New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-22
NO QUORUM IN THE SENATE.
A LITTLE PARLIAMENTARY VICTORY FOR
MR. CANTOR.

TO LIMIT SALOON LICENSES TO ONE YEAR
SOME REPUBLICANS SAID TO HAVE
BEEN ABSENT INTENTIONALLY.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIpUNE.l
Albany Feb 1.-THE first OF the conflicts, which
promise TO be bitter, the Raines hiGuor Tax
bill took place to-day IN the Senate. There came
over from the Assembly a bill which had been
passed by that body making it illegal for Board
Of Excise to issue licenses for longer period than
year. Under Il oophoIe in the present Excise
law licenses may be taken out for twenty-three
months and twenty-nine days Inc Hquor-deaiers Oh
the State thinking thus TO evade the Raines TAX
applying to Boards Of Excise for renewals
Of their licenses Nearly 800 renewals have already
been granted in Utica. forty-one in Rome, 2s) re-
newa.s in Elmira and good many IN Poughkeepsie
When the Assembly Excise bill announced in
the Senate a motion was made by Senator Higgins
that IT be- substituted for Senate bill precisely
similar. which the order Of third reading lie
had scarcely made this motion when Senator Can
tor. the Democratic leader perceivng that the Re-
pub,lcans did not have a quorum present. began
lighting the He asked to have the bilI ldid
aside. saying that there were thousands OF licenses
in the State depending on this bill. He would look
over the bill and be ready TO debate II on MONDAY
night While NJ talking the five other Demo
Gratis present Senators Grady. Featherson. Martin
Koehler and Foley. clustered about him ana cooked
up a scheme to defeat the progress of the bill
Senator Higgins insisted upon advancing the BIZ.
lie said that 1t had been prepared b. the Assem-
bly, Excise Committee and had met with 40 oppo-
ston in the House. from the Democrats
The Sena.e then went into Committee or the
Whole the bill. with Senator Lexow in the
chair. Mr. Cantor continuing his obstructive tao
tics. moved that the Committee OF the Whole rise
This motion failed. Mr. Higgins moved that the
bill be advanced Mr.. Cantor talked against this
long enough for his five Democratic colleagues TO
move into the smoking room. When they were
safely outside the chamber Mr.. Cantor asked for a
rising NJ. Hgglns's motion. This was an
nounced-yeas 20; nays. |.
Senator Cantor raised the point that there was not
a quorum voting Senator Lexow relinqushed the
chair to President Ellsworth. and returning to the
floor. said: las chairman Of the Committee OF the
Whole, have to report not a quorum present
Senator Higgins moved u call OF the house, ana
Senator Grady moved an adJournmeht MI. hl11
gins was recognized by the Chair. and the first call
and the names OF the absentees were handed 10 the
Sergeant-at-Arns. The doors of the Senate were
When Mr.. Lexow had descended to the floor the
five Democrats In the smoking-room had filed into
the Senate chamber and taken their seats. They
answered to their names. Mr.. Cantor asked the
president to announce the result OF the rolcall
The Chair replied that twenty-slx Senators had
answered to their names. Then Mr. Cantor asked
that all proceedings under the call be suspended
The roll had shown that the Republicans had only
twenty-one OF their members present. or five short
on "A quorum. l ne loIIO"luR tN'puDll'diS N'ir az
sent: Burns. Chahoon. c. Davis. q. A. Davis. Ford.
I.amy. Malby Muliin, Parsons. Pavey. Seioert
Sheppard. Stewart Tlbbts and Wray There Is
some suspicion that the absenteesm was not acct
dental in the Of all OF them. The three Butalo
Senators Is thought will vote against the Raines
ill.
Senator Higgins. seeing that the RepuOlcans
lacked sufficient votes 10 push the biz Forward to-
day gracefully surrendered TO Mr. Cantor by NOV
ing that the Assembly bill be laid aside. Then on
motion OF NJ. Cantor the Senate adjourned until
Monday night.
Much of the rhetoric OF the speeches which have
been prepared FOR use next Monday evening when
- expected the Assembly galleries VIII be
crowded. IN anticipation OF an amusing debate on
Assembyman Butts's resolution. VIII have TO be
curtallei. in accordance with q resolution Of the
Assembly this morning which limits debate on
questions Of National policy to ten minutes for
each speaker
Among the bills passed by tho Assembly to-day
WAS that OF senator Cantor providing for clerk
and deputy-clerk Ia the Court OF General Sessions
Of NcN-iork