
that gentleman viii vote.
II requires II Votes to pass the LeXow
bills. and should Senator Stapleton vote
for the bills on final passage, as he an
ToInccd, his voie will carry the measures
regardless of the votes OF Senators Lamy
and Reynolds. 5. But Senator Stapleton to-
day established for himself reputation
as a slippery customer, and he may slip
again from the position he has now aS-
samed. In that event the Lexow bills
will be lost, unless some Tammany deic
ocrat comes to the rescue.
New York March A.-Charles Stewart
Smith, ex-president of the chamber of COM
merce. and confidential friend Of Mayor
Strong, this morning made known che
mayors feelings regarding the Lexow po-
lice bills by sending the following tele-
gram.
Now York. March 21, 1Ss5.-Hon. Charles
T. Saxton, Senate, Albany, n. Y: In the
opinion of the best members of the Re-
publican party, a majority of senators by
their caucus action last night, are delib-
erately digging the grave Of the party in
this state.
/ know that Mayor Strong Is absolutely
opposed to the provisions providing for
the election of police commissioners con-
tained in the Lexow BILL and he considers
the bills proposed by the committee of ten
to be far more in the interest of the
people and good government.
Can II be possible that the deliberate
judgment of the mayor and the people of
New York should be ignored by the party
in power, regarding laws which affect the
government of this city?
Charles Stewart Smith,
Mr.. Smith said that II the bills are
passed, as he expects, the mayor will give
the people of New York all the opportunity
they want for a hearing on the measures.
during the fifteen days he will have them
for consideration. In tnat time there will
be such cry OF Indignation that Senator
Lexow and his friends will wish they
had never attempted to ride over the
people of this city, and l can add" went
on Mr.. Smith, that Mayor Strong Will
send the bills back to Albany without his
approval. The legislature Will then have
to pass them again, and II 1t does 50, In
defiance of public opinion, Gov. Morton
will veto the bills.
The printed copies OF the Lexow police
bill were received from Albany In this
city to-day, and the committee Of ten
of the committee of seventy Immediately
asked for the opinions or number or
eminent lawyers on the constitutionality
of the measure Eight lawyers, James
c. Carter, Elihu Root. Joseph Larocque,
John f. Parsons. Charles c. Beaman c.
I. Rives, Lewis L. Delafleld and William
b. Hornblower. complied with the re-
quest, seven of them uniting in one opin-
ion. and the eighth. Mr.. Hornblower.
writing a separate opinion. The latter's
opinion differed from his fellow lawyers
J,tc nra
the Lexow measure unconstitutional in
many points and declared that 1t could
not stand.