The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-06
TAX BILLS TANNED THROUGH.
THE ASSEMBLY DOORS LOCKED
AND GUARDED

frOm hlngs Hau the Courage 60 Vote
Y Against the stock Transfer Tax Blu
ALBANY, April 5.-Plainly declaring that
Il was against their will and that II they
we're free 10 exercise their own opinions
and 70 follow the wishes of their constitu-
ents they would never do as they were
doing, all but two Republican members OF
the Assembly voted for the stock transfer
tax bill late this afternoon. This bill was
passed by vote OF OF TO A.. The no Z
gage tax bill was pa 'sed by vot, Of o5 to
81. four Republicans having the courage to
vote against il.
Never was there such an example Of
obedience to the will Of a Boss az was pre-
sented in the Assembly to-day. OF all the
New York county Republicans members,
the only one who had the moral courage
70 vote a. his conscience dictated and as
his constituents wanted was As5embyma n
Hartman Of the Tenth district Assem-
blymeh Agnew, Stanley, Prentice and
Wainwright took the floor TO tell how bad
they felt about voting for the bills. and
how they knew that the bills were inequita-
lie and unjust, but they pleaded that they
we're bound by the caucus action 70 support
them. Each one declared that he knew
that the passage Of the bills meant the
death knen OF the Republican party in New
York city, but still they had TO bow TO the
will Of their boss. Benjamin B. Odell Jr.
who Is now somewhere in Europe.
AsSemblyman Hartman said in voting
against the stock transfer tax bill: Il love
the commercial supremacy Of New York
city and love TO think Of IL as such. ! shall
vote to retain that supremacy
And on the mortgage tax bill he said
i came TO the Assembly to represent my
constituents. They want me to oppose
this tax which is an additional burden
on the poor and also on the thrifty, and
/ shall do So"
Assemblyman Cotton Of Kings was the
only other Republican who voted against
the stock transfer tax bill. Assembly
men Cotton, Hartman and Pendry Of Kings
and Moreland Of Chemung were the Repub-
licans who voted against the mortgage
tax bill. Mr. Pendry described the Re-
publican party as going of on political
jag in the matter Of tax legislation.
Assemblyman Hartman charged his Re-
publican colleagues with not having the
courage OF their convictions. He had
entered the caucus unwillingly and not
understanding what il meant 10 60 into a
caucus, but as he had fought the tax pro-
position there and ever since, he thought
he had a right TO exercise his own judg-
ment and follow the wishes of his con-
sdtuents.
Other members took occasion to say
that they bowed to the will Of the ma
jority and as their State leader had de-
clRred for the Till they had no other alter
native than to follow his commands. But
they knew that II would have a disastrous
effect upon the future Of the party and
also upon their own political futures.
The passage Of these two bills was charac-
tsriEed by as disgrscefu a scene Of jamming
as has ever been known in the Assembly.
When it came time for vote the doors
we're barred and guarded so that no member
could get out Even then II was feared
that the meek Republican Legislators would
resent the playing Of the party lash about
them, and II they had an opportunity, would
get out Of the chamber so as not to be re-
corded But Speaker Nixon was bound
to have all recorded one way OF the other.
He moved among the Republican members
on the floor Of the House and conversed
with them and kept them in line.
But there was one hitch in the programme
that had been mapped out by the Odell
triumvirate Of legislative leaders The
bills did not get into the hands of Gov.
Higgins tonight, as had been expected.
1t he'd been thought that the bills could be
disT osed Of after few hours debate, but
the members demanded the right 10 TN
limited debate and consequently it was
not until Ssh P. NJ. that the mortgage tax
al eff
debated since ll.3O A. NJ. The bill how
ever, will go to the Governor in the morn
ing. Whether he viii give hearing on it is
problematical.
With but one OF two exceptions, the en-
tire delegation Of Republican Assembly
men from New York city went to the Gov
ernor early to-day and asked him 10 use
his influence in having action on the bills
postponed. All Of the members told what
effect the hills would have on them and
the future Of the party. But the Governor
said he would not interfere, and he also
told them that he had often seen the I3e-
publican party wrecked through some acts
Il had committed. but that Il always
managed to be returned to power. Then
they went 20 Speaker NiAon and made
the same request Of him. Assemblymau
Agnew said TO him
There is no use in tanning them through.
You have the votes, 30 what Is the use Of
this hRsteg'
But The Speaker told them that members
had remained over 10 vote on the bills and
be was going 20 pass them to-day.
As a reward for what they did 70 -day,
Speaker Nixon saw that they Asse mblymen
were served with ham sandwiches and
imported ginger ale for lunch
GOVERNOR DEFENDS THE BILL
Tonight Gov. Higgins gave out the fol-
lowing as being the statement he made 10
the Republican Assemblymen who waited
upon him this morning:
The main opposition TO the mortgage
tax bill proceeds from organizations Of
leaders, men Of large capital who are able
10 employ counsel TO come to Albany to
oppose the adoption Of q law which in
form Il not in effect s a Law 10 reduce taxa
ton on mortgages. The people who own
the small farms or the little homes which
serve only A. a shelter and produce no
revenue and the renters In tenements rely
upon the good viii and fairness OF their
representatives IN the Legislature for their