New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-29
LEXOW'S SCHEME PREVAILS.
THE SENATE VOTES TO CONTINUE HIS
COMMITTEE.

PLArT DRUMS HIS FOLLOWERS INTO 1LNE-THE
RESOLUTION CARRIED BY A DEMOCRATIC
voTE-ExPENsEs OF THE CON-
MITTEE LIMITED.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Albany. April 2S.-Defeated this year in his
design to seize control Of the chief departments
of the government OF New-York and Brooklyn
through State commissions. Mr. Platt laid the
foundation to-day for the accomplishment Of the
same plan next year. Mr. Morton failed Mr..
Platt this year In this matter. but some servant
OF Mr. Platt In the Governors chair In 1897
may put his signature TO such measures. That
is the belief of Mr. Patts followers.
No one will deny, after to-day's action. that
Mr.. Platt would have had little difficulty In
passing through the Legislature measures sup
Elemental to the Greater New-York bill The
Senate passed Mr. Lexow's resolution comforting
upon his Greater New-York Committee au-
thorty to carry the Independent preparation
OF charter for Greater NewYork. 1t was sup
posed when the Greater New-York bill was
passed. authorizing Governor Morton to ap-
point a Greater New-York Commission to draw
up a charter for the new municipality. that no
further steps In this direction would be taken
by the Legislature. But Mr.. Piatt. after being
informed by the members Of his "Sunday-school
class" that Governor Morton would not sign
suy supplemental bills invented this plan for
the perpetuation IF the Lexow Greater New
York Committee. Through this on.mittee. he
sees he introduce to the Legislature the
bills he desires for the creation of State COM
missions
THE SUBTERFUGE EXPOSED.
There was one obstacle, however, to the adop-
ton CT the Lexow resolution. and that was that
there WAS no reasonable excuse for a contin-
uance OF the life of the committee. But Mr..
Patt and Mr.. Lexow easily trumped up the ex-
cuee that the Greater New-York Commission
would not have the authority to subpoena wit
nesses This plea 'seemed rather weak. inas-
much as the Greater New-York bill Itself author
izes the Commission to call witnesses The de-
bate In the Senate to-day was In relation TO this
subject Senator Lexov argued that the Legis-
Iature could not delegate to any other board or
body authority to subpoena witnesses. but he
WAS hszy about his authority for this statement.
Finally Senator White. Of Syracuse who had
been studying the subject In the State Library.
apreared with the volume OF the Code or civil
| Procedure under his arm and read convincing
| section from II to the effect that such board
as the Greater New-York Commission can sub
| poena witnesses in the same manner as legis-
lative committee. The section in question is No.
| s54 and It reads as follows:
Where Judge or arbitrator. referee or other
person. or a board or committee has been hereto
Orc ar s hereafter expressly authorized ny law to
hear try or determine a. matter or TO 90 any othei
NAV - BE- tak~r or the attendance OF person
| witness may be required: or to require person &c
tsn' Srs or ZINC 5ier or person dcsiSnae in
t-y to give testimony or to nave %" deppsa'',1i Isl on
taken, or to be examined subpoena nay NAY De rs
traitor referee or other person. or the chairman oil
majority Of the board or committee. recurring tht
| bring with him a book or paper
TAMWANY's FALSE ATTITUDE.
Neither Senator Lexow nor n majority OF
| the Republican Senators were disturbed by this
| clear demonstra ton that the Greater New YORK
| Commission will have ample powers. and that
| Therefore the Lexow Greater New-York Com
| mittee is needless. but they went straight ahead
ard passed the resolution perpetuating the
| committee The Tammany Hall Senator'S made
a furious demonstration against LeXow5 reso-
luton. but II is to be doubted that their fight
against II was genuine 1t is Significant that
| the resolution was passed by the vote OF Sena-
| tor Sullivan one Of the Tammany members
II received only twentysix votes In Its favor. or
just enough to pass II.
The debate over the resolution was or much
interest, Senator Cant r. when the resolution
! was announced moved that II be referred 10 Inc
| Committee on FiDance. an Indirect way Oh XIII
ing H. Senator Lexow then thought pest u
make an elaborate defence OF his attempt &c
nrolong the life OF his committee, by arguing
that the Greater New-fork COMMISSION 0o"'o
not subpoena witnesses
what judici,l decisions do you refer to!' In
| qulrcd Senator White. j nave looked ioi 'ie"
| and cannot find them"
"IIad you not better wait until Governor Nor
ton annolpts the Greater New-York Commits
s,on before YOU appoint this steering committee" Z"
suggested Mr.. Cantor.
Senator Mullin said the expenses OF legislative
| Investigating committees were growing to be
| scandaloIsly large. He would move that the
Iexow Committee be permitted to expeni only
$4,000
"Was that an impuslve notion Of yours Sena'
| tor Mullin O. asked Senator Ellsworth
"No" answe ed Mr.. Mullin. ut was done de-
| lberately"
"Well." said Senator Lexcw. much astonlshed
at was bad politics and most unfortunate
! "I do not think So" answered Senator Mullin
"for believe IT would he wrong not TO limit the
cxpenditures of your committee
| senato- Wray said he was In favor OF Senator
| Mullins omendment The Lexow Cimmlttee.'
| no continued SHOULD be made as harmless as
possible"
MULLINS MOTION CARRIED.
| ser,,or Mullins motion was then carried by a
vote OF 27 to l3. as follows;
| .,,o.-v vossrs Brown. Brush. Cantor Chaioon
CoggeshAll Featherson Ford. Gail CHER. Crazy
| Harrison Higgins. Humphrey; Johnson k%rum %
| Naiby Martin McCarren. McNuliy, Mnln. Nun
| zinger Nlssbaum Pavey. Sheppard. S'ranahan
| Noes-Messrs Brackett. Burns. Corey. C. Davis
Ellsworth Lamy. Lexow, Page. Parsons Rsines
| Stewart Sullivan. Weman-l3
| Senator Cantor declared that II the resolution
| assed II would be an insult to the high-minded