The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-03
Grady HOLDS UP THE SENATE
TILL ALLOW NO BUSINESS TO BE
TRANSACTED.
democratic senators Decline to Vote and
Republicans Have Not 40 Votes TO
pass Bilis-Row Arose Over Passage
~ stevens Bill while Grady Was Away.

AtHINY, Marcn z'-hinority beaoei
rhomas F. Grady Tonight held up the bust =
80. ~ the State Senate. The Democratic
Sanators will caucus in the morning to
Io,ormine IL they will continue In such atti-
tude.
.hsonces from his legislative duties, nearly
III ~ last week, the Senate passed one OF the
r. "a /, revenue measures desired by Gov.
ndeI 10 effect the complete abolition OF
49, Sta,e tax. This was Senator Stevens
IN amending the Collateral Inheritance
Tar law by including within the scope OF the
"a, real estate requests to hneal descend
ants This would bring in an annual rev.
.r,e estimated from 5000 900 to 81 900, 900,
Ths bill was passed last Thursday. Not a
nouocratic Senator voted against 1t.
No sooner had the calendar Of the Senate
been announced at to-night's session than
Senator Grady introduced privileged
resolution asking the Assembly to return
The Stevens bill in order that 1t might again
h. before the Senate on the order OF final
passage.
Then ensued one OF the most extraordinary
comes that have been witnessed In the
Senate In some years. It finally resulted
IN the Senate abandoning any attempt to
do business because the Democratic Senators
realizing that the Republicans had not the
reo,lired 20 votes present to pass bills,
declined TO vote for even local measures
II appears that when the Stevens bill
nassed the Senate several Democratic
senator's knew Of its purport, but were told
that there was no opposition to 1t. Senator
samuel J. Foley OF New York city, was the
acting minority leader. For some years
mast, when Senator Grady has been absent
from his legislative duties for one and two
weeks at a time the Republican Senate
leaders, out OF courtesy to the minority
leader. have held up party legislation for
those long periods in order that Senator
Grady might be present and lead the
minority in their party opposition to such
measures.
THIS Is the second time that Senator
Grady has been absent this session. He
evidently imagines that the consideration
OF party legislation should be delayed
when and a. often a. he pleases.
But the situation this year. 90 far - the
majority IL concerned. Ii q peculiar one.
The Senate stands % Republicans, % Demo-
Gratis 1t requires 20 votes to pas a bill.
There arc three insurgent Republican
Senstors. Besides, Senator White Of SYRIA
cuse has attended but few sessions this
year, being in poor physical condition.
three weeks has been compelled to watch
hy the bedside OF his wife, who 10 III with
typhoid fever. Senator Elsberg IL now In
New York, owing to illness In his family.
Senator Primo Of Esse1 has weeks leave
Of absence. The other Republican Sena.
tors sbse1t tonight we're M MAJ F.n1, Of
Of CattarauKus. This left the Republicans
With but tventy-one votes. All OF the
twenty-five Democratic were present. with
the exception Of Senator Burton.
Owing to the enforced absenoe Of Lieut.
Gov: Higgins on account OF nness IN ms
NJ senator 0rady's resolution ~
calling the Stsvsns bill from tho Assembly
was put 70 a vote II was Lost only beoanss
Of tho absence OF the twenty -seoond Demo-
aid, Of course, was declared lost. Then
Senator Grady grew indignant. At nrst
no one took him seriously, but - the dis
cussion progressed he grew quite serious.
Il want It understood. said Senator
Grady that the minority rs,s s., the t d,s,
dmple request. This 10 one Of the most
important bills Of the session: InAdvert-
sptly the minority members allowed II to
pass without oomment. Now We simply
ssk for an opportunity TO put ourselves
right upon the record.
minority could put themselves on record
just as much BY voting upon the motion
10 recall the bill a. they could upon the
bill itself. Other members Of the minority
supported the position taken by Senator
Grady, while q number OF Republican
Senators thought that senator Grady was
asking too much in view Of the present
situation. Senator Grady. however,. still
Insisted that the minority was being throt-
ted and urged upon his Democratic col
leagues that as long a. the Republicans
lacked the twenty-six votes TO pass Q bill
70 transact business until the MAORI y
realized that courteous requests OF the
minority should be complied with.
After Senator Grady had stated that he
would not vote for any bill while there
were not twenty-six Republican 81 Aators
present In the chamber. the nrst measure
70 come up on final passage was one intro
duoed BY himself. relating TO the jurisdio-
ton OF Surrogates' courts. After much
talk this bill passed, despite Senator 0rady's
announced determination not to vote for
any measure. even II IL were introduced
BY himself.
81 will not vote for any BILL he said Il
wish 70 warn my Democratic colleagues
tia, am not taking this position here to-
night alone upon the action OF the ma
}ority in refusing TO recall the Stevens
bill
when there are twenty -eight Republican
Senators present every one OF the minority
Senators know with what scant courtesy
even a reasonable request OF the minority
b treated by the majority. All Democratic
Senator 10 permitted 10 do nov n TO intro
duoe a bill and vote unless there are less
than twenty six Republican Senators
present.
'NUw propose that We treat the msyority
When they lack the required numbsr 20 pass
bill the same AZ thsy treat the minority
when IA. minority senator asks for even an
ordinary favor at the hands ~ tbs senate.
! shall tlsnd by this position until the end
II the ssssion. ! insis, that the clark shall
no, feoofd any SENATOR who shall not answer
10 bio nAn,s
Nest came senator MAltby's bill relative
70 iho oompozi Loo Of union fru. school
dlstrlcs II Ilass.,d 10y vote III ~ IA 10,
"a Dsmoorstle sensioy voting for tbs
~ 90 the ehplans,ioh ~ senator hctisi-
And thai hs had given the bill 10 senator
hAltby Tor Introduction Dospiis lhsss
iassHions senator Grady ooniiHusd his
nubustsfihs taliios,
Allu L,si oa.r AsssmllyinAD hossIs's
cal apIifopnailns to0, 0oO "a LAY tbs oouLtIy
i.ssslaIaIs fur publlsl,lns ihs ss~sion
81. las' yeaI