New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-20
L0ST-AN EXCISE Bill.
NEWCONB'S DISAPPE4Pc
Stranded after Interuiezr of n,
Maker, Niron and HaImn

AIoany. JAN 19-The zero weather at the cs,,.,
To-Day seriously affected the fortunes and ~.
prospects Of the mysterious Newcomb Excls. hn,
Just where 1t was stranded is not known n, ..-
thor still declared with his customary good -
ure. early in the afternoon that the roeazr- '-
sure to pass. and that it's prospects had ,rnnr,
% per cent over night. Then William Haln, -
the New-York County Committee, saw ths c
ernor on the subject and subsequently tina c.
ernor told the representatives Of the prss. ~
1T was cold day" The excise bill was No, s
In Mr.. Newcomb conferred with Speaker ~,
and Mr.. Halpin Joined in, but somehow m. 49,
did not come to the light
One interesting comment made about tina r,a,,.
to-day in relation to the bill that IT had aossss
on the crest OF two bOoms yesterday and tia, -
unmstakable one OF favor last night wax s,,,--,
epheneraL First. the friends OF the Nevcor.s
measure were encouraged with the assurance. 49,
the Speaker had seen a great new light and th..
his attitude toward excise legislation was -,
more favorable than had been expected Then c,yr.
the assurance from friends OF the Lieutenant Gov
ernor and later a cautious statement from ,s,
official that the prospects OF referendum Io,'
option measure for New-York City were unu~,.r
bright.
All this was unexpected solace to the Nsvro,s
ites Where they had expected opposition t,.
had met only with pleasant words. Las, uizb-
everybody had a good word for local option hr.
this pleasant prospect did not last. TODAY m
suggestion advanced that In certain cr,,,
stances both Speaker Nixon and Lieutenant Gov.
ernor Higgins might be candidates for ths ur,.
nomination for Governor and that the support a,
the New-York City delegates would be welcome !.
the hour OF convention To this the Newcosoi,..
replied bravely that the friends OF the excise huI
would deserve the support OF the delegates ana
that far they concerned. acts Of friend
ship would not be forgotten.
Then the suspicion was circulated that thu ~
else measure cherished by the author and his
friends was IN all probability more likely to re-
cevs pleasant words in the printed Interviews
than in the legislative halls and the chilling int
nation went forth that opposition to the bill o. TIA
most determined kind would be long befors
the measure was rescued from COMMITTEES. More
over the brilliant prospects OF last night faded
in the rainbows OF two little bOorns FOR Governor
and then vanished
What Mr.. HaIpin told the Governor. and what n
formation ne carried away. is OF course a mater
Of mere conjecture but there Is Just shadow Of
reason for thinking that 1t was not cheering 70
the Newcombites. What Speaker Nixon told Mr.
Newconb when he talked with him to-day Is also
problematcaI but II IS possible that In the face Of
the opposition that IL in sight result Of tina
days developments measure not entirely in har-
mony with the first draft OF the Newcomb blI VIII
1t is interesting to recall IN connection with this.
point OF INTRODUCTION now for three weeks M
Newcomb brought Up tidings Of the bill when no
clusively announced In The Tribune OF that date
He said the bill was coming in the next week All
the following week Y was withheld for reasons.
Then last night Mr.. Newcomb declared ne mad tbs
bill in his pocket but would not introduce IL a.
yet Last night William HaIpin and the Nsw-York
assemblymen met and discussed II. Tonight It 10
still IN Mr.. NewcombS pocket, and the only real
solace the friends OF the measure have comes n
directly from two leaders. whose friends view them
possible candidates for governor.
Meantime the fact IS apparent that the neasra
Is still far ever from Introduction No Oh
knows II II embodies system a number Of 81
tens; whether II Is constitutional not, and
finally. II IL has the slightest prospect Of mara
han -fr,7fv ling and
has been intimatsd by friends OF the Governor
that he does not look with any patience on
measure which in his estimation, would be uncor-
stitutionaI to begin with. and unnecessary IN ths
second place. since 10 Is argued that he has always
believed that the city OF New-York had within is
own local bodies authority enough TO deal with the
question But the Governor himself has steadily
refused TO discuss the matter. and mas more than
once pointed out that he not responsible FOR
the conjectures and the opinions ascrihsd to Inn
hv