The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-26
DAzING FOR GOVY HIGGINS.
PARTY At SKIES AND SEVENS
AND DEFICIT THREATENING.
Never 80 Many Strike Bnls-Fantasuo
Revenue Bills Promise 70 FAIL I'M
tlirect Taxesn Discredited and VINO
Cares How the CITY OF New York GOesf


Francis Hendricks. Superintendent Of In
suranoe; Nevada n StranahAn, Collector
Of the Port Of New York; Hamilton Fish,
Sub Treasurer at New York. and N. V. v.
Franchot, State Superintendent Of Public
Works. Gov. Higgins IL confronted with a
deplorable condition Of the States finances,
the legacy left TO him by his predecessor,
Gov. odell. now chairman Of the Republican
State committee.
Senator John Rsines, while close student
Of legislation. especially where his party's
and his own fortunes are concerned, was
said yesterday by some o. the up-Staters
TO be intensely unpopular with majority
Of his colleagues In the Senate, while Senator
George II. Malby was declared not TO be
the Malby Of other days; and IL was added
that NIr. Malby had become almost care
less and even Indifferent Speaker Nixon
Of the Assembly, who with Raines and
Malby make up the tnumvirate left TO nun
things by Chairman Odell, Is without doubt
the Gar Of the lower house at Albany.
but certain OF Mr. NiXon's friends say he
is fast becoming weary Of q condition Of
things which promises little further political
prominence for himself while others
cay that before the game is played out at
Albany, within the next twelve months,
Mr. Nixon will come pretty near being the
man to be made chairman Of the Republican
State committee to succeed Odell and leader
Of the party.
Gov. Higgins has found TO be untrue
Gov. Odell's frequent assertions made
while In Office that the indirect system
Of taxation had freed the State from debt.
The knot. IL anything, is becoming daily
more tangled and more difficult Of solu-
ton. Not a lone Republican In town from
Albany and up country points yesterday
cared to stake any kind Of reputation on
a prediction that the Tax Mortgage bill,
the Stock Transfer Tax bill or the increased
railroad commission bill would get through.
Speaking specifically Of the railroad Oom-
mission bill, bet Of 10 was made that
it would be defeated, TO the great disap-
pointment Of some Of the friends OF George
W. Aldridge Of Rochester.
The Plat Black men are not working in
harmony: the Odell men are few and
spiritless and everything is at SKIES and
sevens, with the Republican raft fast drift
ing on the rocks II was even said that il
will take the party a dozen years to recover
from the Odell blight Senator Platt
remains at Aiken, Chairman Odell is scoot-
ing through Italy, Raines and Malby are at
loggerheads with their oolleR cues IN the
Senate, Speaker Nixon is disEusted, the
gas investigation It was predicted would
turn out TO be "a gassin' match Gov.
Higgins doeE't know for certain II be is to
get enough revenue 10 meet the States
expenditures, the State departments are
loaded down with useless employees put
there TO strengthen odell In turning out
Plat, Halpin is attempting In a rattle
headed way to speak for the New York
Republican county committee, State head
quarters at the Fifth Avenue Hotel Ia run
by Mcknight, Odell's stenographer, and
altogether, IN the judgment Of the up
staters, things are in a mighty shabby
shape.
There are plenty Of Republicans who
trace the whole trouble to the Odell blight
Of graft which has settled over the party
within the last few years. Following odells
example. It was said, big and little grAiters
have taken possession, through Odell's
influence, OF the party's affairs. Never
were there 40 many strike bills as now
burden the dookets at Albany. 1T is as
IL the grafters had gone mad, said one Of
the Republicans, "and as II they were afraid
this winter would be their last. Gov. Hig-
gins doesn't control them, and neither can
Coy. Higgins's friends, and all sorts Of re-
ports are heard concerning the relations
between Gov, Higgins and Chairman
odell.
'Odell said before leaving for Europe
the Republican continued, that Gov.
Higgins had promised not to 90 back on
him, but we know by experience not to
bet much on Odell's statements. Another
report Is that Gov. Higgins says he owes
Odell nothing and that at the proper time
he will make his position known. Blacks
friends say he isn't both cred and will not
be bothered by the situation, as he hasn't
the faintest notion where Gov. Higgins
stands in the matter Of Odell. Moreover.
Black says that even should Plat resign
from the Senate he wouldn't lift his hand
TO step into Plstts place. Meantime Tim
Woodruff is rustling around and has visited
Plat at Aiken.'
II was a dismal tale throughout. Most
OF the country Republicans said they didn't
care q copper about the coming Mayoralty
fight in New York City; that odell could
run the shooting match down here TO suit
himself, that sure defeat awaited him, and
that certainly by the time the next State
campaign comes around steps should be
taken 10 abandon the odell system Of In
direct taxes. This system, which Gov.
Higgins clings 10, it was asserted has alien
ated Thousands Of active Republican sup
porters because Of its apparent unfairness.
take the stock transfer tax bill for an ex-
ample" said a Republican Senator, III
we are 10 tai the business Of Stock Exchange
brokers why should not the business Of
the cotton, grain, metal, WOOL ship and
provision brokers be taxed? Why should
we discriminate against the business Of
the Stock Exchange brokers' The bust
ness Of the cotton, grain, metal, ship and
provision brokers foots up each year TO
hundreds Of millions and why should not
the business Of these brokers be taxed as
well as the business Of the stock brokers1
The mortgage tax bill Ia equally disorimi-
mating and would not be collectable. We
must return to the System Of direct taxation
II we want 20 remain in power in the State
Gov. Higgins's friends said that Chair
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