New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-29
BIENNIAL SESSIONS DEAD.
RESOLUTIONS ONE VOTE SHORT OF A
MAJORITY.
MALBY BRACKETT AND WILLIS STILL
DESERTERs FROM THEIR PARTY
FEATI'REs OF THE DEBATE


Albany March 2S.-The proposed amendment
20 the Constitution providing for biennial SEES
sions Of the Legislature was defeated in the SEN
ate to-day owing TO it's not receiving a sufficient
number OF votes In accordance with the Con-
stitution every bill passing the Senate must re-
ceive at least twenty-six votes This measure re-
ceived only twenty five votes on a motion 10 take
q from the table and was then abandoned. II be
ing clear II could not pass The resolutions were
approved by the Legislature Of 1895. and. II they
had been adopted by the present Legislature.
would have been submitted to the people at next
falls election.
They were opposed to-day by Senators
Bracket Maby and Willis Republicans. and by
twenty-one Democrats. These men cast twenty
four votes against the amendment being taken
from the table. where it was placed last Friday.
Virtually this was a vote against the biennial
proposition.
There were twenty-four Republicans and one
Democrat-Senator McCarren-who voted 10
take the amendment from the table. and sub
stantialy showed that they favored 1t.
SPECIAL AGREEMENT.
Scarcely had the journal Of last nights pro-
ceedings been read in the Senate to-day wheh
the fight over the biennial sessions resolutions
made a special order for this morning Senator
Ellsworth moved an open call Of the House be
fore this motion was put Senator Grady asked
for leave Of absence for Senator Graney, one OF
the opponents Of tho resolutions This was
granted The roll was called and it was found
that Senator Graney the only absentee
Senator Ellsworth then moved 10 take the reso-
lutions from the table Before this motion was
oil LODI At ton To o
ment OF last week TO the effect that II the mo-
ton 10 take from the table d. not receive TWEEN
ty-six votes-a majority-the resolutions would
he considered defeated
Senator stranahan. who fathered the resolu-
tons this session. made an urgent plea FOR the
adoption Of the motion. He bemoaned the fact
that i, was likely 20 be defeated, because he be-
lieved that the adoption Of the resolutions would
he n practical reform Failure 10 pass the reso-
lutions would not strengthen the faith ~ the
people I'm the promises ~ me Democratic party
as the platform adopted by that party last fall
emphaticary declared in favor OF no; only bien-
Nal sessions but also in favor u the biennial
sessions resolutions that were under considera-
tion.
II was his opinion that the people Of the State
We're nearer the realization Of biennial sessions
than they would be- again I'm twenty years. X
was his Judgment that tvo-thrds OF the people
OF the state would vote for biennial sessions II
the opportunity We're afforded them.
There was no honest and serious opposition
20 the resolutions that had not been engendered
boy the people OF Albany County II was well
known that the people OF Albany did not want
10 lose the legislative pap that they had enjoyed
for years and that was the reason they were OPP
posed 20 the proposition
DEMOCRACY AND LABOR
Senator Grady admitted tina, his party last
fall had declared for biennial sessions bu, that
declaration did not mean that the representa-
tives of the Democratic party should Doe bound
TO vote for resolutions that were imperfect He
pointed out that since his party had declared
for biennial sessions. the labor people had unani-
mously declared against the proposition. The
representatives Of those people must heed their
wishes he said and vote agans; the resolu-
lions.
Senator Douglas spoke against the measure.
He said il was all right. he supposed for n per
son 10 impugn the motives and the honesty Of
the Democratic party when that person belonged
10 party that had arranged the Senate dis
tricts that twenty-seven Republican Senator'S
received fewer votes than twenty-three Demo
cratic Senators.
ire
senator Malby delved into history 20 show
that revolutions had inevitably been engcnd"red
10y the fact that people Were not represented IN
the affairs Of their country or state.
This State was So large In every particular that
sessions of tho Legislature were neces-
sary ~ meet tho eXigencies that We're arising all
the while
senator White said the only thing the Sen
ators favorine the proposition asked was MAT
the people have an opportunity 10 pass on %.
N.,r. Itaif rII
her sister States in the march ~ progressive
legislation. All bur six states i'm the Union had
biennial sessions and II was time New-York
state got into line
RIDING THE SAME OLD ANIMAL
Senator Brown remarked that the historic
donkey was again exposed 20 view. with tho
rider facing one way and the donkey going tho
other way This was a reference 10 Senator
Grady and the Democratic platform He then
ATTEMPTED defence q the caucus action making
this amendment party measure
Senator Bracket here Interrupted To inquire
.Wiu the Senator define what he believes 10 be
proper caucus measures What measure has
been before this body which has not been eau
The Amstcrdam-avc BILL" promptly an
svered senator Brown.
-If the Senator cares 10 rest his answer upon
that assertion. am content was Senator
Later Senator Malhy inquired Did You or
ala YOU not vote for annual sessions IN the Con
stitutional ConVcnuon'
Senator Brown said he had no recollection NJ
what occurred I'm that body on this question. II"
called upon Senator Malhy 20 produce the rec
ord and Senator Malby said he found the prop
osition for annual sessions passed boy vote ~
rs 10 : And IL is with much pleasure he
added that find Senator Brown voting for an
1ual sessions"
The debate was then closed and vote was
Z he M %
he table The result was twenty-five af1rma-
i've and twonty-four negative votes. Under the
agreement made last Thursday. that " ms mo
ion did not receive twenty-siX votes. or sum
'iont number 10 pass the resolutions u should
,e considered lost and the resolutions killed for
he rest Of the session. Lieutenant Governor
Woodruff SO declared.
.r,rrL EITL u