New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-21
PRICE THREE CENTS.
AN ASSEMBLY SOMERSAULT.
A DOLLAR GAS BILL PASSED BUT THE
SENATE BILL ACCEPTED LATER

TIoN ON THE SUBJECT AT THIS SESSION.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO the rRIBuxEl
Albany. April 20.-Mr. Laimbeer this afternoon
! induced the Assembly 10 accept a bill reducing
, the price of gas in New-York and Brooklyn 10
J 81 thousand feet In the evening however the
/ Assembly reversed its action and accepted the
bill passed by the Senate. Mr. Laimbeers bin
vas brought forward as a substitute for the
Senate graduated gas-reduction bill. Since the
! Senate had put itself on record as opposed TO
| any such measure, since no bill which has been
amended can be considered finally for three
days afterward. and since the Legislature ad-
journs on Saturday AT noon. the enactment Of
Mr.. Lairnbeers new bill was inipossibillty
Mr.. Laimbeer is man OF too high reputation
for any one to believe that he would deliberately
defeat good bill by an indirect method; and II
may be said that he led into error by accept
ing an amendment offered by Mr. Abel Of Brook
lyn, an old member Of the Legislature which
included the Greater New-York territory in the
eas-reduction plan. Mr.. Abelrs amendment
made The measure an entirely one and thus
compelled It's reprnting and its being laid aside
FOR three days
Mt Laimbeer started his campaign for cheap.
er gas by moving that the Assembly substitute
senator Cantor's Dollar Gas bill for the Sem
ates Graduated Reduction bill Cantors bill
mas been on the files Of the Assembly since early
IN january Mr.. Laimteer argued that the gas
companies could still pay generous dividends II
they should be forced to sell gas at 81 a thousand
feet.
Mr. Trainor moved as a substitute for Mr.
Laimbeer's motion, that there should be no Gas
Commission. provided by the Cantor bill
This substitute really inimical to the Dollar
Gas BILL although akowedly in it's favor.
MI Forester also made an attempt to amend
the bill to death by offering an amendment pro-
vidins that gas should be supplied to public
buildings in New-York end Brooklyn for 90
cents a thousand feet.
1t was at this point that Mr.. Abell offered
an amendment providing that the price OF gas
in Grea;er New-York should be 81 thousand
feet. Mr.. Lambeer accepted this amendment
and thus 1t was incorporated in his bill.
MI Goodsell, the chairman ~ the Assembly
Committee on Gas, Electricity and Water Sup
ply, stated that any amendment made TO the
Senatcs Graduated Reduction bill would kill It.
but, nevertheless. the Assembly adopted Mr.
Laimbeer's measure. amended by MIR. Abell
by a vote of 7G to ~.
After waiting three hours the Assembly
turned complete somersaul, on the bill.
large number of the Assemblymen had become
convinced that the only effect OF adopting tbs
defeat all legislation this year tending TO reduca
the price of gas IN New-York. Acting thi1
belief Mr.. Mcknight, of Queens County. moved
a reconsideration Of the vote by which tn.
amendments were adopted. Mr.. Lambeer r.
sisted this motion. declaring that he was con.
hdent that the Senate would accept the bill IT,
its modified form. Mr.. Robbins, Of Allegany
County. expressed the opinion. Dollar
gas in New-York City Is possible this year." he
said. "f we maintain our position OF favoring
this bill in its present shape"
But most of the Assemblymen remembered
that the Senate voted down an amendmsn
providing for dollar gas in New-York, ard there
fore, considered it safer 10 accept the Senat'
bin which although it only reduces the pric.
of gas five cents this year, does reduce the pric'
within five years to 81 thousand feet. some
hot speeches were made before the reconsidere-
ton was effected.
Mr.. Green Of New-York. asserted that during
the recess men had been at work to compt!
members to change their votes. and thar nov
members stole about the chamber In rear ana
trembling lest they be punished for daring y
vote according to their Snd tbs Syecept
gas bill Pollution" he shouted staIk.
through the Legislature to-day. and we are nc.
permitted to drive it out. 1t has been said tina.
the passage of an amendment would XII th's
bill That is not true. The amended Dlli couta na
be passed fere on Friday and then sent 10 'h'
Senate for immediate action
Mr. Mcknight asserted that his only reason fos
moving a reconsideration was to save me PHI.
Unless the Assembly amendment was stricken
ont the bill would die. 1t would be unwise NOT
to put the bill IN a shape in which II couIo De
passed . x,
amendment 81 want the members or thiE
House he said "to forget at this time that there
Is a Senate of New-York. and vote as their hon
est instincts imoe them 10 vote and as the peo-
pie who sent item mere Wou'o IKE u rave ''e'"
vote"
ported the bill as 1t stood for doliar gas; RMS
morning" he said, II was proud that was
member OF the Assembly OF the State OF New
York Tonight fear that shall bow my head
in shame because OF that fact. What has hap
peued since this morning 10 bring about this
change of opinion? Have some OF the members
been listening to the siren OF the LOBBY! You
showed the r R,ines Liquor Tax bill down our
throats, and now you want deliberately 10 rop US
OF the advantage we honestly gained for dollar
gas These proceedings are disgrace to the
Legislature Of the state.
Mr. Trainor shouted: Let US stick 10 the Dol
lar Gas bill and reject this miserable and petty
compromise Of five cents. Let me warn the per.
sons who are trying 20 Kill this Dollar Gas Dill
that we will not consent to give SS,5OuO00 10 this
gas combine without fighting over every inch or
the ground You may crush us this year. but
next year the people will send back members to
right the wrong which you are now doing.
Mr. Meningitis motion TO reconsider the vote
by which the amendments were adopted was
passed The following, who voted for the Lain
beer and Abel amendme nts In the afternoon IN
the evening voted TO reconsider that vote: Thom-
as J. Barry. of New-York; Joseph Burdy. OF
Onondaga County: Edward c. Brennan OF Kings
County; George CARLY. OF Richmond County:
John c. Knaup, OF Brooklyn; Merton f. Lewis.
of Rochester: Edward McGraw. OF Rensselaer,
County: Harvey s Mcknight. OF Queens Coun-
ty; eph Murray, of Prooklyn; j. j. sullivan. OF
New-York: Edward G.. Ten Eyck of Syracuse:
Daniel g. Tooher. OF NewYork. and Henry p.
Warner OF Niagara County
The bill was then passed just as 1t came from
the Senate by q vote OF 100 to 20. The bill makes
an Immediate reduction Of Ave cents thousand
feet on gas In New-York and ive cents addition
al each year until the price OF 81 is reached.
aNTT.TUTST PJTTS PASS THE SENiTE.