The sun., 1903-03-26
The LIQUOR TAX BILL PASSED
TANNED THROUGH THE SENATE
ny CLOTURE RULE.


Persuasive Powers on Senator HiIl and
Prevail Upon Him to Vote for the Bill
tho senate In q Tumult and the
Session Ends in Great Disorder.
ALBANY, March Ex-senator Raines's
bill increasing by one-half the liquor tax
throughout the State passed the Senate
to-day, after ak hours consideration. by a
strict party vote Of 20 to 70. The two alb
sentees were Senators Amber and White
(Reps.) To the personal persuasiveness
OF Gov. Odell, exercised to-day upon Senator
Henry W. Hill Rep.. Buffalo,. was due
the passage Of the measure. In the Re-
publican caucus which considered the bill
twenty-six Republican Senators agreed
to stand by the measure. But Senator
Hill said he would not. One OF the twenty
six in the caucus who agreed to support
the bill was Senator Amber. but he was
obliged to 60 home yesterday on account
of illness.
Gov. Odell is familiar with the dangers
attending delay in pressing measure
where a resourceful lobby. with ample
funds, Is endeavoring to accomplish its
defeat Buoyed up with the success OF the
Barge Canal bill in the Senate yesterday
the Governor made up his mind this morn
ing to see II he could not force the Liquor
Tax bill through the Senate to-day. not
withstanding the absence Of two Of the
twenty eight Republican Senators.
The Governor sent his private secre-
tary to see Senator Hill and persuade him
to meet the Governor at the Executive
Chamber. Senator Hill finally consented
l. "a vvit hSa
Governor he declined to capitulate. Moth
ing daunted. Col. Dunn, the. chairman OF
the Republican State Committee, saw
Senator Hill, at the request OF the Cover
nor, and then Mr.. Hill and the Governor
had another talk. That ended 1t and the
Governor was assured OF his twenty-sixth
vote to pass the bill
II Senator Hill had stood firm the excise
bill could not have been passed, IL at all,
until next week, and delay and the blan-
dishments Of the lobby, Of which none is
more familiar than the Governor, was
what the Governor feared.
Senator Grady, the minority leader, was
aroused as never before this session. The
unexpected had happened He quickly
learned that Senator Raines was sure OF
his votes and intended to take advantage
Of this security without delay. After some
talk, b recess OF half an hour was taken In
order to give the Committee on Rules time,
to meet and report ciotnre RUE. i hao
been the intention Of the Republican lead
ers to report a rule which would allow
half hours debate only on each SIDE. Sena-
tor Grady said the minority would nght
such rule 10 the death. Finally. the Rules
Committee decided TO permit a dis cussion
of three hours. equally divided between
those who favored and opposed the bill.
Senator Grady insisted that the report
made by the Rules Committee was not
within its province. but Lieut. Gov. Higgins
promptly decided against him and the
Then senator Grady tried to consume
time by questioning the right to receive
the report. a. the motion TO advance the
bill was pending, and with the AID OF sen-
ator McCarren, succeeded IN preventing
the adoption Of the report until 40 O'Clock.
Tehn Senator Grady tried a coup by an
nouncins that he wanted to talk In favor
OF the bill and he consumed an hour and
Senator McCarren then wanted to talk.
saying he desired to speak in favor
Of the bill This brought on q discussion
between Senators Malby and Brackett and
the Brooklyn Senator. Senator Brackett
asked Senator McCarren TO state on his
honor that he intended to vote for the bill.
This caused general tumult' Inc ne
publicans were charging the Democrats
with trying undignifed and ungentlemanly
tactics 10 consume time, and the Democrats
retorted that the Republicans were jamming
the bill through and depriving them OF the
right to speak on an important measure;
Frequent tilts bet ween Senators Raines and
Grady occurred and senator Grady lost
his temper. Senator Malby criticised the
minority leader for not showing proper
respect TO the Lieutenant-Governor.
The burden Of the Democratic opposition
was that Gov. Odell found himself in q hole
L.. nAa. 81 N nv mt
pledge to abolish direct State taxes
The only excuse for this bill. said
senator Grady, Els that you need the money
and need II ~ badly that you are not par
ticulsr where you get II. There are some
Who could give II 10 you. but they won't.
and YOU have % take u away from some
ore ele. 80 you O. out on the Highways
" get this money, and az the salooiikeep-r
and the brewer are IN. lessi protected
from the hgh~aymen you pounoe upon
them The r,ason this bill 10 beng presssd
now 10 that the Morgass Tar hill 10 very
siok u is only beins bohtered up on
What j. commonly called hot air
sThe Objec, accomplished by this hill
,s noihing short ~ thIev-fy You have
taked that class ~ our citizens whom YOU
,hink nn aooouni - their burlnes~, are
the l.,as' allls ~ defy you II you ~ere not
p,Illin Offi-fs aud sought "a s-i moi.sy ~
suoh m~thods a. yfoIsosrd W, THE biil you
suuld le -rni 20 Mate pris.Dn
sehAtf Mssffen sd the hall pro
Iosrd the mosi unlusiihal'l" takA'ion th a.
had ever ts--n suggested
Thsn. ~ithoui sny sf tho itspuldlosns de-
f-I.dlns tho nlsAssHe the hnai foll call Sas
iAksn And tho hall i'aHssd ny s's'" parry
vote
s.na,af k.ihss, lus' 20 90 hs'.s's .ss
alsBut to dIoufh, said N ne iLoiuy
iLauEhi ths Tuls sas sn uiian oas ihs
nsst tians tLs huat 'ssininiiiss lasa 10
s,il,sis,ittss soula f.I~sf = fuls that iis