New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-25
ITS STING WTTHDRA UN.
THE HOUSE NEARLY PASSES A USELESS
TROLLEY BILL
STORED TO THEIR OLD STATUS.

AN AMENDMENT WHICH INITIATED TIE PURPOsr
OF TIE MEAsuRE-TRAcTION COMPANIES
WANTED TO RE RELIEVED OF SUITS
NOW PENDING BuT SENATOR JOHN
son BLOCKED THE WAY
Trenton. March ?, (speclaD. Elisha n Gaddis
one OF the shrcwdcst political experts In the STATE
came near being badly fooled on Senate bill No ~
to-day Mr. Gadds IS one OF the last men likely TO be
selected the victim In any game OF wits. He IA n
heavy s,ockhoder In the Consolidated Traction
Company. and in his own interest. "a we'll as those
Of his associates ne came here to help push along
that and kindred measures. The purpose ~ No -
is 10 take out OF court a number 81 suits
pending. II originated in TN" Senate. and during
It's passage through that body Senator Johnson in
serted an amendment providing that the bin should
mot apply to suits pending" That. OF course
destroyed the main purpose Of the promoters.
The bill referred back 20 the committee. with
the idea Of having IT changed TO its original shape
The committee through Senator Sklrm. reported
II without amendment" under the erroneous i'm
preston that this eliminated the Johnson amend
ment Without further question. the biz passed and
was to the House last night. There was gen
eral chuckllng among the trolley people. while
their opponents smiled quietly. The bin would
probably have passed the House In lts harmless
condition had not reporter jokingly told the troll
ley men OF the deluson under which they were
aboring Instantly there was general consterna-
ton in the camp. The bill had been promptly re-
ported favoraby by the Railroads and Canals Com
mittee, Mr. Harvey alone not concurring and was
the calendar for second reading the first thing
this morning But 1t It's amended
form At first there some difficulty I'm making
the trolley champions understand how the amend
ment came TO be in the engrossed bill. Mr. Gaddls
asserted that Edgar Williams. engrossing clerk of
the Senate. had Numbered. and demanded that he
should make a correction by eliminating the John
amendment.
81 can't and won't do IT," Mr.. Williams replied
THE bill Is properly engrossed, as you will find out
by referring to the records and have no authority
make any alteration without instruction from the
Senate"
'Mr. Williams is right" said Joseph Coult. coun-
sci for the Traction Company after ne had heard
the explained.
1t was then agreed to have the bill sent back
to the Railroads and Canals Committee OF the
House for the purpose OF striking out the Johnson
amendment That done to-day. and the com
amendnnen, striking out the Johnson Amendment,
Hi r af rye mace h1hy report IN favor OF
In doing so, he made strong speech, pointing out
that the elimination OF the Johnson amendment
ferinS with litigation now IN the courts. The House
sustained Mr.. Harvey by the following vote against
the adoption Of Lowers report:
YeasmAustin Barton Powers. Derousse. Fleming
Roberson Roll Ur seoScl Tee oya Lower
Nays--Baucr. Cagncy. Christie. Clause Coursen
Francis. Harvey. Hewitt. Hicks. Hogan Hoos
Hutchinson. Jackson. Jones, Macpherson Mullin
Parslow, Queen. Reed, RICHTER, Rucmplcr Scho-
Der, Simpson. Skinner. Smart, Smith Stanger, III
man, Walling, Wdcs-30.
That vote convinced the trolley men that they
would have to make concessions. They agreed to
accept amendments by Mr.. skinner. excluding suits
now pending. The bill as approved. valilatcs all
the grants and franchises heretofore made by NUM-
cipalites
Mr.; skinner also had the trolley agents acccp,
lie H.