The sun., 1897-04-23
REpuBL1oAx SENATORS IN A ROW.
It Was Over the Proposed Hnvestigation ant
Charges Against supt. Enston.

It Was Over the Proposed Hnvestigation and
Charges Against supt. Enston.
Albany, April 22-The Republican Senators
got into a fine old row over the proposed inves-
tigation into certain charges "refiecting upon
the competency and honesty" OF Superinten-
dent of Public Buildings Fred Easton.
The investigation. which was proposed by
Senator Pavcy, was ordered by the Senate yes
terday. This morning Leut.-Goy. Woodruff an
nounced as members Of the investigating com.
mittee Senators Krum. Higgins. Stewart, and
White. Republicans. and Kohler. Democrat.
Senator Cantor. the Democratic leader. began
tho trouble by protesting against the appoint
ment Of Senator Kohler as the minority repre-
sentative without consultation with the Dem
ocratic Senators. 1t was customary for the
President of the Senate to name the member
selected by the Democrats. The first de-
parture from this custom, he said. was when
Lieut. Gov. Woodruff named Senator McCarren
as the minority member Of the Trust 1nresti-
eating Committee, whose report was subse-
auently repudiated by caucus OF Democratic
Senators. lin view of these facts" he con-
cluded, II desire publicly to ask Senator kohler
to withdraw from the committee"
Senator Kohler had disappeared from the
chamber and there was no response.
Senator Bracket declared that it was unprece-
man of a committee the Senator who introduced
the resolution for an investigation. He moved
that Senator Pavey be added TO the committee
Senator Ellsworth said Bracket was out OF
order, and the point was sustained.
Senator Wray asked whether Senator Pavey
had declined to serve US Chairman.
81 call for the regular order" shouted Senator
Ellsworth. advancing down the aisle.
Senator Pavey rose to u question OF privilege,
and said that he had never been asked to serve
on the committee.
Senators were on their feet all over the cham
ber and Senators Ellsworth and Raines wero
loudly demanding the regular order.
Senator Higgins rose to point OF personal
tee. saying that he had not been consulted and
did not know that no was TO bc member. Sem
ator Krum followed suit making the same
statement.
had been accepted, and was informed that they
Senator Ellsworth walked over to Senator
Pavey't seat and SAID that he tPaveyl had said
that he would not serve on the COMMITTEES.
Pavey shook his finger angrily at Ellsworth
and said the Republican leaders were making a
big mistake. senator Tibbits joined the group
and said that Payey was right ana he would be
blanked blanked II he'd submit TO any more
bulldozing from Senator Ellsworth. who Is his
party leader.
The rcgul ar order was then resumed and the
subject was dropped until just before the SEN
ate ad jourued when Senator Wray moved that
senator IIiggins's resignation bo accepted and
OF the investigating committee. On motion Of
Senator Raines this was laid on the table with
out debate.
The charges against Superintendent Easton
cmanatcd primarily from Democratic Albany
newspaper, which declared that his administri-
ton had been grossly extrayagant, II nothing
worse. 1t Is expected that the investigation will
be begun the week after final adjournment.