Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-03
REMARKABLE SESSION
Unique Features of Opening of
New York Legislature.
DEPEW ASKED TO RESIGN
Insurance Disclosures Have Shaken
Confidence in Him.
HIGGINS POINTED MESSAGE.
James w. Wadsworth, Jr, Elected
Speaker of Assembly-odell Quit
Capital, Saying Nothing.
HIGGINS POINTED MESSAGE.

Senator Bracket OF Saratoga, soon after
the New York legislature convened today.
introduced a resolution demanding OF
Chauncey NJ. Depew his resignation as
United States senator from that state. The
resolution in full is follows:
Resolved by the senate, That Chauncey
the people of the state and nation have
been staggered by the relation shown to
have existed for years between the Equita-
BILE Life Assurance Society and Chauncey
NJ. Depew one of the senators of the state
in the United States Congress.
Recognizing that these disclosures have
caused total lack OF confidence in 1hs
ability OF the senator named to properly
represent the people In the body TO which
he was elected,
Resolved. by the senate that Chauncey
NJ Depew be, and he hereby is. requested
to forthwith resign his seat in the United
States Senate
The resolution offered by Senator Brack-
EFT calling for the resignation of United
States Senator Depew was withdrawn.
Albany, n. Y, January 3-The state
legislature convened at noon today for the
129th session under conditions in sons
ways remarkable. The closing of one OF
the bitterest factional fights for the assem-
bly, speakership in many years; the expec-
tation of many that the defeated faction
would at once inaugurate policy OF re-
prisal; the understanding that at the OPEN
ing of the session Senator Edgar 8. Brack-
of Ca
heralded Joint resolution requesting the res
ignataon of United States Senator Chaur-
cey NJ. Depew; the intensity of feeling In
many quarters resulting from the disclos-
ures of the insurance investigaion-ahthe these
things drew upon the opening of the session
today a, degree of public interest greater
and more evident than for many years past
When the resolution was introduced
Senator John Raines said he had not
been staggered by Senator Depew's acts
and failed to see in the resolution any
thing that called for action. He express
ed his surprise that 1t was introduced.
and he moved that the resolution be re-
ferred to the committee on federal re-
lations when appointed. Senator Malby
made a speech in which he said IL Sena-
tor Depew had done anything unlawful
or that untitled him to hold office tho
charges should be framed Immediately.
He eulogized Senator Depew, who. he
said was a grand character. He de-
nounced the attitude OF alleged reform
ers" who kicked every one and made
wild charges.
He declared that only he without sin
should cast the first stone. Perhaps there
were reasons why every senator should be
asked to resign. Yellow dogs, he said. may
be nibbling at Senator Depews heels, but
he has decorated all positions that he has
held The resolution should not be digni-
fed by reference to any committee, but
should be disposed of forthwith, he said.
Might Have Included Platt.
Senator Malby then referred TO the recent
fight for the assembly speakership and sar-
castically referred to Gov. Higgins COM
ments on the independence of the separate
bodies OF the government, and said that
the senate judiciary committee should take
up the matter and report on the governors
interference in the speakership. Recurring
to the Depew resolution, Senator Malby
said that there was no reason why Senator
Bracket should not have included Senator
Platt as well.
Senator Grady, the democratic leader.
asked that the resolution be not pressed at
this time.
Senator Bracket said he was willing for
1t to be put over, but he did not want to
be kissed out of existence
Senator CoggeshaQ said that Senator De-
pew was now Ill and 1t was cruel uncaled
for and brutal for Senator Bracket to pam
der to blatant and morbid public clamor
that is now endeavoring to blast honest
regulations.
There was very much more than the
usual interest also in the annual message
of Gov Higgins to the legislature, which
included important recommendations as TO
life insurance the mortgage tax law. the
rawlings bank surplus tax and electoral re-
form.
Gov. Higgins Message.
Gov Higgins message to the legislature
was awaited with much interest because
of what he might say regarding the legis-
latiye investigation of the insurance COM
panies The governor, in his message,
urged a drastic insurance law. and limited
at the necessity of a like investigation OF
other forms of insurance The governor
saws:
turned toward New York, and If this legis-
lature does not produce insurance law
which shall be drastic but practical, radi-
cal but sane. IN spirit wnich shaH p1
but not hysrerieal, 1t viii fail
to meet the expectations of those who have
confidence in the ability of popular gov
to solve its own problems as they
arise.
Future effective action by Congress or
the federal government is not probable,
and the possibility of such action should
not retard for an instant the work OF the
state.
while life insurance has received al
most exclusive attention, 1T cannot be as
sumed that other corporations dealing in
and investment contracts have
been biameless. and word OF caution may
not be arniss regarding assessment asso-
Citations, accident insurance companies, CO.
fire insurance companies and the
like. Better allow free and unregulated
insurance than permit such concerns to
exist under laws which do not protect our
citizens but enable the promoter of doubt-
full schemes to beguile the investor TO finan-
cial disappointment and fatten himself on
false promises and deluded hopes.
Guaranty Cor Policyholder.
THE policyholder now demands some
thing better from the state than a guaran-
tee of solvency. He has learned that his
will be cheaper and safer when
he companies are compelled to invest their
assefs for his benefit exclusively, and are
prevented from diverting funds to the in
iiv.dual undertakings of speculative di-
-ectors and to the payment Of vast