New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-15
PRICE THREE CENTS
TO PUSH ALL THE BILLS.
RESULT OF THE SUNDAY CONFERENCE
WITH MIR. PLATT
THE CHARTER. POLICE BILL AND RArNEs Law
AMENDMENTS TO BE PRESSED AT ALBANY
DEFEAT OF MR. LAUTERBAcH
AND OTHER LOCAL REPUBLI-
CANS on THE Ex-

CTSE FEATURE.

NANS w IhE
cTsE FEATURE
There was political conference Of considera-
BILE Importance at the Fifth Avenue Hotel yes.
terday. 1t decided the trend Of legislation for
the State Of New-York which may govern the
political situation not only In the territory Of
the Greater New-York, but in the State for q
long to come.
The conference which held in the apart
ments OF Senator Platt. attended by the
Senator himself. Louis + Payn. State Insurance
Commissioner; Senator John Ranes Senator
Timothy f. Ellsworth. President pro tenn Of the
Senate: Edward Lauterbach, president Of the
New-York Republican County Committee; Sena-
tor Nevada n Stranahan, of Oswego; Senator
Myer Nussbaum, Of Albany, and Senator
j. Irving Burns. Of Westohester. There was
no representative from New-York except Mr..
Lauterbach. and none from Brooklyn.
When Senator Platt left the hotel TO take his
train from Washington II was plain that the up
country statesmen had triumphed on one point
and that Mr.. Lauterbach and his New-York
hacking had been defeated.
The conference decided that the Greater New
York Charter should be pushed through without
change; that the Greater NewYork Police Board
bill should be passed. and that the stringent
Raines amendment which Mr. Raines brought
down with him. and which were so bitterly OPP
rosed by the Republicans of New-York, Brook
lyn and other cities, should be incorporated In
the present Excise laws OF the State.
Before the conference met there strong
and decided protests against any amendments
that might change the present conditions Of the
excise business in this part OF the State. Ex-
Postmaster Van Cott. Edward Lauterbach Will
Y>N
William II. Ten Eyck. George Hilliard. F. 8.
Gibbs. c. w. Meade and other we-known city
Republicans pointed out the dangers to the party
organization which would result in changing the
present excise legislation, which they insisted
had worked satisfactorily for over a year. They
cOntended that Republican victories in NewYork
City had been gained only when the excise ques-
ton had been eliminated from the political issue.
Whenever the Republicans had unduy interfered
with the sale Of liquor in New-York they had
been defeated.
When the conference met. the opposition OF
Lauterbach Worth and other opponents Of the
amendments to the Raines law brushed
aside. The plan of the up-country Republicans
was carried.
MR.. PLATTS POSITION.
Mr. Platt himself. up to his return from WASH
ingtOn last week. had adhered TO the proposition
not to allow any material interference with the
Raines law as 1t was enacted last March. What
Induce ed him to change his mind was subject OF
much speculation yesterday. There were not
few who believed that he had succumbed TO the
threats of Black and Payn. and believed that
the party machinery might be wrested from him
if he refused accept the Raines amendments.
These amendments, 1t was alleged by New
York Republicans. would Introduce havoc into
the party in this city. The amendments compel
every social club which dspenses beer wine or
liquor to it's members to pay the same liquor
tax imposed upon saloons: that Is, $500 year.
The members of many of these clubs insist that
this change will result in their disbandment
The loss Of political influence and political pres
tge. which would follow the dsbandment OF
clubs of social character. where. urder the de-
cision of the Court Of Appeals. liquor could be
distributed to members was 1t was declared,
hardly to be computed, because the unpopu-
larty Of the innovation would be charged 10
the Republican party. But the arguments Of Mr..
Lauterhach and his assistants proved of no avail
The Raines amendments to go through along
with the Greater New-YorlS Charter end the
Greater New-York Police Dill.
Certain changes made include the restriction
of what are known as Raines hotels These are
fake" hotels, and require that the ten rooms
shall contain a certain number of square feet
and that the dining-room shall also have a
prescribed number of square feet. There was
no serious opposition to the new regulations
proposed. They were generally looked upon as
reasonable and accepted
THE CLUB QUESTION
Among the concessions gained by Republi.
whose buildings stand within 200 feet Of
churches and schools shall be allowed to dis
pense liquors This privilege is conferred in an
amendment which permits clubs Incorporated
before March y. 1896 the date which the
Raines law took effect to retain the privileges
then possessed by them
Tha Union League club the Manhattan Club.
the Union. the University the Reform City and
many other like ass Jciations In this city mighe
easily afford to pay the $500 year license which
the change in the Raines law will bring about
but there are hundreds of social and political
clubs organized before the Raines law was
thought Of that will probably succumb 10 the
change. The Harlem Republican Club. the West
Side Republican Club. the Riverside Progress.
LincOlr and dozens Of other Republican clubs.
which have been enabled 20 pay actual expenses
by means cf receipts from such sources may
have To disband. What the political effect OF
such wholesale destruction of Republican or
ganiZations would be was only regarded prob.
lcmatical.
The conference made short work of the Greater
NewYork charter and the Greater New-York
Police bill. 1t decided that they, as we'll as
the Ranes amendments, should be made party
measures if they met factional opposition The
concession to the restaurant interest. fixing Q
license Of $50 year. which should carry the
right TO sell liquor with meals up to a. daily
and during usual meal hours Sundays, was
agreed 10.
City Republicans. after the conference did not
deny that they had suffered signal defeat.
Some Of them did not hesitate 10 express their
surprise that Senator Platt had yielded 10 the
Raines law amendments. They predicted that
these changes could only mean another excise
fight that would result In the defeat OF any
ticket the Republicans might put up in the
Greater New-York
Mr. Lauterbach did not conceal his distress At