New-York tribune., 1906-04-10
AT ALBANY
SESSION LITTER MIDNIGHT.
Democrats Block Legislotiom-AU
Republicans Support Speaker.
[Ry Telegraph 70 The Tribune. ]


Albany, April 9.-The Democratic minority of
the Assembly came out from cover might with
a policy of obstruction. Their avowed purpose
was to delay the final adjournment Of the Leg
islature Led by Assemblyrnan Palmer of Scho-
harie, the minority leader they objected to the
advancement of every bill and forced so many
roll calls that calendar which would ordinarily
have been finished in hour made to take
five
Mr. Palmer declared that the Republicans
were gagging debate by sheer force Of numbers
and the arbitrary rulings of an "autocratic
Speaker" and announced that from this time
the minority would expect no courtesies from
the majority and would extend none" Where
upon the Republican members rallied around
Speaker Wadsworth, declaring that they would
stand by his rulings against the minority to
a man. and announced that If necessary they
would remain in the chamber all night
Bill after bill, as it came up the calendar,
was forced to a rolIcall, until everybody was
desperate but neither side was inclined to yield.
Mr. Rogers offered kind Of compromise resolu-
tion, that ali the second reading bills be put over
until tomorrow, that the debate over Senator
Malbys bills, which began this fight, might be
taken up. His motion voted down. however,
by the Republicans and the fight went on.
The quarrel tonight outgrowth of the
defeat of Mr.. Palmer, in his attempt to revise
the journal of Friday by inserting amend
ment declaring that the Speaker made an unaw-
full ruling when he refused Mr.. Palmer permis-
sion to debate the Ogdensburg charter bills on
the order of third reading. Mr.. Palmer demand
ed that the journal of Thursdays session be re-
vised.
ION Thursday" he said, 81 insulted on
the floor of this house. In direct violation of the
rules of the assembly, was refused the right
to debate a bill on the order of second reading
When 1 tried to make a point of order the
Speaker, backed up by the majority, refused to
give me recognition. He used the gag and his
gavel to break the pledge that he gave TO this
Assembly when he elected TO his high office
Assemblyrnan Merritt, of st. Lawrence, de-
Tended Speaker Wadsworth and the action OF
the House.
"The Assembly is longer In doubt as to
the scheme the minority leader is engineering"
he said TT is too thinly yelled to deceive It is
q scheme of flibuster and obstruction purely,
palpabe attempt at mal6ing political capital out
or nothing The proceedings Of this house on
| Thursday were uproarious. but they were law
full The minority leader denied the privi-
Iege of debate. for which he loudly clamored
because the previous question had been ordered
| before he began, and the previous question:
when ordered. cuts off all debate. 1t seems to
me the Democrats must be pretty hard up for
| issues If they must descend TO such puhy one
| as this"
! Mr.. Moreland, of Chemung, characterized the
Democratic fight as a hlibuster, and Mr. Bur
nett, of Ontario, moved the previous question on
! the Palmer amendment TO the journal 1t was
! defeated by vote of s4 TO is. all the Repup-
Iicans standing together. Then the journal OF
Thursday was approved by similar vote ana
| the Assembly proceeded to the calendar
Mr. Palmer waited no longer openly TO begin
obstruction tactics. He tried to hold up the
! first bill. a measure amending the charters OF
second class cities. Chairman Wemple moved
Continued on second page.