New-York tribune., 1906-04-26
SECRET SESSION HELD.
THE GOVERNOR ATTENDS.
ReapportiOnment Bill Discussed :
Probable Upstate Changes.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Albany April 25-Preparatory to reporting the
reapportionment bill tomorrow or Friday, the
committee held secret session tonight 10 get
the lay of the land" The Governor was at the
meeting, and canvass of the committee showed
that little difficulty would be experienced in hav-
Ing whatever plan he favored reported and
passed by the Senate. The meeting tonight
that a party caucus will be called on the reap
portionment bill
The committee has practically decided on
rough draft of the new upstate districts. which
will suit the Governor and his advisers.
= In New York County the Parsons plan. from
all indications, will go through without material
change, while the Woodruff plan for Kings will
be adopted. Senator Davis of Buffalo, has pre-
pared a map Of Erie which is likely 20 be
adopted. To all these the Governor has agreed
or the members of the reapportionment COM
mittee Senator Lewis, the chairman and SEN
ators Page, White Gardner and McCarren will
stand for the Governors selection The other
members for the Senate are Raines MaIby
Davis and Grady, and ii is not unlikely that
Senators Raines and Davis will be found favor
ing the plan agreed 10 by Governor Higgins
This plan once reported by the committee about
thirty members of the Senate will be for IT..
according to a conservative estimate made to-
night. Some opposition. in all probability will
come from Oden men, but with the pressure of
the Governors wishes and the committees re-
port the bill is not expected TO encounter ma
terial delay.
The Governor held conferences to-day and to-
night with many of the political leaders. who
gathered here in swarms. He talked long with
Congressman Parsons head of the New York
County Republican Committee. and with George
". Aldridge, State Railroad Commissioner. about
the plans. Among the other prominent poll
ticans called here by the redistricting plans
were John F. OBrien. Secretary of state; Su-
pertntendent Hendricks. OF the Insurance De-
partment; William Halpin, OF New York County.
Charles H. Murray and John T. Mott
Some details Of the contemplated changes in
the upstate Senate districts have leaked out. The
district represented by Senator Cassidy
practically will be abolished. Chemung County
probably will be added TO steuben, which now
forms part of Senator Tully's district, while the
rest of Senator Cassidys territory will be di-
vided between the 3Sth District, represented by
Senator Hinman of Broome, and the 42d.
whence comes Senator Raines, Of Ontario.
Senator racket seems likely to lose Washing
ton County, which now. with Saratoga and
Schenectady. forms the 2Sth District. This may
have considerable effect on his political power.
Washington County is scheduled TO go with
Clinton and Essex, the stronghold of John F.
O'Brien, Secretary Of State. From that district
Warren County will be taken. TO be added TO
Montgomery. Fulton and Hamilton schoharie
County viii be put into the district with Otsego
and Herkimer. Senator Allds's district. consist
ing of Chenango, Sullivan and Delaware. prob
ably will be carved Several other adjustments
and shiftings of upstate counties are likely. 10
keep the average of population. No radical
gerrymander is contemplated The districts
laid out in the new map will be fairly regular.
In Kings County Timothy l. Woodruff is
credited with having made a good job Under
his plan there will be four Republican districts,
with one debatabe, the Brooklyn Republicans
maintain. Senator McCarren, however. seems
tished with the plan. and therefore will stand
with the committees report