New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-02
INQUIRY MORE LIKELY.
OPPONENTS COUNT COST.
Governors Stand Setback for Them
plans for Delay.
TBy Telegraph 10 The Tribune ]

Albany. Feb. 1.-Opposition to the demand for
an investigation of the State Banking Depart
ment has developed into a policy of "sit tight
ana say nothing" The Senators who are fight
ing to stave off the inquiry know that delay
Just now means much-that delay for two or
three weeks might mean a postponement of the
inquiry or curtailment of its scope because it
would sink to a place below the insurance legfs-
lation They are using their utmost efforts to
prevent any progress.
There was manifest to-day a slight chanes y,
front on the part of the Senators who are trv
ing 10 oiock the inquiry. little uneasiness be-
cause governor Higgins had taken the decided
s'a-iu that ne would have nothing whatever to
uo Win the hoId-up. Even Senator Malby's COM
0i4'' 1Aahk heaven. we have the statement
from competent authority that the Governor
is not implicated" shows in some degree their
hho"Ieoge OF the trend Of opinion against them.
II 'hsy care 10 take hard knocks they know
they can delay the inquiry, but they are begin-
Ang 10 count the cost, and by so much the pros
pect looks more favorable for the passage of the
resolution 1t is believed that the Dar,ocrat 20
VIII Iavor its passage. simply as a party nolicv
anu "nIe the supporters of the resolution are
ho' yet conndent they believe that the loudly
effect. " having i's
GoNethor Hlggins's statement last night that
the leaders in this opposition in no way repra
sented him or his sentiments in some measure
look the wind out of their sails but TODAY they
were repeating that they indicated the wishes
oI Ihe administration" They hope by this course
TO create some public sympathy with their nosi
uon' put seem likely instead to force the Gov
erhor into some more exploit disavowaI of any
desire TO have the Assembly committees resolu
lion killed off-possibay by q message TO the
senate urging action on II 'a~--------
Ihe Assembly leaders who passed the resolu-
ton 50 quickly are chafng under the fnaction
OF the Senate. They realize that the Senate
Finance Committee contains many members
avowedly hostile TO the resolution. and are pre-
pairing themselves for fight They hope to
bring the resolution out on the floor and put
on record those who are now fighting under
cover to kill it They feel. as we'll as the COM
bination of Senators against them. the danger
to the resolution from delay
The stubborn resistance OF group of Sen
atorS to the public demand voiced by the reform
leaders in the Assembly was still apparent to-
day Pleading the exigencies Of party politics,
some Of these Senators are urging in support
OF their attitude that so many Investigations
are bad for tha Republican party"
The Speaker and his leaders. Moreland, VAIN
wright, Hooker. Phillips. Agnew and others
declare that the best possible party policy is 10
investigate every department against which
there exists the slightest suspicion in the public
mind, and either show ground for blame
by the most rigid reforms show the public that
the Republican administration deserves conf
deEce and support
There seems little hope Of any action before
Tuesday when the Finance Committee OF the
Senate will meet Then. If the close watch
which the opponents Of the resolution are keep
Ing on the public demand has satisfied them that
IL would be unsafe TO stife it. il may be re-
ported favorably. But MaIby and Raines and
Cassidy and COggeShall and the others who
against the inquiry old war horses who have
outliVed many storms. and they not espe-
Cially gloomy at the present outlook Senator
Malby still maintains that ne can see no great
need for haste in reporting the resolution and IL
may be next week. or two weeks. or several, be-
fore It appears. unless the Governor intervenes
or the advocates of the inquiry obtain some new
weapon to use against the opposition