New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-02
CAUCUS CAN'T BIND THEM.
MALBY AND BRACKETT KICK OVER
PARTY TRACES
THE BIENNIAL. SESSIONS AMENDMENT IN
DORSED BY REPUBLICAN SEN
ATORs. BUT THESE TWO
WON'T SUPPORT 1T.
by TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBUNEl

GBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Albany. March 1.-The Republican Senators
held caucus this afternoon which 1t was gem
orally supposed would be limited to a considera-
ton Of the New-York Police Department bills,
but when the Senators emerged from the caucus
room after being in secret conference for over
three hours. II was learned that the only meas
ure whose merits were del ated was the proposed
amendment to the Constitution providing for
biennial sessions Of the Legislature Further Il
was learned that two Of the Senator'S. George
r Malby Of St Lawrence County. and Edgar
T Bracket. had not only opposed the suggested
amendment as inimical TO the interests Of the
people. but had declared that IT was improper
10 make a caucus question Of such a grave mat
ter as the amending Of the Constitution. and
that therefore. they would not be bound by
such decision. The other rural Republican
Senators under the lead Of Senator Ellsworth,
pressed the adoption Of the amendment as
party measure" and finally outvoted the city
Republicans present who generally opposed 1t.
Finally. by the votes OF the rural Republicans
present with the exception OF Senators Malby
and Bracket who left the room, It was adopted.
The Republican party has twenty-seven votes
in the Senate BY the action Of the Republican
caucus twenty five votes are pledged to the sup
port OF the amendment. It will take twenty -siX
votes TO pass the measure II Senators Malby
and Bracket maintain their present attitude
the vote OF at Least one Democrat must be OBJ
tanned TO pass IT,
When the amendment pending before the
Legislature Of 1898 the Democratic Senators
opposed H. but under orders from Richard
Croker the Democratic Assemblymen voted for
it, Then David b Hi inserted plank in the
platform Of the Democratic State Convention
which read follows:
We favor the passage by the next Legislature
OF the pending constitutional amendment pro-
VidinC fO&r biennial legislative sessions
Some Of the Democratic Senators said to-day
after they heard Of the action Of the Republi-
cans. that while they. OF course favored the
amendment nevertheless they thought it ought
10 he amended by giving the Governor four
year term, the same as the State Senators as
provided by the amendment.
Senator Plunkitt boldly announced that he
was willing to make deal" He said: Il Will
give the Republicans two votes for this biennial
amendment If they will drop the Police bill"
Senator Malby said this afternoon after the
| conclusion of the caucus: Il will not under any
| circumstances. support the biennial sessions
amendment and I regard the making Of it
| caucus measure most indefensible. There was
/ a large proportion OF the Senators there VINO
| onnosod TO this amendment and yet in such a
serious matter as the amending OF the state $
| Constitution they were called upon 10 DO" u
the decision Of a caucus
..This is far too large a state, with too many
vast interests concerned, to permit or us Sdl"lE
| holding a session OF its Legislature only once
in two years We expend millions of dollars
yearly upon State institutions, the state depart
meuts eXpend other millions our budget ANU
aflv amounts 10 over S2O.OpO.oO. The Legs
lature audits these accounts. and, therefore,, lle
| interests of the taxpayer are protected. Al the
| recent hearing on this amendment In TINS Guy
/ nv the Senate Judiciary Committee, not one per
son appeared in favor OF IT, Is tnat an er 5s'i0
| OF popular desire that II should be passed
| Senator Ellsworth the Republican leader. SAID
| he was only at liberty 10 say regarding ue Ga "a,
! Gus that Il had been deemed best 10 mari 1,l'
! biennial sessions amendment N"uN"' '
! ure." , mo
Senator Bracket stated for several weeks pre-
! vloue 20 the holding OF the caucus ina INA, ~ ~
| was opposed to the amendment ana sn3uu VI,
OH IN his power 10 defeat Il. Senators higgins
| White and Krum have steadily supporter ~,
! tbeir idea being that too many laws are pasSeu
10y the Legislature. ana that there h,rId ne
! less money expended 10y II II there sh"ulu ~"
! a session only once IN two years.
! senator Ellsworth tonight asked the SeHa' ~
Finance Committee to report laVoIaolS ~
a,1endnent Senator Bracket moved that an
| amendment be adopted compelling the cover
nor 10 call n session in the of years II ma,
tor,tv NJ the members Of the Legislature demand
it, Senator Bracket kep2 anu ea. ~,
| GRADY Mackey and Mitchell voted Tor IN,
amendment but # was rejected by the votes o.
| Senator'S Brown Krum, Marshall, f-lsoere. +
c. Davis. Thornton and Ellsworth by me SAM ,be
| vote reversed Il was resolved 10 report lhe
amendment favorahly ,.,.. -o,, 90.
Senator Grady, the Democratic leader' salu 10 ~,
night: I'VE Democrats regard the ple'Il I'M
! amendment as imperfect. and. therefore VIII
,0t vote for H. When the remainder OF the
! Constitution IS made 10 conform 10 1t we shal
gladly vote for IT,"
T.