The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-17
PLAT UNRUPPLED ABOUT IT,
.~ONCEIHELD OVER FIVE YEARS.
he SAYS, As TO BAKER.
A. 70 McCullagh, Fiat was for Keepins
Him-Win Baker Go On Nssding Over!
Or what's 70 Happen In the senate

Senator Plat was serene, calm, unruffied
and undisturbed whom the news came from
Albany yesterday that the State Senate
BY Q vote Of 20 TO % had refused TO con-
firm Gov. Odell's denomination OF Frank
M. Baker Of 0wego to be Railroad Com
missioner. Gov. Roosevelt appointed Mr..
Baker on Feb, 8. 1893, for term Of five
years, and Mr. Baker has. therefore. been
q hold-over for more than two months.
The great question was Will Gov. Odell
before the Legislature adjourns send In the
name Of another Republican In place Of Mr..
Baker, and would the twenty two Democrats
and the four Republicans In the Senate
who voted TO reject Baker yesterday con-
firm such . nomination by the Governor
The next question was: Would the twenty
three Republican Senators who stood by
Baker yesterday vote to confirm Gov. odells
nomination Of new mani
II Gov. Odell does not send In the name
OF a successor to Mr. Baker during the
present session Of the Legislature II Is the
opinion that he cannot make an appoint
ment In the interim, and that Mr.. Baker
would therefore hold over until next winter,
when the same situation, doubtless, which
prevailed yesterday at Albany may pre-
vail, the Senate holding over for another
year.
There have been no complaints whatever
made against the ability Of Mr.. Baker or
his standing, and four Republican Senators.
Bracket. Brown, Elsberg and Amber,
voted with their Democratic colleagues
for reasons Of their own.
Should Gov. Odell send in the name OF a
successor to Baker. and should the new
man be confirmed by the vote OF the twenty
two Democratic Senators and the four
Republican Senators 1t would be accepted
that the Governor and his friends, Bracket.
Brown. Elsberg and Amber, had formed Il
coalition with the Democratic Senators.
There could be no other Interpretation
OF such q nomination and confirmation
according to Republicans down this way
last night After the heated debate In the
Senate Chamber at Albany yesterday on
the part Of the twenty-three Republicans
who voted to confirm Baker, 1t was surmised
In view Of Bakers good record that these
not be induced to vote for another Repub-
lican, at least at this session. whom the
Governor might name. Meantime Mr.
Baker holds over pending the develop
ments in this new situation In Republican
State politics.
The three Republican Senators. or in
surgents as they have been known AT
Albany all winter. Bracket, Brown ana
Elsberg, voted against Senator Platts
reelection to the United states Senate nate.
vote against Baker yesterday was an adj.
ional chapter Of personal feeling against
Senator Platt, as Il has been known for
many years that Mr.. Platt and Mr.. Baker
both from Owego. Tioga County, have been
The vote OF Senator Amber was not quite
understood. He Ia what Is known as Louis
F. Pan's Senator. Mr.. Payn's friends
said last night that he could not control
Senator Amber IN thi S mater pann ,.v. hasn
personal friends for over forty years and
they have fought together on q thousand
battlefelds. Mr.. Payn. howeyer; has ieit ~
bad since 1893. when Mr.. Platts friends
ders 70 the wheel and refuse TO confirm
Gov. Rooseyelt's nomin ation for Superin-
tendent Of Insurance, Francis hendricks
OF Syracuse Mr.. Payn did not visit Senator
Plat for some little time, but later on some
thing Like the 0idtims relations were re-
Nevertheless, Mr.. Payn has always
thought that Senator Plat and his friends
should have gone into the last ditch In
1893 in order to prevent the oonnrH S,,nsr,
OF any successor TO Mr.. Fayn as ouPer-
intendent OF Insurance.
Senator Plat made the remark to some
| Of his visitors at the Fifth Avenue Hotel
! last night. Il was Quarantine Commits
sioner i've years after my term had ex-
PRED
This recalled the memorable feud be-
| tween Gov Hill and Quarantine Commits.
/ sioner Plat Mr. Plat had been appointed
: Quarantine Commissioner by Gov. Cornell
! in 1880 for term OF four years. ,.,
When Mr.. Hill became Governor in 1885
! he tried to get Mr. Platt out Of the place,
| but Mr.. Hill was never able to get enough
Senator'S to confirm Mr.. Platt's successor
and it was not until the Court OF Appeals
in 1889 decided that MIR: Plat was not ,,i,
resident OF New York city that Gov. Hill
! was able TO get Mr.. Plat out as Quarantine
Commissioner. The difference in the situa-
/ ton between Mr.. Platts episode during
! those years and Mr.. Bakers at the present
time y that this feud Y among Republicans an,
Republican United States Senators and
! A majority Of Republican Senators and
Assemblymen at Albany.
! In view OF the strenuous situation, these
questions will bear repetition:
Will Gov. odell send N the name OF
| Republican to succeed Mr.. Baker before
the present session Of the Legislature
II he does. will the t.enty-t~e Demo.
Brown. Elsberg and Amber confirm himS
: II Gov. OdeA sends IN the name Of q Re.
| publican to succeed Mr. Baker, will the
twenty-three Republican Senators who
voted for Bakers confirmation yesterday
vote to confirm Gov. Odell's nomination?
II Gov. Odell does not send In nomina
ton to succeed Baker, Baker will hold over
until next winter. But, by the action OF
Sens tor Grady yesterday at Albany, Gov.
Odell Ia precluded from again sending Mr.
Bakers name in for confirmation as his own
successor. Senator Grady made this posi-
tive by parlR mentary law.
Senator Plat hal known for several days
that Gov. Odell would not renominate John
McCulla Oh to he Superintendent OF the
Metropolitan elections district. Senstor
Phtt was made aware through Col George
W. Dunn at Albany that the Governor in
tended to send In the name Of George W
Morgan. Senator Phtt protested through
Col. Dunn against the nomination OF Mr.
Morgan, believing that Mr.. McCulla Oh
was a strong Republican and had made a
good record In New York city.
Nevertheless. Gov. Odell has not been par
tial to Mr.. McCullagh since last election
day, when the Republican vote In New York
county dwindlcd very materially; Coy
Odell offered the place to Gen. Nelson H
Henry, Acknowledgement OF the State
and Gen. Henry declined It, There was
then some talk Of John W. Jacobus, United
States Marshal under President Harrison
and then II was offered to ex-Judge DOT
e. Hedges, who declined the appointment
Mr.. Hedges was Deputy Attorney-Gener
| L. ~. IA