New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-08
STEVENS MOVE FAILS.
Senate Votes Not to Take Bank
Inquiry from Committee.

fslature, as contemplated In the concurrent ie'-
oution adopted early in the session by the AS
sembly, which has ever since been sumbering
in the custody of the Senate Committee on FL
nance. If there be any investigation at all OF
Superintendent Kilburns department 1t VIII
probably be by the special commission. con-
sisting of Alton B. Parker. of Esopus and
Charles Andrews Of Syracuse both ex-chief
Judges of the Court of Appeals. This at least
is the consensus of opinion tonight as the re-
suit Of to-day's proceedings in the Senate
After an. especially acrimonious discussion, the
bill embodying this proposition. which was pre-
sented by the Finance Committee. was received
and placed on the general orders calendar for
the attention of the Committee of the Whole.
BY a vote of 80 to 49, the Senate refused to take
from the Finance Committee the Assembly res
oluton providing for legislative investigation.
defeating a motion made by Senator Stevens,
chairman of, the Senate Committee on Banks
Chairman Malby of the Finance Committee
is confined. by illness to his home in Ogdens-
burg, but Senator Raines read telegram
from him congratulating the committee its
bill. It is assumed that If present he would
have Joined in it's support. The vote in detail
follows:
AYEs--Arnrstrong, Bracket. Carpenter, Cobb,
Davis. Drescher, Esberg, Fechter, Foley, Hill,
keenan, Leyis. Marks Page. Quinn. SAKE Stevens
NoEs-Aiids. Barnes. Brown. Burr. Cassidy.
gerald Frawley Gardner, Gates, Goodsell Grady,
Me5sTgg dKns kHhee Ra6e Rordsn sth
Tuly, White. Wicox-S0.
MR. STEVENS ATTACKED.
The debate on Senator Stevens's motion to re-
commit was sharp and at times personal, Sem
ator Raines accusing Senator Stevens of using
the opportunity to exploit his name and in
terests.
at is hardly commendable," said Senator
Raines. "for the Senator to buttonhole every
Senator he can find before the session and try
by favor to secure his support for his motion to
recommit, and I say that such actions are I'M
necessary and unbecoming. The Senator should
remember that there is bribery by money and
bribery by favor, and when he asks a Senator
to support him favor it comes under
OF these heads"
Senator Stevenss voice was trembling, and his
face flushed with Indignation he rose and de-
manded:
Did you ever hear that I asked a Senator to
vote for measure proposition a favor
to me, or that ever attempted to bride SEN
ator?"
Senator Raines reiterated his remarks and
said that he had heard that Senator Stevens
had approached Senators and asked their sup
port
At this moment Senator Elsberg interjected a
question to Senator Raines: (which is worse
bribery for money. bribery for favor?'
Senator Raines turned quickly and replied:
Bribery for money. far as it affects thu
Penal Code may be worse. but the effects of the
other may be terribly bad"
This interchange followed an attack by Sem
ator Stevens the proposition involved in the
bill. He referred to his own resolution, de-
feated In the committee providing for a spe-
cial legislative committee to investigate the
Banking Department and declared that this
bill would never satisfy the people, who de-
manded full knowledge OF conditions in the
banking department.
Those opposed to the investigation. said Sem
ator Stevens, had raised hue and cry that an
investigation would be dangerous. would cause
a financial panic, and that if the committee had
an attorney he might lead the committee into
sensationasm. He declared that no disturb
ance would result from the investigation and
said the present makeshift proved that those
charged with the responsibility for the present
situation Sinking their duty and depriv-
ing the people of the kind of investigation
TO which they were entitled.
DEBATE BECOMES GENERAL
It was here that Senator Raines attacked the
motives of Senator Stevens.
1T seems to me-" he said, that it comes with
i'll grace from the Senator who for four years
has been a member of the Committee on Banks.
with plenty of time TO draft amendments to the
Banking law, to comment upon it's inadequacy"
The insurance investigation had developed rot
tenness. Senator Raines continued, without
causing financial disaster but in the case of
banks and trust companies it would be different,
for when the finger of suspicion, however I'M
justly was pointed at any financial institution
IT took only little to produce profound results
1T was easy to draw checks and withdraw de-
posts.
Senator Coggeshan sarcastcally remarked that
William J. Bryan, D. Cady Herrick and William
r. Hearst ought to be added to the committee
ALSO rams" and so that they might divide
the $4,000 appropriated by the bill. He &C
cused Senator Stevens of having been bitten by
the reform bug
Senator White said he could not understand
how Senator Stevens had come to change his
mind. At the beginning of the agitation he had
advised him CWhite) against an investigation.
'IluInined by the good work. and thrilled by
the results of the insurance Investigation" con-
tinued Senator White. there are 1 am informed
thirty-eight resolutions before this legislat-
ure providing for the Investigation of about
every conceivable thing in the state. Let us lay
aside our duties as legislators and resolve our
selves into commfttee to Investigate all the de-
| partments and Syndicates concerning whose
operations the members desire information
Senator Foley expressed the belief that the SUI
perintendent Of Banks was being made a scape-
goat In order TO protect certain financial institu-
items Il believe" said he. that Superintend-
ent Kilburn is above reproach. but 1 believe also
that certain financial institutions are not above
reDroach.'
Senator Marks characterized the denial OF a
legislative investigation and the proposition 10
commit the investigation to outsiders as an in
! suit TO the members of both houses.
Senator Grady said that bank investigation
| would certainly be conducted in the same man
! ner the insurance and gas Investigations
| Replying to a question whether there were not
men in the Legislature capable of carrying on
| such an investigation properly. he replied:
! , Yes ana no. There are men competent, and