New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-24
A BREAK IN THE SENATE.
REPUBLICANS FAIL 10 ADVANCE BIZ
ENNIAL SESSIONS BILL. ,s
SENATOR WILLIS sCATHINGLY DENOUNCED
FOR BOLTING THE CAUcUs-A LoNH 4
AND HEATED DEBATE. IN


Albany. March 23.-After a struggle lasting
all the afternoon during which there were
many flashes of angry debate and bitter de-
nuncIation and which disclosed a serious break
in the Republican ranks. the Biennial Sessions
amendment to the Constitution to-day failed TO
be advanced in the Senate The Republicans
who opposed IL were Senator's Brackett, Malpy
and Willis II was expected that the first Two
named would take this course. as they had ne-
clined 10 go into caucus on the measure but
Senator Willis had no such justification to oner
for his conduct, and consequently he was forceo
to listen TO several plain spoken denunclationS'
He attempted defence Of himself but SehA-
tor Bracket and Senator CoggeshaH came I"
his assistance and attempted TO turn the eose
Of the wrath which was hurled at him.
BLACK CRITICISED.
It is possible that one Of the reasons why tns
measure failed to get to third reading Is grow
ing apprehension in the minds or prominent
Republicans that Ex-Governor Black. VINO
forced It through the Legislature Of 1s9s, did
not frame 1t wisely when he gave the Governor
Of the State term OF only two years "hio
according to the State Senator'S a term or rour
years One OF the Republican state onic'a'S
said a few days ago that he did not see no"
Governor could enforce any policy or MS a"-
,ninistration II there was a legislative session
~, only three months. as in 1898. out OF the
tventv-four months of his administration, or
overcoue the resistance OF a hostile Senate.
possibly elected two years before he came into
office.
When the measure was announced TOT oo"->
sideration. Senator Douglas, Democrat onere"
an amendment which had been drawn up py
Senator Brackett, Republican. providing tna'
a majority OF the members OF the Legislature
could summon session in an ON year H. III
their opinion. the interests OF the state shouio
demand il. Senator Brackett is Of the opinion1
that needful balance of power between 'ne
Governor and the Legislature will be destroyed
II there are biennial sessions. and II the pieh-
NAL session scheme is adopted there should be
some means Of impeaching IoNerhoI IL "e
should msbehave himself.
Speeches in favor OF the Biennial Sessions
resolution were made by three rural Republic
cans-Ellsworth Brown and Stranahan-and'
speeches in opposition TO it by Senators Maioy.
ord Rrackatt also rural Republicans. The,
city Republicans, who in the caucus nearly all
opposed the amendment, remained silent. ia
general the argument was made by the Repun-
licans who favored the amendment that a ma
iority Of the States hold biennial sessions with
out bad consequences. On the other hand' tne
Republicans opposing the amendment argued
that New-York was the greatest OF the states
and no Just comparison with other States could
be made in the amount and Importance or its
business. and finally that, the States expendi-
lures having reached a grand total OF over
S2O,OOO,00O annually. the yearly scrutiny ana
audit Of bills by the Legislature was necessary
If there to be an economical governments
and a low State tax rate.
G,,a
Douglas amendment it received twenty-five
votes in its favor. which were cast by Senator'S
Bracket Maby and Willis. Republicans. and
by twenty-five Democrats. There were twenty
five votes cast against it. one of which was
given by Senator McCarren. and twenty-four by,
Republicans. The vote was thus - to p. and
the Douglas amendment was declared 10 be lost
When Senator Stranahan moved that the Com
mlttee of the Whole report the Biennial Sessions
measure favorably the motion was defeated by
a vote Of n to -, Senator Elsberg. who voted
against the Douglas amendment, having de-
parted for New-York.
A long contest followed in the Senate itself
over the disposition of the amendment but
finally 1t was agreed TO lay it on the table and
take it up for final consideration on Tuesday
next What its fate will be no one can now tell.
The biennial sessions resolution seemed likely to1
be advanced in Committee OF the Whole 20 the orr
der Of final passage without discussion this morn
ing, but just as Senator Ford. in the chair. was
about 10 declare It so advanced Senator Bracketti
said he did not want it TO go forward ono step,
without his protest. He wanted it known to aii
men that he was opposed to the bill.
Senator Malby said he thought It was pretty welH
understood that he also opposed TO this bill inl
any form. He had supposed that some amend 4
ments were to be offered by other SenatorS Hel
was irrevocably opposed to the whole scheme. and
there was no for him to propose amendments to1
perfect IT, The only way TO perfect it was to PUT
II into oblivion.
This cast the Senate into much confusion. andl
numerous conferences held in which t wasj
noticeable that the Tammany representatives tooki
no part. Senator Stranahan wanted the Dill ad 4
vanced with the understanding that there mgheS
be full discussion and opportunity for amendmens
on the order of final passage
Senator's Bracket and Douglas protested, anal
finally Senator Douglas offered NUMBER or1
amendments. the most important OF which pro>t
vided that the Governor must convene the Leslsa>,
ture at any time upon n petition signed oy a ma~l
ortv Of the members OF both houses and that az
such snecia session the Legislature might considers!
any business presented. whether suggested by tho
Governor in his message or not.
senator stranahan said that the bill had been pre~
pared with the greatest care after numerous con-s
sutations with the Statutory ReVlsion COMMISSION.
and needed no amendment He could not resist
the conclusion that the amendments were presenteds
for the purpose OF preventing the proposition foc-
biennial sessions from going before the people.
BRACKETS FRANK AVOWAL.
Senator Brackett made an extended speech IN fa-i
vor OF the amendments. He declared in the Begin
ming that he should vote for them In the hope that.
they would kill the bill. He regretted that he,
should be at variance with his party representa-
ba nof tiOuslv
with them at this time. He believed that the adop-
ton OF this proposition would be step backward
in the matter Of representative government. as u
made the Governor OF the State an absolute die
tator for a term OF two years. II, however II was
proposed submit this amendment 70 the Con-
stitution to the people II was necessary that tho
amendments presented by Senator Douglas should
he nassed IN orier 10 obviate ncongruties and In