New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-17
AMENDMENTS GO OVER.
THE MACHINE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH
VOTES

so THEY HAD TO POSTPONE ACTION ON SOME IN
PoRTANT CHANGES IN THE CONSTITUTION
OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE
The Republican County Committees regular meet
ing In the headquarters In West Thirty eigh th-st
last night. may be truthfully described heat
ed" When 10S OF the l32 members OF the committee
had been crowded together in the small hall. and
about many Republicans who not
members wedged In a standing mass outside
the railing. the air in the room hot to be
almost insufferable. The main business OF the
meeting was to pass upon twenty-five proposed
amendments to the constitution. and a minority OF
the members ready to make a fight against
some OF the amendments Edward Lauterbach
looked as II ne was suffering from the heat when
ne called the meeting to order. and most OF the
other members OF the committee were swelterng.
George r. Manchester sat beside Mr.. Lauterbach
on the platform. and called the roll as secretary.
Abraham Gruber. as chairman OF the committee
which had framed all OF the proposed amendments,
In a front seat and he read and moved the
amendments in turn. Close behind him was John
Sabine Smith. who led the opposition to some OF
the amendments.
The fight began the first amendment which
was to increase the membership OF the committee
by allowing three members. instead OF two from
each Assembly district. and additional member
for every 1000 Republican votes in the district Mr.
Smith declared that the membership Of the COM
mttee was too large now. the hall was not large
enough to contain seats for all. Mr.. Gruber ex-
planned that the increase would not be made until
next year, when there would be a larger hail. ana
an Increase Of membership would mean an increase
Of revenue for the committee. There was a call
OF the roll and 50 members voted for the amend
ment. while only 10 voted against It, President
Lauterbach ruled that the amendment was aaoP. a1
two-thirds OF all the members OF the committee
seng 10 mt S
amendments three minutes each was cdrrieu
against Mr. Smiths earnest protest
THE sECRETARYs SALARY.
Mr. Smith made his next fight against the amend
ment to increase the salary Of Secretary Manches-
ter to $500 year. but after Mr.. Lauterbach had
declared that $500 was only fair salary for
competent secretary. who had to devote nearly all
his time TO the work OF the committee. the amend
ment was carried without a rollcall
A few amendments to which there was no objec-
ton were then adopted. and then the minority maze
n fight against the amendment TO allow one-thrd OF
the members OF the committee 70 maze Iuoru o
the transaction OF business Several SNORT sPeecMts
smith Insisted upon having the members rise IN
their places when they voted In answer 10 the.r
forgot TO rise as he voted no" He got up in a
hurry then. When Thomas F Egan voted mo,
and MIR Eagan asked to have the room cleared III n
some time before quiet could be restored ana ana
a ane was defeated only 81 members voting
for il and % voting against IT, Mr.. Gruber, VINO
he ascertalned that the amendment had been lost
promptly moved 10 reconsider the vote. -
For the few minutes there was considerable
confusion in the. hall. and much consultation be-
tween the members OF the Lauterbach faction they
had evidently begun to doubt their ability TO muster
up the two-thrds vote necessary to pass some OF
hearts That this was fact became apparent when
Frederick s. Gibbs arose and moved that the present
order OF business. namely. action on the amend
mems be dispensed with. Upon this motion the
rollcall was ordered, and II proceeded amid con
siderable noise and repeated prayers from MT
Iauterbach for the boys" to behave themselves
When the name OF John Sabine Smith was called
MI Smith asked to be allowed TO refrain from
smith said: This committee is assembled here TO-
night TO 10 business. but because those OF the
COMMITTEES who claim TO be the majority discovered
the measure they approve. they now propose TO
postpone the transaction OF the business Tor whlch
this meeting was called. We ask you. Is this the
right thing to do? | withdraw my request 10 DE
excused and vote no -.
Montague Lessler also asked 10 be excused from
voting. and in his explanatory speech pfoless,,eun
against the postponement of the business "hich
the meeting was called to do. simply because the
ma iorty unable to carry its amehuniehts.
The rollcail proceeded and the motion 10 postpone
action on the amendments was carried by a vote OF
g to n - Motto,
Mr. Lessler moved to adjourn. but the motion
was lost r s. Gibbs then moved tnat ~nrn ',e
AnrlI ~ unless the chairman should see III 10 can
an earlier meeting The motion after being amend
cd by the addition OF a clause tequ'ins , no y,
eight hours notice TO be gwen 10 enS" '''"S' "
the committee. was carried -, coroa erotber
After Amasa Thornton had onered aho'ns s
amendment TO the constitution the Mee""s "'
)ou Wed nc big FOOLS. said Ably Gruber, ITO let
,h. ,h,ny come TO vote when we didn't nave 'he
votes 10 win wouldn't we now