The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-04-08
NEW YORK'S EXCISE BILL.
It Passes the Assembly Amid Scenes
Of Great Disorder and Excitement
SENT TO GOVERNOR MORTON.

Members Locked In, All Amendments
Voted Down and the Bill Finally Passed
by Vote Of 81 to 5s---Seventeen Re-
puoncans Voted Against It---A Sum-
mary of the Bill's Provisions.
ALBANY, March 14.-After session which
lasted continuously for over nine hours, and
was marked by scenes of the greatest con-
, fusion and disorder, the Assembly passed the
Raines Excise bill on Thursday by vote OF
"a to 50. During great part OF the session
the doors we're kept locked to prevent the
Democratic and Republican opponents OF the
bill from defeating its passage by leaving
the chamber. While seventy-six members
constitute quorum, it was necessary that
ninety should be present and voting, mas
much as the bill is tax measure.
No member was permitted to enter or de-
port without written pass. only laaies
were permitted on the floor OF the Assembly.
Senators were rigidly excluded. SENATOR
Cantor. the Democratic leader, applied 1or
admission and was rebufed:
When the Democrats refralned from an,
swering to their names the Speaker olteoteo
present. and they were counted with the
others At one time the disorder was so
Great that the Speaker threatened Assembly,
man Trainor, of New York, with arrest un-
less he took his seat.
The passage ofthe bill was due very largely
to the activity Of the Speaker, both In the
chair and on the floor, and the assistance ne
received from Leader O'Grady aad Assem-
blyman s. Fred Nixon. At critical times,
While he was on the floor the Speaker
coached whichever of his heutenants hap
pened to be in the chair, and the rule Of the
majority was asserted with the utmost vigor.
All the proposed amendments tothe bill were
voted down, Finally Speaker Fish took the
floor and defendedth measure in the closing
speech Of the day.
The roll call on the final passage Of the bill
was not concluded until 7 p. m. The forty.
two Democrats who were present voted
against the bill. Four Democrats and three
Republicans were absent. They were: Ed.
belts (Dem. X6f Kings, Goodman (Dem.) OF
New York, Gray (Rep. )'of Dutchess. Kempner
Dem OF New York. Malone (Dem.) OF New
York. 6. W. Meyer (Dem.) Of New York, and
G. Wilson (Rep.) of Brooklyn.
The following Republicans voted with the
Democrats against the bill: Adler. French,
Laimbeer, and Murphy OF New York; Ba6-
cock OF Chautauqua; sBlasdell, Braun, Hill,
Peevers, G. Smith. Springweller, and Steiner
of Erie; Brennan. Degraw, Forester, Hughes,
and Wagstaff Of Kings.
Mr. Kempner Oem., N. W, who made the
principal speech against the bill, had to
leave, so that he was not present to vote
against it. Most of the New York and Brook.
lyn members explained on the roll call that
they would vote for the bill as party meas
ure IL 1t were not for the great sentiment
against It in their respective districts. Bah
cock, who Is q free silver and temperance
advocate, voted against 1t because II per-
mits steamboats, on Lake Chautauqua, as
elsewhere, to sell liquor. >,
The bill passed the Assembly just as 1t
came from the Senate, and yesterday went
TO the Governor for Executive action.