New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-14
ASSEMBLYMEN FOR BILL
ACTION is UNANIMOUS.
Unexpected Opposition Develops-
UOreIand Measure Reported.
IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.

Albany May I3---U neXpected opposition to tina
Governors public utilities bill broke out in the
/ caucus of Republican AssembIynen tonight
| For nearly three hours they were closeted to-
! gether a good part of the time in bitter debate.
/ and while resolution eventually was adopted
| binding them to vote for the Page draft of the
bill. it was only after hot fight. Assemblyman
! Hastings of Orange, known as Ex-Governor
| OdeIrs man. voted against the bill. but finally
was induced to withdraw his vote, the resolu-
| ton adopted unanimously.
| Assemblyman Norton also. it is understood,
voted against the bill but withdrew his vote
] 10 make the support unanimous The debate
! all came over an amendment presented by AS
semblyman Hooper. of Essex County. vesting
the power of removal OF commissioners IN the
Senate instead of in the Governor. after the
filing of charges as the draft ball finally adopted
provI~ed Much support came for this amend-
ment. notably from Speaker Wadsworth and
Tssemblyman Prentice. of New York. When il
was put TO a vote eight of those present voted
for the Hooper amendment. They were Hooper
himself and Messrs- Prentice. Hammond. schoe-
neck. Voss. Conrady Hastings and Baldwin.
Immediately after the short business session !
the caucus was called to order in the Assembly
parlor, Assemblyman Phillips. of Anegany.
presided John Lord OBrian. of Erie. was Sec
retary, Almost every Republican Assemblyman
was present
AssembIyman Merritt explained the bill IN de-
TAIL After he had finished Mr. Hooper present. I
ed his amendment and the trouble began
Speaker Wadsworth who from the beginning
had announced himself in favor of having the
removal power vested in the Senate defended
his position vigorously.
My position has been made perfectly clear
this provision he said Il have stood
against giving the Governor the absolute power
of removal for many reasons. but it seems the
time has come when I must YIELD as all of US
must"
I Assemblyman Prentice objected vigorously to
I the removal section He found various other
faults in the bill as it stands now. notably with
the provision permitting the issue of short
term notes by railroad companies for improve
ments. He declared that as that provision was
phrased it was ambiguous and would be a
source of constant appeal to the courts.
Mr.. Prentice objected also to the phraseology
of that section Of the bill requiring company
TO obtain permission from the commission to
exercise any right not previously exercised
He maintained that the word was subject to
misconstructiOn. His whole argument was thai
/ Governor Hughes had not had the opportunity
10 draw this utilities bill carefully he drew
/ the insurance legislation. and the measure
/ should he scrutinized diligently by the Legis-
/ lature lest an invalid or Ineffective law be
acted.
+ Discussion then became general The Repub-
Iicans from all parts of the state object
ing 10 various sections Of the bill and de-
rnanding answers to their questions from the
/ friends of the bill. Finally. however. roll
call was forced the Hooper amendment and
it was defeated Overwhelmingly. Then came
/ the roIIcan on the adoption of the bill itself as
a party measure.
\ discussion of ballot reform shut of
! after the bill had been made a party measure.
While the roll was being called cries OF BAL
lot reform! Ballot reformr' went up from uany-
/ of the Assemblymen.
! Speaker Wadsworth jumped to his fsst al
once. 'I move TO adjourn he shouted. "ands.
wish TO announce meeting of the Rules COM
mittee"
| The Democratic AssemblyInen will CAUCUS on
the utilities bill tomorrow. Already thsy have
collected more than fifty amendments which
they expect to present. Chief OF these Is a pro-
vision 10 make the Public Service COMMISSIONS
ers elective
The MoreIand bill authorizing the Governor to-
investigate all state departments personally and
providing money for such Investigations was
reported tonight by the Assembly Rules Com
mittee amended slightly. These amendmentss
will not render the bill less drastic, and, IL isl
understood. have been agreed to by friends oc
the Governor. Only one amendment was oS
much Importance. In the original bill 1T wasa
specified that the Governor might investigated
departments at any time. and must investigated
all the departments once in three years. This
mandatory three-year feature has been stricken
out.
As the bill now stands. and II undoubtedly
Will be passed it gives the Governor power to-
investigate personally or by personally appointed
deputies every department bureau division
Of the state. Almost unlimited powers of ex-
animation are conferred on him and his exam
/ iners They may issue subpRnas and compel
the attendance of witnesses and the production
of books and papers not only of state DEPART
ments but of counties cities. All this the
Governor believes necessary for the fulhment
of his promises to that the state and it's
divisions SO far as his jurisdiction lies. get a
proper administration.
1t is probable that a committee on reap
portionment will be named in the Senate this
week and get to work, Immediately on draft
ing a reapportionment bill Senator Raines said
he hoped that an apportionment bill could be
| presented this week. He himself seems TO have
changed his attitude little as to the bill he COZ
1