New-York tribune., 1906-04-06
IN SENATE.
Insurance Reform Bills Meet Strong
Opposition, HOzceUer.
- ,reltrranh to The Trihuns ]

TBy Telegraph 10 The Tribunel
Albany. April 5.-All the insurance reform
bills were advanced to the order Of third read
ing in the Senate to-day after the longest de-
bate of the session and after encounterins bit
ter opposition. Amendments were offered and
arguments few thick and fast around the SEN
ate Chamber At one time the debate was so
intense that unknowingly there was an amend
ment added to the bin amending the Penal Code
as to omissions from material documents. which
nullihed the committees intent. war OF words
rose over the importance of a comma. ana nhally
Senator Armstrong allowed the phrase KhoW-
incv omits' 10 he inserted in the bill. thus taxi
ing the responsibility from the official on whom
the committee wanted to fasten IL and saddllnS
il on the underling who did the manual work.
To take up the various suggestions made to-
day the Armstrong committee held long ses-
sion with Charles E. Hughes tonight. What-
ever amendments are decided on vii! be en-
bodied in the bills and presented tomorrow
morning The bills cannot be taken Zip for hnal
passage until Thursday. they will have to be
reprinted.
The bill making it presumptve evidence OF per
jury for official of any concern to swear to two
contradictory statements excited the most violent
opposition Senator Grady rallied against II as
violation Of the rights of the citizen. Senator
Smith declared it was entirely too radical SEN
ators Marks and Esberg maintained that any
perjury could be reached under the present law.
Senator Malby again urged conservatism only
10 be met with the declaration from Senator
Brackett that his consideration" OF the bills
was apparently "mulishness" While the bill
was advanced II is expected TO provoke bitter
fight next week, and may be amended 10 apply
only insurance reports
NO DEBATE ON ONE MEASURE.
Another bill which brought forth sharp argu-
he
agents" to register themselves. Senator Grady
maintained that the big lobbyists" the men
who got the big money were the influential
lawyers who pulled all the wires. but never came
to Albany. Violent argument also arose over
the bill relating to wful omissions from sworn
reports and statements. On the measures rela-
tive to campaign contributions and rebates there
was no debate. The amendments to the general
insurance law were criticised. chiefly because OF
the provisions against assessment companies
and Senator Grady's fear that the agents would
not be paid enough.
The insurance measures had been made spe-
cial order for to-day. When the FIVE bills passed
by the Assembly yesterday were referred TO the
Senate they Immediately we're substituted for
the corresponding bills I'm general orders The
first TO be taken up was the bill prohibiting CAM
paign contributions by corporations Senator
McCarren. the first man to speak, created much
said:
take il that there is no opposition to this
bill one of the most cheerful duties of my long
legislative career is to vote for IL AS nnoer.
stand this bill it will prohibit the collection or
campaign funds from all sources except indi-
viduals. I think in that case every memner OF
the Senate can vote for IT. think mi II MS Wise ss
lation- I haze been curious all my IRE 10 see
the effect of the dissertation or poodle IN
bringing about the political result. Ine people pi
should have the opportunity TO go 10 tne P PoL.s
once at least and choose the officers they want
without the consideration Of money.
No ohiection whatever was offered to the bill
relative 20 the exchange OF real property held
nv Insurance companies, but the next one taken
nm the Perjury bill. threatened to bring the
senate 10 a deadlock AS it was. it was dis
cussed for two hours, until a recess had to be
,aken and finally was advanced only on the un-
derstanding that II "ou'a ns loush' u "'iSi'
on third reading.
Af,ar recess Senator Marks suggested many
amendments TO the measure regarding lobbyists
He declared that no bill could prevent lobbying
hut that by putting obstacles in the way they
might be kept from the Capitol. Senator Grady
demanded that the bill he made 10 include the
.respactable lobbyists, who never leave their
Offices. but pull all the wires by their influence
senator Marks and Senator Elsberg contended
that lawyer who merely gave auNice "aS I'l-
lowing legitimate calling.
No discussion arose over the bill forbiddlhS
rebates over the grammatical construction or
the bill meant to penalize officials or employees
who knowingly omitted material facts from
statements or reports the Senate tied itself into
a hard knot, and finally everybody became so
confused that Senator Armstrong consented TO
an amendment which may weaken the bill con-
siderabIy Many amendments were suggested
10 the bin amending the insurance law generally.
The bill forbidding campaign cohtrlDutlons
nv cornorat tions passed the Assembly this morn
ing without dissent, but was Immediately matted
nv n motion of Mr.. Schoeneck tfep.' OnondaSa)
10 reconsider the by which IL had been
passed The motion To reconsider was laid on
The table carrying the bill with it TO temporary
standstill.