The evening times., 1899-02-17
ORGANIZING war
upon ROOSEVELT
New York State Senators Give
Utterance to Grievances.
Recalcitrants Cropping Out Boldly
in Party Caucus.
Police and Civil Service Bills En-
dorsed by the Governor Threat
ened With Defeat.


is going to drive the senate, he can have
all the fight he wants.
This remark was made by a Republican
senator yesterday at the conclusion of the
| Republican senate caucus and can be taken
as semi official declaration of war. Rumb
lings of war, in fact. have been growing
louder all day. and the situation has been
! changing rapidly. Prominent Republicans
declared at noon that all signs of oppoSi-
| tion to Capitol Commissioner and State
Architect Helms had disappeared, and that
Mr.. Helms would be confirmed next Tues
day. Within a half hour of that time it
was being demonstrated in a caucus of the
Republican senators that the Root police
bills had new opposition, and that the
governors civil service bill could only be
passed in the senate under the party lash.
The caucus was not expected. 1t was
celled during the morning session by the
caucus committee when it was discovered
that twenty-siX of the twenty-seven sena-
tors were in their seats. so that none of
them could get away, and was held imme-
diately after the adjournment
Senator Malby. who is dissatisfied with
many things in the Republican party, was
called to the chair The only absentee was
Senator Johnson. who represents Mr.
Platts district. Ii was announced that the
caucus was only preliminary, for discus
sion, and that the only matters discussed
at any length were the police bills, the
civil service bill, Senator Raines' bill to
prohibit the sale OF liquor with meals on
Sunday and the proposed $500. 600 appro-
prlation for a State exhibit at the Buffalo
Pan American Exposition
During the caucus Senator Coggshall said
that there was too much interference with
the legislature in the matter of appropria-
tions and other things and that the sooner
the Senate stood en- its own bottom and
the governor found it out, the better 1t
would be for all concerned. Senator Malby
acquiesced in this view
Senator Ford of New York expressed
himself as opposed to the police bills in
their present shape. Senator Ford's 5 oppo-
sition, added 10 that which Senators Coggs-
hall and Nalby are expected TO make
leaves but twenty-four republican votes.
two less than are needed to pass the bills
Some of the senators who favor the po-
lice bills wanted Senator Ellsworth TO offer
a resolution declaring them TO be party
measures in order 10 give the rebellious
senators a chance TO bolt the caucus il
they dared. Senator Ellsworth. however
hesitated 10 take such step. The weak
ness of this leadership encouraged the op-
position to the police bills, and they can
| only be passed under extraordinary pres
sure
Governor Roosevelt's civil service bill
met with a reception somewhat resembling
| the weather in New Jersey early this week
| Few senators spoke of it with enthusiasm.
and so many amendments were suggested
| that the discussion was soon dropped. 4
| senator who is very friendly TO the gov
| ernor expressed this opinion:
| Il believe the police bills have a better
| chance or passing than the civil service
bill
| The governors pet measure" was thus
/ left hung up between earth and sky and
| the caucus proceeded to debate the excise
| question. This naturally led to a discus
! sion of Senator Raines' no-liquor- with
| Sunday meals amendment, and this in turn
| developed an exchange of views as TO max
| ing the Sunday laws more liberal. Talk on
! these topics developed two new things
that Senator RaineS' bill will
only get one Republican vote, unless Mr.
Platt comes out for il, and that if there is
any excise legislation this year it will be
| in the direction of more liberality.
Finally the caucus took up the appro-
priation for the Pan-American Exposition
| 1t was stated by Senator Higgins that the
| demands for extraordinary appropriations
| were so great that the expenses would be
| far heavier than last year, and that the
| tax rate would be much higher The eau
! Gus decided 10 appropriate $500, 900 for the
| Buffalo show. and TO have half taken out
| of the tax rate this year and half next
The net result of the caucus is not en-
| couraging for the governor and unques-
tionably he will have to depart from his
policy of not interfering with legislation
| so FAR as the police and civil service bills
are concerned AS the senate is now there
| is an apparent majority against both of
| these reforms, and Tammany stands to
win.
Tammany is at work quietly seeking to
force amendments. The amendment most
desired is the striking out of that clause
| giving the governor power TO remove the
| police commissioner for Interference in
| elections. If this amendment cannot be
mad then Tammany wants provision per-
mittinS the removal of the commissioner
| only after trial. Failing in this Tammany
| purposes killing the bills
In the crisis that has suddenly come in
! the affairs of his administration, Governor
| Roosevelt will naturally look to Senator
! Platt and State Chairman Odell perhaps
| The governor is going to New York to-
morrow He will review the Seventh Regi-
ment and make a speech at the dinner
TO be given by Elihu Root at the Union
! League Club TO Joseph II. Choate, Ambas-
sador TO the Court of st. James, on Friday
night He Will consult with Senator Platt
and Chairman Odell on Saturday.
A prominent member of the State ma
chine said today that he thought there
would be big row and that the legislature
was NOT likely TO adjourn on March 81