New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-01-01
LIVELY TIMES IN ALBANY
THE HALLS OF THE CAPITOL SWARM
WITH LEGISLATORS
DEMOCRATS WILL OPPOSE PLATTs SCHEME IN
CONNECTION WITH THE GREATER NEW
YORK BIII.-THE Bosss LATEST GAME

-RAiNEss TWO MEASURES
TBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNE]
Albany, Dec. 3l.-Nearly all Of the 200 men,
bers OF the Legislature arrived here to-day and
Tonight the windows in the big white-grani
Capitol perched on the summit OF State-st
niii' were casting forth rays Of light, as they
had not been doing before since the night in
May last when the Legislature of 1895 was
closing Its session in the building The
Senators and Assemblymen were all anxious to
see what changes had been made in the Capitol
since last spring. and nearly all of them visited
the structure in the course Of tn day At night
the caucuses were held N various rooms and
/ the building brilliantly lighted. the AS
sembiy and Senate chambers being especially
| conspicuous from the streets Governor Morton
received visits from most Of the members.
SOLID DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION
! The most interesting news OF the dav WAS
/ disclosed by the Democrats There are four
teen of them in the Senate and forty seven in
the Assembly, but. nevertheless even a small
minority has influence when It casts its vote
! solidly In any direction. Senator Jacob A.
Cantor. OF New-York who will be the Demo-
cratic leader in the senate. declared uneouivo
caiiy that the Democrats would oppose the
Greater NewYorS BILL II 1t should contain a
provision creating a State Commission of any
nature. limited in time or otherwise. to govern
the Police Department. the Fire Department
ana ,he Health Department Of the cities OF
New-York. Brooklyn and Log Island City.
Il opposed the Greater New-York bill last
year." said Senator Cantor, because It was
plainly political measure AS long as II simply
provided for the consolidation OF New-York and
Brooklyn favored H. az did the Democrats OF
the Senate and Assembly on side Of Brooklyn
as I'M,
bill. intended to Increase the power of a Republi-
can faction. opposed u. That Is jusi my posi-
ton this year favo. the consolidation OF New
York and Brooklyn. but do not believe in ruling
IN ,s- citles from Albany by creating State COM
missions to rule over the departments even tenn
porarily. That Is an INVASION Il home-rue rights
We had NewYork ruled from Albany for many
year,. and It was abomlnably bad government
We appealed 10 the sentiment OF home rule and
won back our rights. We not going 10 sur
render those rights now simply t. b. ing about
the union OF New-YuIk and Brooklyn desirable
as that union would De- believe the Democratic
Senators and Assemblymen VIII be unanimous In
their opposition To the Greater New York BILL II
X shall contain any provision. invading home
rul" rights"
The Greater New York bill. shaped In the
Law office of Tracy. Boardman Platt thus
opposition. But this does not complete the list
Of the members Of the opposition to such
a measure. Every Republican Senator and As
semoly moa from Bro KIN Is opposed to It.
because !, does not contain referendum
clause The Brooklyn Senator'S and Assem-
blymrn do not wish rhartc- adopted In piece
1,,' su1SlIl 'r,,-. d>s.~o e. s,.r pc hoi.
charter before they arc forced - obey any part
of IL. As they would BE-. 4 metropolitan police
commission should BE- established The Repubn
can members from the inier.or 4 the State. who
have heard these arguments. say that they are Of
a s0r.lble nature and some o, them Will side with
the representatives, OF Brooklyn.
PLATTs REVISED PLAN
Thomas G = att's latest plan for the creation
OF a Metropolitan Board Of Police is said to be
to have Mayor Strong. of Ncw-York. Mayor
Wurstei. Of Brooklyn; Mayor Gleason. OF Long
Island City. and two politicians, to bc named
by Governor Morton. and the Senate. a. the
members Of che Commission. Edward Iauter-
bach. Of coutse. would kindly consent 70 act
The states representative on this Board
aud Mr. Platt would expect to have some other
equally faithful Lieutenant appointed 10 the
other place Then. by making combine
with any one Of The thre, Mayors. Mr. Plat
could control the Board.
ABOUT THE RAINEs EXCISE BILL
Senator Cantor also said that the Democratic
members had resolved To oppose the. Raines
Excise bill
The proposed law" said Mr.. Cantor. will
allow any one. after paying the State tax. TO
open a saloon. There is to be no investigation
as 10 the mans moral character The dive
keeper can get license just readily rs the
reputable liquor dealer. Besides this bill VIII
rob the cities II large proportion of their ex-
else funds which are now employed In the
support Of charities such a law would be
grossly unjult 10 the cities
Senator Raincs was asked to-day for an alb
stract of the modification Of the Ohio law.
which he ls to introduce. Fe replied
"The bill IS completed. but not ready for
publication. No alterations wlll De- made IN J.,
while IN my hands. except that VIII 20 over
II with my stcnographer and smooth "ut thc
sentences. which hasty work has left ragged
As soon as the bill is typewriter 1t VIII be
ready for publication, but that VIII De after my
return next Monday.
An this talk that Platt has had a Land in
the preparation OF the bill is foolish. The same
thing was said o, The Ballot law ! presented
last year. No one but my stenoSrapher ana
myself saw the bill previous to its presenta-
ton"
CHANGES IN THE BALLOT ACT
In reviewing the amendments which are pro-
posed to the Raines Ballot law some points con-
sidered as most important by Senator Ralnes
were omitted by the newspapers to-day. The
changes concerning independent nominations
have already been published. 1t is also pro- |
posed To do away with the discretion of the In |
spectors of election as to valid or invalid ballots
That which constitutes valid ballot Is so
clearly outlined by the instructions OF the |
amendment that no discretion ls left to the In |
spectof Appeal be taken only to the |
courts 49,,
5 system is also provided according to which
electlo Ion returns are to be made. This IS ex-
ueclei 10 void complications resulting from He
ralIy tah,lAted returns. Provision Is made for |
case. gh re- two or more candidates are running
on the same ticket for the same Office. Under
the existing law the tit. OF 'ne Once appean5
,ver .ach candidates nare. The amendment
VIII chanre this, so that only one title Will APP
u. .r and the various candidates Will be mum
iared 2 g. etc In Of split ticket, II the
votaT thOuld make the cross before one OF the
candidates Of a party. where there are Two or
moe candidates f)- the same Office, ana also put
q crnss In the circle al the head OF another
narty's ticket and neglect to make a cross be-
f... iha alfln N C