New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-04
THE CANAL BILL PASSED
ASSEMBLY VOTES TO DELEGATE IT'S
POWER OF INVESTIGATION.
A DEMOCRAT WHO WAS ExULTING IN THE PROS
PECT OF POLITICAL CAPITAL MET WITH
A sTINGING REPLY-sIx AMEND
MENrs DEFEATED
fsY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrsuNE.1


Albany. Feb. 3.-Governor Blacks Canal Com
mission bill passed by the Assembly to-
day. Notwithstanding doubt as to the Constltu-
tional authority OF the Legislature to delegate
TO any other body its right TO make investiga-
tons. AS for Mr. Weekes's resolution requesting
the Attorney General to give an opinion az 10
the constitutonality OF the measure. that was
permitted to rest unheeded on the table II any
canal contra tor should decline TO give testi-
mony as TO his profits under the S9.oO.Opo
canal Improvement scheme. possibly the entire
investigator proposed would be blocked. but the
leaders Of the Republican majority decided to
take the risk rather than have a legislative in
vestigation.
vAn interesting circumstance OF the debate On
the bin the assertion OF a Democratic
speaker that the State would be carried by the
Democratic party this fall on the canal issue"
Mr.. Nixon. the Republican leader. at on e re-
piled that the Republican party was not afraid
10 meet the Democracy on the so-called canal
issue. but there greater issue now before
the people of this State Two weeks ago there
did promise 10 be a contest over the question OK
irnprovn, the States canals. but now the ISSUE
before the voters whether or not the state
Of NewYork should be committed to the doc
trine Of the free coinage Of silver. Senator Mur-
tion had made this the great question Of the
fall campaign Voters would not forget IT. They
would not elect a silver Democrat as United
States Senator. They would send to Washing
ton a sound-money Republican to sustain the
Administration OF william Mckinley.
The Canal Commission bill passed the Assem-
bly, to-day by a vote OF - to 66 The vote was
a strictly party one, except in the case OF AS
sembyma1 Weekes. OF New-York. a Citizens
Union Republican. who voted with the Demo-
Gratis in opposition to the Governors bill
Previous to the consideration Of the measure.
which seriously debated FOR nearly Ave
hours Mr. Nixon. leader Of the Republicans.
moved a call Of the House. in order to corral
the full Republican vote. This occupied fully
hour al because Mr. Coughtry. oc Albany.
a member. became interested In war relics
displayed the top floor Of the Capitol which
he could have examined any other day. lie
could not be found by the sergeant-at-arms
for an hour until. finally ne was espied among
these war relics.
The Democratic opposition 10 the bill
pressed by Offering amendments to various Sec
tons These amendments were voted down by
a strict party vote. except the one proposed by
Mr. Palmer. which received the affirmative vote
Of Mr.. Tiffany. a Republican from Kings
County
With the amendments disposed q the hill
taken up and debated a. length Iy Messrs.
Redngton, Palmer and Donney. on the Demo-
cratic side Of the House and Messrs. Nixon.
Marshall, Hill, Armstrong and Fish. OF the
Republicans. Mr. Hill made able speech In
defence Of the constitutlonaty OF the act N the
Legislature In delegatng its investigating pow
ers to committee Of citizens. Mr. Nixon
summed UP the debate In the most stirring
speech he has made since assuming the leader
ship Of the majority year ago.
The bill was passed by vote II - % Gb Mr.
Weekes voted with the Democrats as did Mr.
Seligsberg. National Democrat Mr Laimbeer.
Citizens Union Republican, and Mr.. Fofd5 ce.
Republican, were absent
The bill provides that the Governor shall ap-
point Investigating commission NJ not less
than five nor more than seven members who
shall examine the contracts made and the work
done under the - 600 600 appropriation and re-
port by June ! or by July l. n the Governor
chooses to extend the time til then. whether
the money already spent has been properly
spent. and whether any more money r. needed -
complete the canal Improvements The report OF
the commission is 10 be made public