New-York tribune., 1903-04-24
G1S BILL CATCHES FIRE.
The Remsen Measure Passes Senate
ONLY after Heated Debate.

Albany. April 23.-The most intensely exciting
scene of the entire session was enacted to-day in
the Senate attending the passage of the Remsen
East River Gas Company bill Charges of i'm
proper influence. bitter personal repartee and
general recrimination characterized the episode.
which made the more sensational by the
fact that the supplementary supply and appro-
priation bills were on the calendar behind the
Remsen BILL and in imminent peril of being
caught by the arrival of the hour Of adjourn
nent. The clock was stopped at 12:45, but every
moment of the 1eeting time was of incalculable
Importance When the bill finally came up Sen
ators Bracket and Elsberg surpassed all their
previous efforts in their concentration against
the measure. They exhausted every pariiamen-
tary expedient 10 retard it. and when accused OF
risking the fate Of public measures in their op-
position to the bill they retorted that the re-
sponsibility for any failure of public bills must
rest upon those who at the last moment Of the
session forced the passage of purely private
BILL whose import no man knew
IF this had been proper BILL declared Sen
ator Bracket -it would have come before us
long ago. It is brought before US in the hurry
and intensity of the last hour Of the last day OF
the session The prsmonitory symptoms all in
dicate to me that the bill is going to pass If 1t IS
brought to vote We intend to use every
means in our power to prevent its coming TO
vote 1t may be as pure and white as snow II
NAV he as black as midnight. but no bill of
whose character no person can be advised except
it's sponsors Should he passed at this late hour
Senator McCarren. who was chief spokesman
for the bill. insisted that Senator Bracket
should bear the brunt of the burden II the pub
lie appropriation bills failed to pass
As we'll might a burglar in my house say
retorted Senator Bracket. as he was getting
away with my property that upon me would De
the responsibility for a disturbance Of the pub
lie peace If I tried to stop him"
Suddenly Senator McCarren leaped 70 his feet
and cried: Mr.. President, there are persons on
this floor not entitled 10 its privileges who are
interfering with legislation This is the first
time in my legislative experience that 1 have
made such an accusation
The Lieutenant Governor ordered the floor and
Hobbies cleared When the rollcall on the Dill
was finally reached. in spite Of the strenuous
efforts of the opposition. sharp passage at
arms occurred between Senators Elsberg ana
Foley. The latter had referred bitterly TO the
+orroer,e opposition TO the bill as 'semi-hys-
tericaI~ and when Senator Elsberg's name was
called he devoted his attention briefly 20 Senator
Foley. whose opinion of him or of any person
held in his esteem was. he declared. a matter OF
profound Indifference TO him
Senator Foley retorted with even greater acri-
rnOny.
Senator Grady said he was opposed 10 the bill
and agreed with all that had been said against
II. He believed. however, that all necessary op-
position would be brought before the Governor
and before the Mayor in case the bill had TO be
sent 70 the latter and he should content him
self with voting against it
Senator McCarren sought TO defend the meas
ure which. he declared, contained no mischiev-
Gus or improper provisions he asserted that u
ei-r7nIz- allowed the East River Gas Company. al
reafy operatfng under franchise. TO extend It's
lines into the old wards or New-fork CItY- II
aid 40 nothing. he said without the nermis-
sion of the authorities o., . -
The bill was then passed by vote OF o. 10 d.
which ir detail is follows;