New-York tribune., 1899-03-28
WORK CUT OUT FOR PLATT.
CAN HE CHECKMATE CROKER And THE
REPUBLICAN, BOLTERSt
TAMMANY's POWER At ALBANY LARGELY
DIE TO PLATT'S own A,T1ON ~
CREATING THE GREATER
NEW YORK
fnr TELEGRAPH 70 THE rninr~r J

inY TELEGRAPH 10 THE rrBrNr
Albany March 21.-Governor Roosevelrs rc-
form legislation may be truly snid to be oked
by Richard Croker. Crokcrs opposition explains
why the bills for reforming the New-York Police
Department ana thosc relating to rapid transit
and the civil Service are not passing the Legis-
laturc This may be an admission that Croker
has sufficient influence with certain members of
the Republican majority in the Legislature TO
/ induce them 10 vote against tho leading meas
ures desired by the Republican Governor but it
must in all canior be made. Moreover. bills
whose passage is desired by Croker. such
Senator Ahearn's. increasing the salaries OF the
school teachers Of New-York are making prog
rcss. although IT Is known that the Governor re-
CARDS this act open invasion Of home rule
rights
Meanwhile senator Platt appears 10 be- bound
in chains which be himself forged. Whether he
is bound or not this week will disclose. He
jammed through the New-York city Charter.
and gave Croker the vast political power which
ne now wields at Albany. Senator Platts visit
here tomorrow. TO see II he cannot, after
strengthening croker. overcome him and save
Roosevelt's reform measures. - interesting in
more than one respect. The Tammany Senator'S
and Assemblyman may be said to be armed
out Of Senator Platts own armory.
SITUATION or THE POLICE BILLS
The chief Of the Roosevelt reform measures
late directly or Indirectly TO the Police Depart
ment Of New-York In letters which Senator
Platt has recently sent here ne indicates more
concern about the passage Of these bills than
any others before the Legislature. The Governor
also seems % be more desrous ~ passing these
measures and the one repeating the Black CIVIL
Service act than any others which are under dis
cusson here. Directly and Indirectly he has
recommended to legislators the passage Of these
bills He expressed to the newspaper corre-
spondents to-day the deep satisfaction he felt
over the PASSAGE by the Senate last week OF the
New York Police bill. which gives him authority
al the request Of the Superintendent Of Elections
and Of the Attorney General. to call an eXtraOr-
binary term Of the Supreme Court for the trial
Of election cases in New-York city. This bIH
will be passed by the Assembly. where the Re-
publican majority Is large. this week
Tammany Hall is savagey fighting the other
measures relating to the Police Department and
owing to the small Republican majority in the
Senate Is having some success in obstructng
their progress. In this 1t is aided by Senators
Coggeshau and Wilcox. Republicans. II is not
known positively however. that Coggeshall and
Wilcox will oppose all the New-York Police bills
Toward only one Of them-that establishing
81 lp-l headed f0llCe
openly evinced hostility. They voted with ther
Republican comrades in favor Of the bill already
referred to for the speedy trial OF election cases
in New York They may also support the nlll
separating the Bureau or Elections lr"ih '"e
Board OF Police ~
Lemuel l.. Qugg. president Of the New k ork
County Republican Committee. mas peen me- ~
for two weeks pushing with great rhtrES w
Single headed Police Commission blH ana 'he
bill separating the Bureau II Elections from me
polio. Department. There is also suspicion
hat. Nfr sferp vi
upon senator D. +. Daviss bill establishing
State constabulary. and that this ID may De
pressed by him II the measure regarding d SIN
Sle-headed police department iaiIs % pass
WAR OK ELECTION FRAUDS.
Another OF the bills in which Governor Roose-
Welt and Senator Platt interested is that
which gives the Superintendent Of Elections
POO more deputies. making 500 in all and in
creases his pow to follow up election offenders.
n the Governors opinion no recent act has 50
sool justified itself as the one passed at the spe
cial session Of the Legislature in 1s9S creating the
Departm, m,nt Of Elections Lrder Superintendent;
McCullagh. and he would greatly strengthen
IT, Doubtless he IS thinking Of the National
election Of 1900 and the desperate efforts Croker
will then make to increase New-Nork CITY
fllcgel Democratic vote The Governor. II may
be said owes his election TO the prevention or
election frauds in Naw-Ycrk last fall. OF course.
the Tammany Senators and Assent lymen are
violently opposed 10 this ILL.,
1t is presumed that ,h'y are also OPP osed 10
the civil Service bill introduced by senator
White Of Syracuse The Governor says Sena-
tor White has done an admirable piece or work
The measure IS openly opposed by Senator
Amber apparently because 1t repeals Governor
Blacks "Starchlcss'' Civil Service law. senator
Amber was nominated for Senator by Louis r
Payn. Superintendent Of the Insurance Depart
men;. who brought about the nomination or
Frar X :. Black for Governor Mr Payn' IL
would appear does not want the Black law re-
la1 (OggpSlaI SneereQ
White bill last week ald there are fears that
he may oppose IT, II he does. with Tammany
aid it will be defeated.
BATTLE OF THE GIANTS.
Senator Platt viii find when he reaches Al
bany that he has put Croker behind some big
intrenchments, and supplied him with rifed can
non Of the largest description. Governor Roose-
Welt may therefore become one Of the victims OF
the Greater New-York act HIS friends. how
ever. still hope that Mr.. Patt will be able to
defeat Croker and that no unfortunate rumor
of a deal" between rival political chleftalns 10
leave Tammany undisturbed Will arise MT
Croker is in position 10 make war or grant
peace as it serves his purpose.
Senator Platt will arrive In this city to-mor-
row Mrs Platt will be unable 10 accompany
him II is expected that he viii remain at the
Executive mansion as the guest or Governor
and Mrs Roosevelt until the end OF the week
TO BRING THE "SKULKERS' INTO LINE
SENATOR PLATT WILL BE THE GUEST OF COY
rRNoR ROOSEVELT WHILE IN ALBANY.
Senator Thomas c. Plat will go to Albany to-
day and be the guest of Governor Roosevelt for a
few DAYS while he tries TO bring into line some
OF tho Republican members OF the Legislature who
have been spoken Of by Organization men recently
as "skulkers" insurgents" or "highbinders" The (
senator is expected 20 rally the Republican ma J
jority in the Legislature 70 the support Of bills
which the organization has indorsei caucus /
measures He would not talk the subject yes
terday. Last evening he had conference with "A |
few local politicians. and with Il. b. OdeU. jr. /
chairman OF the Republican State Committee. who |
probably will accompany him 10 Albany
MPS STINEOPH NEJTN CFNTRtT piCTEJF !