New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-17
ALBANY STORM FEARED
APPORTIONlfENT CAUSE.
Raines Committee Nay Not GiUs
Bill Pleasing to Hughes.


weigh the significance of two or three events OF
the day. While not inclined to believe that
eventually the Governor would not obtain the
things he was after. conservative Hughes sup
porters admitted that they did not expect tho
apportionment committee named by Senator
Raines earlier in the day give the kind Of an
appOrtionment bill which the Governor would
consider desirable. Neither did they think that
the public utilities bill would come through the
Senate without considerably more difficulty than
has seemed likely in the last week.
In fact. those friends OF the Governor who. IN
the midst Of the rejoicing over the generally
favorable outlook for all the features OF the
Hughes programme kept their ears TO the
ground listening for earthquakes. believe now
that some sort Of a disturbance is likely. JUST
what kind Of quake or how violent they can't
predict. They look for it 70 come when the re-
apportionment bill IS presented and they would
not be in the least surprised to have a caucus
over the utilities bill develop volcanic symptoms
in sympathy.
Senator Ranes appointed to-day the Re-
apportionment Committee Senators Tully. Cobb.
Cassidy Smith. FranchOt Giichrist and Agnew.
Republicans and McCarren and Frawley. DEM
Ocrats. The opinion is almost universal that
the committee will present bill after the plan
advocated by Senator Raines-a shift OF Rich
mond County 10 Nassau and Suffolk. and ths
adoption OF the Parsons changes in the 18th
District in New York County.
FULLY NOT LIKELY To BE INJURED.
OF the five upstate men four are reckoned
as favorable TO a redistricting which would not
redistriCt. Senator Tully. the chairman. while
he comes from the Steuben-AHegany district.
which might be changed in reapportionment.
would be likely TO be injured politically by
the change But he is a close friend OF the
Wadsworths, who almost certainly would suf-
trict lines. Senator Cassidy represents the
Schuyler -Tompkins- -Chemung District. which in
any thorough reapportiOnment could not escape
such changes would be most likely to retire
the present senator Senator FranchOt. OF the
Niagara-Oricsns District has factional troubles
on his hands. These would not improve with
any shifting of his territory. which would. IN
deed. unbalance the relations between the
Franchots and the Wadsworths in that end OF
the state And then SANDY" Smith. Lou F.
Payn's Senator. is counted as one OF the op-
ponents Of the Governor almost anything.
without considering a possibility that his
district Putnam -Dutchess-C Columbia would be
split according to some Of the apportionmenr
plans which have been discussed.
Senator Cobb the fifth upstate man. has a
district which would not be harmed IN any gen.
I eraI respportonment. though he IS satisfied
with it as It stands. He Is considered enc Of the
faithful Hughes in the Senate. Senator
Agnew. Of New York also is good Hughes
man. bu- Is not versed in the upstate political
/ controversies which would be precipitated with
Z in the committee by a proposal 70 draft bill
giving a complete readjustment OF counties in
the Senate districts
COMMITTEE SPECULATION.
Then just on general principles. Hughes men
who have tbeen speculatinS about the likelihood
of committee action put the Democrats, Nc
. C'9rreu and F'ravvIsv with rha tOrity Of he
Republicans in the committee. This would leave
poor prospects for the reporting of any plan
likely 70 meet the Governors approval. but
some legislators go even further. and think that
Senator Ciilchrist. of Brooklyn. who is some
times known To follow state Chairman Wood
ruff's directions might act with most cf the
other committeeman against a tearing up OF
the present districts. MI Woodruff it viii be
/ recalled. recently told the Governor that he
thought the two district changes would fix the
state in good shape. although at the state COM
mittee meeting he accepted the Odell amend
ments't TO his resolution. These amendments In
cluded a clause favoring the constitutional re-
apportionment.
Several members Of the committee expressed
. themselves informally to-day as being heartily
in favor Of constitutional reapportionment.'
but many here think that they do not mean by
a constitutional reapportiOnment' what Cover
nor Hughes has in mind Most Of the Senator'S
I maintain that the Raines two district plan
would be constitutional whereas those who have
talked with the Governor know he believes moth
ing less than a fundamentally equal division
of the population Of the state. as nearly as
county boundaries would permit, would meet
the situation This he considers 'an appOrtion-
ment of such character to be of unQues-
toned validity and commend itself to the in
telligent judgment OF the people" Therefora
the Hughes with small doubt in their
minds about the smooth sailing OF the Hughes
programme are wondering what will happen
when the issue between the Governor and the
Senate comes in this case.
Senator Tuy called on the Governor before
leaving the city tonight and is supposed to
have sought his views the subject There is
good reason 10 believe the Governor declined to
express himself except on a concrete appOr-
tionment scheme or a bill passed by both houses.
The public utilities bill TO the Senate
from the Assembly to-day. and referred 10
the Judiciary Committee. which already has the
Fage bill under consideration. Contrary TO ex-
I pectations, the Page bill not reported at the
special executive session to-day. Instead. the
programme now is to take the Assembly bill
and amend it slightly. sending it be reprinted.
/ then to caucus on the amendments on Monday
night The only amendment of consequence will
be one To permit upstate trolley companies 10
! exercise rights already granted TO them by the
State Railroad Commission. without further rati-
/ fcation by the Public Utilities Commission.
UTILITIES BILL OUT OF REGULAR ORDER.
Senator Page served notice to-day that he
would move next week TO suspend the rules OF
the Senate and take up the utilities bill out OF
it's regular order. The understanding is that
| the bill will be made special order for Tuesday
| or Wednesday of next week but in the mean