New-York tribune., 1903-04-17
THE FIGHT IN DETAIL.
Rejection of Baker accom- panied By
Sensational Scenes.

Albany. April 1.-THE issue over the Connrmatlon
of Mr.. Baker brought to a point by the minor
ity leader Senator Grady after brief conference
between Messrs. Grady and McCarren Democrats
and Messrs. Elsberg. z. R Brown and Brackett
It had been generally known before the session that
the Railroad Committee had acted Mr.. Bakers
reappointment in executive session and had voted
TO report the nomination favorably, with the at
tached provision that it would be reported a1ter
conference with Senators Raines and Malby In
the committee the Democratic members voted
against reporting the nomination while Senator r.
R Brown refrained from voting.
Mr.. Grady brought the question before the Sen
ate Immediately after the Railroad Committee had
reported the Wilcox omnibus grab bill he sald
it understood that the nomination OF MI
Baker had been acted on, and that the vote was
exceedingly close He asked for immediate re
port because he did not propose to wait for the
Railroad Committee slip in the report when
there were several Democratic Senators absent ana
there would be no question about the confirmation
Mr Grady added that it only fair to Governor
OdeII that the nomination be acted on Immediately
that in the of the rejection Of the appoint
ment the Governor might have an opportunity 70
send in another and have it confirmed pefore
the adjournment of the present session
Senator Bracket asked Senator Wilcox If 1t were
true that a report Mr.. Bakers appointment had
been ordered and that it had been withheld
A rtport has not been prepared replied Sen
ator Wilcox.
But has it been ordered? / simply want TO get
at the bottom of this" said Mr.. Bracket
There was q favorable vote on the nomination
I do not propose to make known all that has oc-
CURED in executive session of the Railroad COM
mittee,' replied Mr.. Wilcox.
And was the provision attached that there first
must be a conference with Messrs. Malby and
Raines?" asked Senator Bracket.
II do not propose to say anything further on the
subject replied Mr.. Wilcox
u have no desire to yank this matter from the
committee, but if there has been a favorable vote
and report it has been ordered there Is no
discourtesy in having the committee dischargea
from the further consideration OF the nomination
concluded Mr.. Brackett
Senator Raines said that for arguments sake he
would assume that a favorable report had been
ordered after consultation with himself and Mr.
Maby. Even then there was no occasion Tor haste
and The action was not without precedent He
earnestly hoped that the motion to discharge the
committee would not prevail
A vote was then taken on the motion to discharge
the committee from further consideration OF the
Baker nomination, and il carried by a vote OF
q to %. Senators Bracket, Z. R Brown and
Elsberg voted with the Democrats and Senators
McCleuand and Amber. who were absent. were
GRADY MOVES REJECTION.
I now move that the nomination Of Frank NJ
Raker for Railroad Commissioner be rejected said
Senator Grady.
And offer an amendment, said Senator Raines
that this motion be laid on the table and TINS
matter be made a special order for next Tuesday
Senator McCarren made point OF order that the
motion to lay on the table was the only one that
could be put, and the chair decided the point well
taken.
NcC1eIland and Amber appeared and the pair was
broken Mr. McCleIland's name was called and he
refused to vote.
period Of excitement followed. in which Senator
! Grady insisted that Mr. McCleIIand should vote
He refused to do so, while several Democratic Sen
ators surged about him explaining the situation
Il have been absent from the chamber and am
rot acquainted with the situation" said Senator
McCIelIand
against this motion" said Senator Grady. That
! ought to be enough for you
Senator Raines moved that Senator McCIelland
be excused from voting. a great deal depended on
I McCIeIand's vote. If it was withheld the matter
could have been tabled the Lieutenant Governor
/ would have broken the tie and the question would
have been decided But after the motion to ex-
cuse Mr McClelland from voting had been carried.
the Chair voting with the majority, Nh McCleIand
insisted on voting the original motion and he
voted against tabIing the motion Of Senator Grady
+ The Raines motion to table the Grady motion
/ to reject the nomination Of Mr. Baker vas lost by
a vote of q TO a
/ Senator Grady then renewed his original motion
! 10 reject the nomination OF Mr. Baker
/ Mr.. Raines moved to amend that the appointment
O. Mr Baker as Railroad Commissioner be con-
/ frmed-
The roIlcau was begun and Senators Bracket.
/ Brown and FIsberg did vote until the call for
/ absentees-
In The mean time Senator Raines had reproached
them for their action on Baker nomination and
had spoken bitterly. virtually reading them OUT OF
/ the Republican party
BRACKETT EXPLAINS HIS VOTE
Senator Brackets name was called among the
I absentees and. asking to be excused from voting.
ne explained his reasons and then voted against
Z confirmation
Mr. Brackett said among other things:
! am animated by higher motive. and vote vote
against his confirmation on question lQG 1 ns a. =
Republican. whose Republicanism has never oeeIl
Kill tRaire~l has seen fit to read me out Of the
party. But | question mis- right or power power, , 10 i 40
any such thing. vote against TINS HoIlllild i @ ioa
in protest Of the sewage and filth that IS oeng
tp',+n H. aeaYts Of the man VINO inspired this
nomination And : vote against TINS nornlIatl4qn 10
Iiian Nlo no 7ss11ra when certain attorneys are
engaged in favor of bills. And I vote against this
for the same reason that refused 70 vote tor tne
ized this senate before ii had met and then when when
it did meet impudenty announces ms ,i6
IN csU artenton To the prediction made earlier IN
fa F ~ acti@n Of the senior Senator forcing
certain organization Of the senate upon Us, dl a
heal call fa.fed atfGRtion TO the TACT ' '' '''''
Senator Flsbers satI that he defed any one 10
read him out of the Republican party, and added
have been notified within minute, and q half a,
success or defeat Of certain legislation IN WHICH
an frfe and which is now in the Assent DlH
such threats o not annoy me. and DO not arect
me 7 quite agree with everything that my col
league senator Bra, kett has said. and shall not
he 4ra goarrd into voting for I mis- nomination
Il have a feeling OF resentment. said Senator
Nalhv against those invisible Influences which
seem determined. throuch Republicans lf TINS
hodv 10 sacrifice one OF tine best of good fellows.
RAINEs ATTACKS INSURGENTS,
Senator Raines began his address witE the as
yha Sa1aT