New-York tribune., 1905-07-21
LEGISLATURE NOW ACTS
Appoints Committee Suggested by
GOOernOr-MOUe Approued.
lBY rELEGRAPH TO rHE rRrnr,y-


Albany, July 20-In message entirely un-
expected, the existence OF which was not known
even to a dozen leaders. Governor Higgins to-
day recommended the appointment OF legisls-
tive committee to inquire into the abuses and
conditions IN the whole field OF insurance. rather
than in that OF Equitable. The resolution carry
ing out the Governors recommendation was
unanimously adopted by both houses and these
Senators were named.
w. w. Armstrong, OF Rochester, chairman.
William J. Tuy. Of Corning.
Daniel j. Riordan, OF Nsvv-Tork.
semby. Speaker Nixon will not announce their
names until Monday. The majority leader, As
sembyman Rogers OF Broome County, will
probably be among them. and there win be one
Democrat included.
In the entirely Unforeseen course OF recon
mending legislative investigation Governor Hfg-
gins tonight frankly admitted that he had
bowed to the almost unanimous expression OF
public sentiment In the matter, and shouldered
all responsibility for opposition to an investigs-
ton. saying smIlingly: I am the guilty party.
and alone am responsible
Not in many years has such surprise beer
sprung as that Of the message. Members who
sat about the State House almost without ex-
ception were ignorant OF the contents OF the
document when the clerk began to read Even
Senator Brackett. who has urged an investigs-
ton for months, sat in amazement The Gov
ernor's message win be found in another column.
At the outset OF the reading members were ia
doubt as to what it's end would be- At the eTd
Senator Armstrong arose and offered the resr-
luton fer a committee OF three Senators and five
Assemblyrnen to sit at the next session. 10 in
vesttgate insurance and 70 appropriate $25,O00.
a sum subsequently, increased to $4,000. for th4
expenses of the committee. This resolution was
adopted unanimously
sUDDENNEsS WELL. CARRIED OUT
1t was typical OF the suddenness OF the whole
incident that an hour before the Governors mes
sage was sent TO the Senate the Senator who
is to be chairman of the committee did not know
of its existence He was sitting in the Assem-
bly,, listening to the Hooker roIcaI. when he
was Informed Of the decision to appoint him.
When called TO a conference with several Re
publican leaders, it is said he at first demurred.
then made cOnditions-frst Of all that the posi-
tion should be without strings" Finally he
consented to take it. and then introduced a reso-
luton which he had prepared some time before
he knew of the decision.
Senator Tully. who is to'serve on the commit
tee. also heard of it for the first time when the
message was read and Of his appointments only
when it was made. But perhaps the most
founded member Of the legislature was Sen
ator Brackett, Of Saratoga. who shares with
Senator Marks. of New-York, the credit for urg
ing legislative investigation. He had never heard
a whisper Of the decision. To be thus ignored
cut him to the quick. and he rose and said. sar-
casticaliy;
ask the clerk to see II this new resolution 3,
any Improvement on that of mine OF months
ago. which was timely then
,t,. vesoI,,f;,-,
over. the Senate adjourned and the members
hastened into the Iobbies 10 discuss the trc-
nendous sensation the Governor had caused
At the present moment the steps leading up
to the message are still practically unknown
That there has been insistent agitation for
legislative investigation increasing daily is we'll
known. The Republican party leaders have net
ceased to recommend this, ever since ex-Gov-
ernor Odell openly advocated it. This agitation
came to a definite head when Senator Stevens,
OF the Gas Committee. attempted to introduce a
resolution asking the Governor to permit such
investigation
INFLUENCE WITH GOVERNOR
This was on Tuesday. The best information
here is that on Tuesday night number OF Re-
publican leaders among whom are Senator's
Raines and Malby, were at the executive man
sion and that the views OF the legislature were
there definitely expressed some Whisper OF
the probability of a change or reconsideration
on the Governors part led Senator Stevens to
desist from pressing his resolution.
And yet as late as last evening at o'clock the
Governor was still holding the matter IN abey-
ance, and told the newspaper men that the
agitation over insurance was csasing. Later in
the evening his decision was made TO send In a
message and the executive stenographers came
early TO their places to-day. obviously. to pre-
pare it, There was place for a leak IN this
matter. as in the testimony before Superintend-
ent Hendricks
This morning Senator Raines and Speaker
Nixon. and. later. Senator Malby saw the Gov
ernor and then communicated the secret to
senator Armstrong. This seems to be the extent
of the circulation OF the secret.
In a statement with which he accompanies
his message to the legislature. Governor Hig-
gins indicated his position In the matter. and
made Il perfectly clear that he did not recon-
mend legislative action In the shape OF investi-