New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-03-09
Gas STTUATION BETTER.
Republican Insurgents Being Forced
Back Into Line.
rRr TELEGRAPH TO -Hr rRrBuxE.l

Albany. March S-The Republicans of the
Senate held caucus tonight on stock tax
mortgage tax and gas. The plan outlined before
the caucus was an agreement to postpone action
on the Fitzgerald recent Gas bill until next
week: in the mean tire appoint committee
TO draw a biz fixing a reasonable reduction
possibly so cents: hold caucus on thta next
week and with Governor Higginss support
mass this bill as a party measure, despite the
influence of the lobby and the opposition of the
Tammany and McCarren Democrats, who are
favoring a reduction so drastic as TO be OF
doubtful constitutionality in order TO pay for
more campaign debts and make possible further
campaign contributions TO re-elect Mayor Nc
Clellan.
BY a vote Of 10 TO Il it was decided TO direct
the Finance Committee TO report the Page reso-
luton calling for d legislative investigation OF
the price ~ gas. The resolution will be reported
tomorrow. and it is expected that the report
will he made within a few weeks. The vote was
taken on the motion OF Senator Lewis. The Sem
ators opposing gas refused 10 consent to eau
Gus and the action tonight does not make gas
q party measure.
Stock tax. mortgage tax and insurance tax
was adopted by votes of 80 10 3, so TO g. and
unanimously respectively.
The anti-gas Senators were in ugly mood
after the conference and openly declared that,
tion. they would join with the Democrats in
defeating the resolution tomorrow. Senator
fRaines labored hard tonight TO bring about
agreement on an increase Of the liquor tax, but
Vailed
The gas situation has greatly improved in the
last few days in which not few influences have
been brought bear TO bring certain Repuh-
ncan Senators back in line. Notice has been
Informally served that the plain issue lies be-
tween the legislators and the lobby. that there
IS no thought of compromise and that the end
OF the fight must see either one of two things
acknowledged lobby control or else party pol
sces and party leadership recognized. More
over. the real test has not yet come. When the
various insurgents see their own legislation
Tnenaced. see that both the Governor and the
Assembly are in a position 10 exact full pay
anent for the desertion of the party policy. when
their Jet measures are placed in jeopardy and
rhey obliged to explain to their constituents
1t is believed there will be further assertions
That the friends of the lobby have realized
khis has been plain for several days in which
they have urgently insisted pressing vote
at once On the other hand. the Senators who
have been working for gas. have steadily post
poned a final test leaving their opponents to
bear the pressure OF publicity in their rather
uncomfortable situation as Republica Sena tors
following the iustriOus leadership of Senator
McCarren. Several have already given up this
position, and it is prophesied that will fol-
low. There Will be no message from the Gov
srlor this week BY next week there is little
reason TO doubt that the revolt will have lost
ats force and some remedial gas measure prob
ably an SO-cent bill, introduced a party
measure, VIII pass the Senate
Inc prospect Of fighting the Governor, the
STATE chairman and the party leaders, and
1ghtlng on the side which is bravely sustained
by the lobby, is the prospect now before the
Republicans holding out against gas More
over, the important committees are under
the control OF Senators who favor gas legisla
ton. and already several of the insurgents have
had their fingers smarty raped in trying TO
get their bills reported With the added LASH
Of public Gsapproval the position OF the Sena-
tors opposing gas Is becoming rapidly less and
less renable, and the end is in sight