The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-08
INQUIRY DEFEATED,
ADVERSE VOTE IN SENATE ON
ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION.

Bill Providing for an Investigation by Ex-
Judges Andrews and Parker Referred
to Committee OF the WhOle-Merritt
Has o Bill to Abolish State Offlces.
ALBANY, March 7.-There will not be a
legislative investigation Of the State Bank
ing Department. This was demonstrated
in the Senate to-day when Senator Stevens's
motion to have the Senate Finance Com
mittee discharged from further considera-
ton Of the Assembly resolution providing
for such an investigation wa defeated
by q vote Of 10 to so.
The forcing to a vote on this question
was brought about by the report Of the
Finance Committee Of a bill providing
for the investigation Of the department
by former Chief Judges Of the Court Of
Appeals, Charles Andrews Of Syracuse
and Alton B. Parker OF New York and
Esopus, q Republican and a Democrat.
Senator Stevens made an attack on the
bill and led the contingent which favors
the Assembly resolution and which the
Finance Committee has refused to report
for the last month. Senator Stevens moved
to recommit the bill with a view Of securing
action by the Senate on the Assembly reso-
luton. A three hours debate followed.
Senators Bracket, Armstrong and Elsberg
supported Senator Stevens's position,
while Senators Raines, Cassidy and White
defended the action of the Finance Com
mittee as we'll as Supt. Kilburn and Gov.
Higgins for the latter's refusal to remove
Supt. Kilburn.
Finally Senator Stevens withdrew his
motion and the Finance Committees bill
was referred to the committee of the whole.
Then Senator Stevens made his motor
to discharge the committee from further
consideration Of the Assembly resolution d.
This was defeated by the following vote:
Ayes-Senators Armstrong. Bracket. Car
penter, Cobb. Davis. Drescher. Elsberg,
Fechter, Hill. Human, Lewis. Page, Sake,
Stevens and Warwick (Republicans). and
Foley. keenan,. Marks and Quinn Demo-
cratsl.
Noes-Senators Aids, Barnes, Brown, Burr,
Cassidy, CogReshall. Cooper, Cordts. Fancher,
Gardner, Gates. Goodsell. L,Hommedieu,
McEwan. Prime, Raines. Smith. Tuly, White
and Wilcox (Republicansl, and Cullen, Fltz-
gerald, Frawley, Grady, Hasenfug. Hawkins,
Kehoe. Martin. McCarren and Riordan Demo
crats).
Assemblyman Merritt continues his ac-
IlNlII III WdLlllIlH W dOOubu otdlS OIlCeB
and changing the existing order Of things.
To-day he introduced bills abolishing the
present Railroad Commission and the Barge
canal land appraisal board. His bills pro-
vide that the terms of the two commissioners
appointed last year by Gov. Higgins shall
terminate on June / next, after which date
there shall be but three members of the
commission. In order to show that he
doesn't hold anything against the new
commissioners the bill provides that the
terms Of the three other commissioners
shall also terminate on that date and that
the Governor shall appoint three new com-
m~issioners. MIR. Merritt explains that the
five headed commission is too large and
that his bills are only in the interest Of
economy.
The introduction Of the bill to repeal the
law creating tho canal appraisal board by
Mr.. Merritt ocoasioned some surprise. be-
cause it was created by Benjamin b. Odell,
Jr. Mr.. Merritt agrees with Gov. Higgins
that the board Is a useless one and that the
State Board Of Claims should do its work,
Assemblynan Louis Bedell, the former
chairman Of the Assembly Railroad Com
mittee, to-day introduced a railroad bill.
it being his first OF the session. 1t prohibits
a railroad employing q man as engineer
unless he has had at least three years ex-
p%erience as a fireman.
A~ssemblyman Yale Of Putnam county
introduced a bill which places all highways
that New York city shall build in Putnam
county under the Jurisdiction Of the State
Engineer, TO be built under his direction.
Senator Page (Rep.. N. " and Assem-.
blyman Downing (Rep., BROOKLYN intro
duced a bill amending the mortga ge tn
law Of last year 30 as to meet the wishes OF
the New York city interests opposed d 10 the
existing law. The bill is the result OF the
conferences held by the New York city
members Of the Legislature. A subcom-
mittee Of five members was appointed TO
IL was decided that a re cording tax Of one
half Of 1 per cent. should be exacted on al
mortgages fled. There will be no exemp.
tions from the recording Zee, It 70 believes