New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-22
FOUR SENATORS BOLTED.
GOVERNOR BLACKS CIVIL SERVICE BILL
MADE A CAUCUS MEASURE.
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Albany. April 21.-Governor Black and the
Republican leaders in tie Senate were tonight
treated to a genuine surprise by the way In
which the Republican Senators In caucus ham
died without gloves the Governors double-Dar-
relied Civil Service bill. by which he hopes 10
take the starch OUT of the Civil Service sys-
TEN Of the State For nearly three hours the
Senators debated Mr.. Blacks examination an
initiation scheme. and then only by small ma
jority did they make II caucus measure. when
this done four Senators-Brush. Wray.
Pavey and Tibblts-bolted the caucus
1t was expected before the caucus occurred
that some plain talk would be INDUCED In by
certain Of the Senators whose position on CIVIL
Service Reform is well known but even the most
sanguine of the reformers did not for mo-
ment expect that there would be such general
uprising against a measure proposed by Re-
publican Governor to be passed by Republican
Legislature. In view OF the immense influence
which Governor can exert at this stage Of the
legislative session, when all Senators are de-
pendent upon him for the approval of their bills.
the revolt to-night against the Civil Service
measure is The more surprising
When the Republicans met In conference, and
before the conference was transformed into a
caucus. some influential Senator's argued vigor-
ously that decent public sentiment would de-
clare In no uncertain terms against any such
radical change In the Civil Service system as Is
proposed by the Governor. They argued that
there was no necessity for the passage Of this
bill by the Legislature
IF Governor Black wants such Civil Service
examination system as his bill contemplated"
said one OF them. he now has all the power
necessary under the Court Of Appeals decision
to put such a system into action. 1t is not neccs-
sary for him to put the responsibility upon the
Legislature, and consequently upon the Repub-
lican party. against which 1t will most certainly
react"
Senator Tibbits protested against making the
Governors bill a caucus measure My
science" said he. will not allow me to vote for
any such measure" to which Senator COggeshall.
who presided at the conference and caucus.
piled: "Our conscience makes towards OF us ALL"
BY such remarks from the presiding officer and
the Republican leaders, nineteen Senators were
bulldozed into making the bill caucus measure.
After the Senators had resolved themselves into
a caucus, the four Senator'S mentioned above
bolted the caucus. Senators Higgins and Mullin
withdrew from the meeting without boiling the
caucus. Had these six Senator's remained in
caucus and protested against adopting the bill
as party measure the opposition would have
carried its point, for after long discussion. only
seventeen Senators voted afiirmatively to put
the Civil Service bill through as a party meas
ure. while eleven by their votes protested against
such proposition
Those recorded In the affirmative were Brown,
Coggeshall DAILY c Davis. Ellsworth. Grant,
Humphrey Johnson, Krum, Lexow, Malby,
Nussbaum. Page. Parsons. Raines Weman and
Wilcox. Those who voted in the negative
Burns. ChahOon, G. A. Davis Ford. Harrison.
Higbie Lamy. Siebert, Sheppard, Stranahan
and White. The absentees were Bracket and
Stewart.
When the caucus adjourned one of the Sena-
tors said that the only reason assigned by the
leader for the adoption Of the bill as n party
measure was that Governor Black wanted it.
we answered this proposition" said he. "by
showing. thought concusively that the
measure was not necessary In order TO give the
Governor his kind of Civil Service examinations.
We pointed out also that the decision the Court
OF Appeals rendered yesterday made the bill un-
necessary. but the leaders were beyond all reason
and have determined to jam the bill through
the Legislature"
The present programme Is to put the bill
through the Senate tomorrow and the Assem-
bly, on Friday.