New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-04
NIAGARA POWER GRAB"
Passed by the Senate-Senator
Drescher Casts Decisive Vote.
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1Rrxr.I

IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Albany. May 3.-Senator John Drescher, jr.,
to-day passed the Niagara Power graz bill
In the Senate by changing his vote against the
bill OF yesterday to affirmative to-day. The
casting OF the deciding vote was attended by
one of the most dramatic scenes of the session.
On the last rollcan yesterday the bill had lacked
two votes of passing but Senator McCarren had
cast his vote against the measure for reasons
best known to himself and his associates. as it
was we'll known that his support in the end as
In the beginning, was mortgaged to the bill
single vote thus needed to pass this meas
ure, concededly the worst of the session. and
runaors of strenuous efforts to secure this vote
had been general and so sensational that
when the roll was called members and visit
ors sat with rollcan sheets in their hands wait
ing for the disclosure of the who had
changed. When Drescher's name was called he
sat back and mumbled his vote so indistinctly
that many failed to note that he had not voted
against it he did yesterday. As the close Of
the rollcan and before the result was announced
Senator White arose and asked the President
how Senator Drescher had voted
How is the Senator from the 4th recorded?''
Every eye In the Senate chamber was fixed
upon Drescher who in low voice declared that
he had votet for the measure. thus supplying
the necessary vote to make 26.
Not in many a session has there been a mo-
ment of such intense excitement, for until this
declaration was made the Niagara Power bill
lacked the vote that held it yesterday
Fourteen Republicans and twelve Democrats
voted for the bill, Senator Marks, Ju6ge Victor
]. Dowling's successor, casting the only Demo-
cratic vote against the measure OF the Repub-
licans voting for the bill, nine of the fourteen
of the number who last night boted the
party caucus on the gas measures. These were
Amber, Brown, Cassidy. Wilcox Coggeshau
F'echter. Gardner, L'Hommedieu and Prime, in
dcating the community of issues that attends
the legislative fate Of both these measures. Tha
other Republicans contributing by their votes TO
the passage of this bill were Senators Burr
Fancher. GoodseT, MaIby and finally Drescher
who yesterday voted steadily against the meas
ure
The proceedings on this measure to-day we're
brief and the bill disposed OF in the most
businesslike fashion. Replaced on the calendar.
after being temporarily checked last night by
lack Of two votes. one of which was in sight the
bill was once more delayed by a little trick Of
Senator Armstrong When the bill was reached.
its introducer, Senator Cassidy. started to press
a vote Senator Armstrong arose and asked that
Senator Malby be excused from voting as re
was absent. As MaIby's vote was necessary to
bill laid aside and then by resort to parIil-
mentary tactics vote prevented during the
day until the whole calendar had been disposed
of. Cassidy once more called up the bill and
moved "a call of the house" which was fol-
lowed by a closing of the doors and a search
for the missing members Senators Aids and
Grady were missing; the former was soon found
and the latter excused. over this excuse a
long fight was waged. while the opponents of the
bill attempted TO break up the CLOSE call SEN
ators Elsberg and White both made motions to
do this, but the rollcalls showed that the friends
of the bill were in control But they still lacked
the necessary vote. On the first motion they
counted %, and on the second -, the number
that they had yesterday. Evidently the absence
of Grady was causing trouble for Cassidy in
sisted that the Senator be summoned. While
Cassidy and L'HOmmedieu. making no secret Of
the fact that they We're managing the campaign
consulted in one corner. Senator McCarren raised
points of order to head off any attempt to defeat
the bill. Suddenly Senator LHommedieu made
the motion which White and Elsbers had
been defeated. and it passed with rush.
Makes a difference who puts the motion"
sneered Els5erg.
Without further debate the voting began. and
before the members realized that the final test
had come several names had been called. When
Drescher's name was reached he voted for the
bill in a voice so low that only the clerk caught
1t. The rollcan proceeded and the excitement
grew intense. No one attempted to speak until
Senator Marks's name was called and then he
rose and denounced the bill. saying:
This is the greatest piece of highway robbery
that ever attempted TO give away the prop
erty of the people of the State TO corporations.
You people can vote for II and take all the
honor you are entitled TO receive but tell you
the Governor will never sign it
No one else spoke, and the clerk went on
calling the roll In a monotOnous tone to the end
Delaying motions permitted Senator Bracket
to cast his vote against the measure. and the
clerk was heard TO announce the result TO the
presiding officer. and at the same instant Sen
ator White moved for detailed statement.
motion which directs the clerk 20 announce the
manner in which the Senators have voted Evi-
IDENTIFY fearing lest he had some weakened
pa ssengers in his boat, Senator McCarrcn OBJ
tected but was promptly overruled and the list
was read Then II that the Senate at large
first realized that II was Senator Drescher who
had furnished the vote.
AS he leaned back uneasily in his chair. scores T
OF people pointed toward him and whispered
comments 10 each other. and Senator White
sked the question mentioned above. \ second
later the passage of the bill by exactly the nee
essarv votes WIS announced. twenJy-six voting
for the bill and twenty against ii. The four
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