New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
GRADY BLOCKS SENATE.
APPARENT SCHEME TO DELAY ACTION
ON CITY BILLS
ELLSWORTH AND OTHERS RETURNING
WHILE SESSION CONTINUES BEHIND
CLOSED DOORS.
TBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE. !


BY TELEGRAPH TRIBUNE.l
Albany. March Ex-senator Grady succeeded
in tying up the State Senate in remarkable
fashion to-day. He pointed out that, owing TO
the absence of half of the members
of the Senate. quorum present, and
therefore no business of importance could be
transacted The consequence of this action OF
Senator Grady to compel the Republicans
of the Senate to order a call of the Senate, and
practically to call in Senators from all over the
State. AS most of the Senators, including Sena-
tor Ellsworth, the Republican leader In the SEN
ate had departed for their homes the issuing
of the call caused great inconvenience TO
them At a late hour tonight Senators ELS
worth and Mackey. after three hundred mile
Journey to Buffalo speeding back here;
and somewhere between here and Syracuse Two
ether Senatorg-Armstrong. Of Rochester and
Stranahan of Fulton Cswego County, were on
their way to Albany after only an hours stay
at home. One Senator Mr.. Thornton was
caught at Goshen, in Orange County anu ne
has arranged to get back to Albany.
Senator Gradys object in calling attention 10
the fact that quorum was present Is peie'eu
TO have been to prevent committee reports OH
large number Of Assembly and Senate bills re-
latng to New York, and thus TO prevent 'hei'
getting to the State Printer and on the files OF
the Senate II the Legislature is to adjourn on
March 81 Senator Grady desires as large
number of bills as possible left in Mayor van
Wyck's hands to veto. Besides there are o'her
bills whose passage Senator Grady desires 10
delay.
EILSWORTH'S ABSENCE CRITICISED.
The Republican Senators were much chagrineo
over the absence of Senator Ellsworth, as Ior
several days previously he had been oecialiii-
ing in favor of having every one present at the
session of the Senate on Friday, and yet at inns
time he was absent and the Senate was unaoie
to transact business. Senator Grady argued
that there was a general agreement that no
business should be transacted, but senator
Malby contended that. the contrary 1t had
been agreed that every one who could possibly
attend the Friday session should be present
and hasten the work of the session.
Senator Malby manifested the keenest inter-
est in pure beer bill introduced by Assembly
man Stevens, of Franklin County. This DILL
which was recently passed by the Assembly,
declares that in case brewers manufacture any
beer ale or porter from any material "other
than pure barley, malt, pure hops or pure ex-
tract of hops. pure yeast. pure water or pure
cereal products made only of wheat or corn,
they shall label the casks bottles containing
1t with the word inferior"
Further, the bill contains the remarkable pro-
vision that liquor dealers who sell such liquor
shall display a printed sign which the words
Inferior fernented liquors sold here shall be
inscribed. Lieutenant Governor Woodruff re-
ferred this remarkable measure to the Commit
tee Public Health An objection was made
to this reference by Senator Coggeshall. who
moved that the bill should be referred to the
Committee on Taxation and Retrenchment A
contest followed over the reference, Senator
Armstrong asserting that Lieutenant Governor
Woodruffs reference had been correct. Sena-
tor Coggeshall reproached Senator Armstrong
with not being friendly to the agricultural in
terests, which were in favor of this bill. AS
raiser of hops he knew how much the farmers
desired the passage Of this measure
GRADY's INVITATION TO DEPART.
Senator Raines moved that the Senate should
adjourn. There was protest against this
ton from Senators Malby. Coggeshall and
Brown and before the Senate could act on the
motion Senator Grady said: Il would like to in
form the Senators that the Empire State ex-
press going West is trihe late"
Senators laughed. but nevertheless. Senator
Ellsworth, Stranahan, Armstrong Mackey and
Raines left the Senate Chamber to take the
westward bound train, while others departed
for southwark bound trains.
Senators Coggeshall and Brown then criticised
these Senators for shrking their duty. The
former called attention to the fact that after
protesting against the action of the Senators
who yesterday asked to be excused from to-
days session, these very Senators had desert
ed their posts of duty. He said he would move
for call Of the Senate to let this responsible
ity rest where it belonged. The session was
nearing it's close and there important leg
isation to be considered. Senator Donnelly. in
reply denied that there any intention of
doing much work to-day. Senator Malby de-
manded action on the pure beer bill.
Senator Elsberg called attention to the fact
that the Fallows and Ramapo bill and the
Coler- Whalen Confession of Judgment bills had
already been made special orders for Monday
night. He maintained that the action of the
Senate should not be construed as a criticism
upon those who were present yesterday and
had asked to be excused, but rather upon those
who had been present to-day and had left the
Senate.
Senator Grady raised the point that a quorum
was not present. Any reference made to-day
by twenty-three Senators. he said. would be
reversed at the first opportunity by fifty. He
asked for the ayes and noes on a motion of
Senator Malby for call of the Senate.
A LONG SECRET SESSION
Senator McCarren then moved to amend Sen
ator Maby's motion for call of the Senate by
making it a close call. Senator Malby accepted
the amendment, and the motion carried
by vote of 16 to >. close call then
dered. and even the reporters and clerks were
barred from the Senate Chamber while the
Sergeant at Arms dispatched to look up
the missing Senators.
The Senators present when the doors were
closed were Messrs. Grady. Brown Bracket
Donnelly, Ford, CoggeshaN, Norton, Elsberg
McCarren Munzinger Malby. Amber, Marshall
Martin, Graney, Boyce Feeler, Sulli, an Wilcox,
Krum Higgins. Willis and Johnson Those who
were present during the morning but who had
escaped by train were Messrs. Ellsworth,
Raines, Armstrong, Stranahan. Humphrey, G.
A Davis, D. F. Davis Thornton, Mackey and
n haV ms