New-York tribune., 1905-03-02
No GAS RELIEF FOX CITY.
SENATOR'S IN CAUCUS.
after Hot Debate Republicans De
eide to Take No Stand.
Warren st.


[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l
Albany, March 1-At a caucus of the Re
publican Senators which was held tonight 1t
was decided to take no stand in regard to gas
legislation for New-York City.
The sensational result of to-nights cancus was
forecast in the talk CT the Senators before they
met. 1t was openly declared that the friends of
gas could not muster 10 votes out of SO. All
the Republicans were present except Senators
Warwick and Bracket. At the opening of the
session both Senators Raines and Malby talked
of party duty and discussed general legislation,
including the various tax measures. When this
discussion had continued for some time the
question OF gas was broached by Senator Malby.
A gas measure OF some kind the extent Of
his suggestion This instantly opposed by
number of upstate Senators. Home rule for
New-York City was suggested as a reason why
this matter should be left 10 the local author
tiles
In favor Of the measure Senator Page. of New
York declared that he had introduced resolu-
ton for an investigation. which came to him
directly from Chairman Odell 1t was urged that
gas was thus q party measure.
Senators Coggeshau, Wilcox and Cassidy all
opposed the measure. The discussion grew
hotter and hotter and the opponents of any leg
islation were manfestly in control. 1t was dur
ing this discussion that Senator Malby made his
a
BY this time it clear that any gas PROPOSE
ton would be defeated and Senator Raines,
after heated exchanges advised Senator Malby
to withdraw his resolution and permit still
further discussion of the subject. and in the
face Of defeat Senator Malby did this reluc-
tantly
The result Is a distinct victory for those who
oppose gas legislation, and it seems to fore
shadow the defeat OF all gas legislation for the
session. Those opposing this measure declare
that the vote tonight would have shown not
more than half dozen votes for gas Their
jubilation knew no bounds when. after three
long hours. the conferrees filed out. Senator
Raines declared for the Senators that nothing
had been accomplished: that there had been
discussion of all plans for taxation, but that in
view of pending hearings no decision had been
attempted. The stock tax, mortgage tax and
all other revenue schemes were discussed at
some length, but 1t to gas that the meeting
mainly devoted.
The fact that the Senator'S in caucus have re-
fused to take the stand that the Governor has
wished brought the gas situation 10 a crisis.
The position of Governor Higgins. told in
The Tribune to-day, is generally understood
at the Capitol His conferences with Speaker
Nixon and other members of the lower
house have convinced him that the "hold-up"
on gas was not in that body, and that an so
cent gas bill would pass the Assembly without
difficulty This assurance he had from the
Speaker. Then the Governor began his talk
with various Senators, among them Cassidy
and Wilcox, who. members of Senate com
rnittee were in part responsible for the hold
up"
The Governor told these Senators precisely
what he said publicly to-day, that while he was
not committed to any policy or bill, he did be-
Ala a
substantial relief TO the citizens of New-York
City ought to pass the legislature and that he
personally hoped that 1t would. This point OF
view was not shared by the members of the
committee. who many and weighty reasons
why they should maintain their opposition, and
did not hesitate to tell the Governor so. These
conferences so far as they had any effect upon
the situation. entirely negative, as both
Wilcox and Cassidy assured the Governor that
they were committed the opposition and
would remain
Meantime various efforts made by per-
sonal talks to bring change. William Halpin.
chairman of the New-York County Commit
tee talked with Senator Cassidy and told him
how vital an issue gas was to New-York Re
publicans how hard the present city orGaniza-
ton had worked to achieve the results of the
last campaign. and that If all gas measures
failed he would be temp Ited to resign. To this
entreaty also Senator Cassidy turned deaf ear.
consistently declaring that he regarded the gas
agitation attack upon a single corpora
ton, and as such deserving of defeat.
As soon II became clear that there was
hope of getting a gas measure from the Senate
Committee Miscellaneous Corporations. the
party leaders turned to devisng plans for OBJ
tanning from some other committee. In
anticipation of some such situation gas meas
ure had been referred to both the Cities and
Finance committees and ii agreed that
of these committees should report measure, not
existing measure, but brand new S0-cent
gas bill Moreover. il seemed more advantageous
10 report this measure from the Cities Commit
tee and this was the agreement finally reached,
subject to the rather impossible contingency
that the Miscellaneous Corporations Committee
might decide tomorrow TO let their bill out.
This the situation when the caucus was
called this afternoon For the rest of the day
the lobby was hard work. Such Influential
friends of gas Little Tim Sullivan ap-
peared. The OF the halls were occupied
by legisla tors In earnest conversation. and the
declaration TO be heard all sides that
the leaders would not dare TO bring the subject
of gas up at the caucus and If they did, they
would be beaten Moreover not a few of the
opponents OF gas attempted TO read into the
test vote in the Senate the Morgan bill told
in another column, direct attempt of the gas
lobby to show its strength by disciplining the
party leaders, IL so, they were defeated for the
time. But their activity was redoubled Not