New-York tribune., 1903-04-18
ELSBERG TELLS OF PLOT.
SAYS HE Is SPIED ON.
But His Efforts to Hold Up As
sembly Bills PrOUe Futile.
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

Albany, April 1.-THE hostilites of yesterday
in the State Senate over the nomination OF
FEank NJ. Baker for State Railroad Commits
sioner were continued to-day. The i'll feeling
cropped out frequently. The Senate had scarce
ly met when Senator Esberg, one of the Re
publican insurgent Senators of yesterday. gave
notice that he would object to the substitution
of any bill from the Assembly for Senate bill
the order of third reading, and would insist
upon all bills taking their usual course.
The New-York Senator created Furthermore.
something of a sensation when he told of a
system of espionage in which he said page
boys employed. Senator Elsberg finally
aroused the wrath of Senator Ranes and the
debate soon drifted into an interchange of per
sonaI invective.
In explaining his reason for blocking certain
Assembly bills in retaliation Senator Esherg
said
deem it proper to make a short statement,
because, possibly, my action from this time on
for the balance of the session may affect the
action of the Senate upon messages from the
Assembly. Yesterday, while the debate was
going in this Senate which had nothing to
do with legislation that pending in the
Assembly. word was sent to me that unless GER
tain things were done here certain action would
be taken there upon legislation in which
interested. I am credibly informed that
within half a minute after my vote was cast
here yesterday six page boys were in the course
of foot race with each other to see which
could be first to carry the information to the
Assembly Chamber to how that vote of mine
had been cast.
I am informed further that Immediately there
after the Speaker of the Assembly recognized a
member of the Assembly, who at the time 1
believe. absorbed in writing a letter. to
make motion to lay aside bill of mine which
pending at the time. and 1t imme
da tely laid aside
Mr.. EIsberg was interrupted here by Senator
Raines. who said
I beg leave to interrupt the Senator to say
that under all Parliamentary law. Senator is
not permitted to criticise the action of the As
sembly or of its Speaker.
To this Senator Elsberg answered:
not criticising the action of anybody I
am stating simply facts.
Mr.. Elsberg continued to object to the substi-
tuition Of Assembly bills. and then several bills
of c.. ". Smith were received relating to the
poor of Fulton County, unimportant in theln-
selves from party standpoint. These We're
objected to, and Mr.. Raines moved that they
be referred to the committee of the whole MT.
Bracket objected, but the motion was carried.
Senator Bracket said that the action of Sena-
tor Raines was offensive, but that he could i've
under an autocratic form of government, as well
a democratic form, and added:
But there is man in this body, and only
one man, who cannot make an ordinary motion
without gratuitously insulting his fellow Sena-
tors
THE Senator has a perfect liberty" replied
Senator Raines, ito wash the scars on his back
whenever and wherever he pleases
The motion to abandon the order of business
was carried by a vote of % ayes TO D noes. The
independent trio, with Senators McCarren and
Martin, voted in the negative