New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-08
TO PROMOTE UTILITIES.
WOODRUFF At ALBANY.
BeHeUes Governor Will Get What
He Wants.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune !


and his legislative opponents followed the unex-
pected arrival to-day of State Chairman Wood
/ ruff, with his almost unqualified indorsement of
the Governors public utilities bill. Likelihood
of such result. though. seems small indeed
Senator McCarren. the Democratic brains OF
the alliance which saved Otto Kelsey from dis
missaI. forged prominently to the front to-day
In an effort to round up the opposition to the
Governors reforms. not only in the Senate but
in the Assembly. and the Hughes supporters see
peace only the result of the complete defeat
of side or the other
Chairman Woodruff. while expressing his ap-
proval of most of the features of the utilities
bill. distinctly declared that ne did intend to
take any hand in the matter. His attitude he
said was emphatically one of letting the
Legislature alone as was the Governors. He
did not to express an opinion about
the advisability of making the utilities bill the
subject of a party and passing a bill
such as Governor Hughes wants under the whip
of the caucus
Il am in favor of public utilities BILL said
he. in answer to questions Yes. OF the bill
the Governors Enthusiastically as he wants
it. think the subject of the removal OF COM
nissioners is one which safely can be left TO the
Legislature TO decide 1t is open question
Governor Hughes has expressed decided views
on it. Many of the Senator'S I am told. have
just as decided views the other way. Now.
don't why this can't be settled properly and
without too much difficulty. in the Legislature.
after mature consideration
NO ADVICE READY FOR THE PARTY
What do you think of the advisabity of
making the bill party measure by caucus?'
Chairman Woodruff asked.
Why don't know what TO say about that
he replied somewhat hesitatingly. Il don't
want to advise one way or the other When
as
that it not for me TO take any attitude on
legislative affairs 1 the titular head of the
Republican party. and party policies political
affairs come within my province. but I don't
care to take up these questions of legislation
Now. think the Governor will get the bill
just about as he wants it, OF course. there may
be few little amendments here and there
but nothing of Importance Why. even Roose-
Welt, when he was Governor did not get the
bills he recommended exactly he recon-
mended them"
How about the recount bill?'
That's another legislative affair" was the
answer.
What of apportionment? There Is talk of a
caucus on the new apportionment"
Now. that's political affair."" answered Mr.
Woodruff II may have something TO say about
that when IL comes up
/ Chairman Woodruff did not call on the Gov
ernor to-day He made an appointment with
him over the telephone from New York for to-
morrow; then. apparently because OF numerous
/ local measures. he came here to-day. He talked
/ with many Brooklyn legislators and had long
conference with the Speaker Tomorrow he
will call Governor Hughes. and many of the
political wiseacres here are wondering whether
he will consider it advisable to make some
specific announcement about the utilities bin as
a party measure and the necessity Of a caucus
after that interview.
AMENDED BILL PRINTED.
The amended utilities bfr presented last night
by Senator Page was printed to-day and is on
the Senator's desks In the Assembly the Rules
Committee took up Mr.. Merritts bill. which is
almost exactly the same as the latest Page bill.
for discussion. The probability is that 1t will be
reported tomorrow or Thursday in form identi-
cal with the Page bill. unless the Rules Com
mittee makes some sudden move. That would
enable the Assembly take up the measure
for debate on Tuesday of next week. and it
could be passed in two three days and sert
over TO the Senate.
Speaker Wadsworth reiterated to-day his Op-
position to vesting the absolute power OF re-
moval Of the commissioners IN the Governor.
Il am unalterably opposed he said. TO per-
mitting the Governor to have absolute removal
power, TO giving him power TO remove after
the filing of charges and hearing. I think the
removal power should be lodged with the Sem
ate It's just little early To predict whether
there is going 10 be any trouble the bill in
the Assembly. There is no organized opposition
il yet
URGE CALLING A CAUCUS
Supporters of the Governor on all sides to-day
were advocating the calling of a caucus not
only in the Senate but in the Assembly
as the Rules Committee reported to make GER
tain the passage of the utilities bill Governor
Hughes wants it. Republicans who favor
drastic bill argue that this properly is subject
matter for a caucus since it is one OF the most
important measures ever proposed and is essen
TALLY the bill of a Republican Governor. who
wants TO see the Republican party give genuine
service to the people of the state. The Hughes
sembly would adopt the bill precisely as Gov
ernor Hughes favored it, despite all the opposi-
ton which the Speaker might make on the re-
moval section or any, others
In the Senate the situation is somewhat DIFF
ferent Arguing from the Kelsey vote. where
the Republicans were split % TO 10. Hughes
men believe they could control any Republican
caucus in the Senate. In addition TO the 30
who voted 10 remove Kelsey. they figure on
having Hooker TuIly. Franchot and Fancher
with them on the utilities question Friends or
senator Raines though. predict that simply be-
cause of his position floor leader he would
have a following that In any caucus Wouid
make him formidable. They say that Senator
Raines is not opposed TO the utilities bill. and
Senator Raines himself has said that he IS not