The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-15
CITY GAS INQUIRY ORDERED,
STATE SENATE VOTES FOR A
LEGISLATIVE QUIZ.
Assembly likely TO Concur in the Page
ReSOlutiOn-One Move In . Hearst
Oden Bargain, Says Grady-LeEis-
Iature 20 Adjourn In -Four Weeks,


Oden Bargain, says Grady-LeEis-
Iature 20 Adjourn in -Four Weeks,
ALBANY, March i4-There is TO be a
legislative inquiry by a committee Of three
Senators and four Assemblymen to de-
termine the cost Of furnishing gas and
electricity by the lighting corporations In
New York city.
The Senate to-day passed the resolution
introduced by Senator Page which he
received from Chairman Benjamin b.
Odell. Jr. This resolution provides that
the committee shall report TO the Legislature
as soon as possible with such remedial
legislation as il may deem proper.
Senator Raines, the leader Of the Repub-
licans in the upper branch Of the Legis-
lature, intimated to-day that the Legisla-
ture would be in session only about four
weeks more. He is Of the opinion that
the investigation into the New York city
lighting situation will be concluded in time
to permit Of the passage by the present
Legislature Of a bin reducing the price Of
gas in New York city. IL Is the opinion Of
some Senator's that the bill will provide
for the reduction IN the price Of gas on
sliding scale at the rate OF cents year
per 1000 feet.
The Page resolution is concurrent one
and must pass the Assembly. II Is not eX-
pected the, resolution will meet much OPP
position there,
Until the conference which was held at
the home Of senator Frederick &, Stevens
Rep, Wyoming) ended after / o'clock this
morning il was expected the resolution
would be defeated. Then II was announced
that enough votes had been secured to
pass it,
resolution belongs 10 Gov. Frank W. Hig-
gins Without his aid II would not have
gone through. When the tTiumVirate Of
Odell leaders saw the danger they APP
pealed TO the Governor and he came to
their aid.
senator Page In moving the adoption
OF the resolution said that the investiga-
ton was in the interests OF the people Of
the city Of New York and insisted that no
Republican Senator could aHord 10 desert
his party in this crisis.
Senator Grady CTaml declared that
the resolution was planned to shake down
the New York city gas companies IN ORDER
to secure funds to run next talls municipal
campaign in New York city. as vel as 20
please William r. Hearst, who had made
a bargain with Odell 10 run third muni-
cipal ticket in New York next fall If Odell
would help Hearst In his light against the
TaInmany administration on the gas ques-
ton.
Hall was sincere in its advocacy. OF 20
cent gas bill the Democrats should at least
favor an investigation, and he pointed out
that its effect would be TO help greatly
the party's chances IN next falls cam
paign for MavoT in New York city.
= The resolution was attacked by Senator
Cassidy CRep. Schuyler and Senator
Coggeshall (Rep., Oneida. They could
see no good in II and insisted that II had
not been introduced in good faith.
Senator Coggeshall wanted the .resolu-
ton amended to permit the committee to
investigate the lighting conditions In all
OF the cities OF the State. This Senator
Malby opposed, declaring that II there
were complaints from other cities he had
senator Raines also opposed the amend
ment insisting that as the Legislature was
within four weeks Of final adjournment
the investigating committee should not be
hampered with any work outside OF New
York city, because Il might not report 20
the Legislature in time II given rowing
commission,
The Coggeshal amendment was defeated
by a vote Of ~ TO p, Senator'S Amber
L'Homrnedieu, Prime and Wilcox (Repub-
hcans) voting with the fourteen Demo
Gratis for the amendment. The only alb
sentee was Senator Armstrong.
Then by a vote Of SO to 10 the Page reso-
luton was adopted without amendment,
and Il now goes 20 the Assembly for con-
c1rrenoe. The resolution Is not expected
10 have much trouble in getting through
the lower house, The vote by which the
bill passed is as follows:
Ayes-Allds. Barnes, Bracket, Brown,
Burr, Carpenter. Cobb. Cooper, Cordts, Davis.
DrescheT. Elsberg. Fancher, fechter, Ietes'
Goodsell, Hill. HinmGn. Lewis. LHommedleu'
Maiby, MoEwan, PATe, Prime Reinesi SAL
stevens FULLY, WaTnick, and White tkeps.l,
and Foley, Frawley. Hawkins. Keenan, kehoe
and RioTdan Deems
Noes-Ambler CASSIDY, CoRgeshall, Gard
ner and Wilcox Reps Cullen. Doolng,
and MoCarren (Demsl.
The Democrats made a strenuous ehor
70 defeat Senator RAines's bill providing for
taking a census Of the State commencing
in May next and ending In June. when u
oauae up in the Assembly to-day for final