Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-17
CLERK HAS THE POWER
Fight for the Measure Led by Raines
and Grady.
REVENGE FOR THEIR CRITICISMS
New York Upper House Passes Bill by
80 to Is Giving Clerk Right
to Expel Newspapermen.

ALBANY. January 1.-THE criticism di-
rected by the combined press of the state
against the state senate for trying to emas-
culate the bill prepared by Gov. Charles f,
Hughes as counsel for the Armstrong n
surance investigating committee at the
last session of the legislature has had its
erect Yesterday, by vote of 30 to 49, the
senate amended its rules so as to lodge
with the clerk of the senate the power to
expel reporter from the privileges of the
floor of that body.
OF the senators who voted to amend the
insurance bills last year and who were
returned to the senate, all but two
Human and Whte-voted to give this
power to the clerk of the senate. and the
remarks of Senators Grady, Ranes and
Armstrong, the senate rules committee. in
dictated the intent of the amendment. They
did not try to deny that the intent was to
exclude the newspaper men who might
offend them. Senator Page of New York
said that such an amendment should not
be adopted so as to hold club over the
heads of the newspaper men.
How They Voted.
The senators who refused to place such
power in the hands of the clerk were Ag-
new, Foelker Heacock, Human. Hooker
Page, SAKE, Travis, Tully and White re-
publicans, and Cohalan, Fuller and Tay-
ators present, the absentees being McCar-
rem. Aids. Wilcox, Knapp. McManus and
Smith. Senator Cobb voted in favor of an
amendment to the resolution, but when it
was defeated he switched to the Raines
side. Senators Frawley and Owens also
broke away from me Grady influence on
this same amendment, but got back in line
so that Grady was able to deliver all of the
democratic votes except those of Senators
Cohalan, Fuller and Taylor, whose careers
are such to indicate that he mill
be able to deliver their votes.
one or the most surprising turns was the
attitude of Senator Armstrong. Last year.
when after all day session the senate
had practically killed the general insurance
Dill by amending it, he personally appealed
TO the newspaper men to create a sentiment
In favor or the bill and against amendment
and they responded by printing the truth
about the bills and the devices employed to
XIII them. The next day, stung to the quick
by the criticism and the handling without
groves on the part OF the newspaper CORE
spondents, the senator's reversed their posi-
tlon and to the press Senator Armstrong
gave thanks then for having saved the bills
from annlhilation. But today he was right
in with Raines and Grady
Senator Pages Amendment.
Although 1t was last Thursday that the
rules committee decided to amend the rules
so as to lodge such power with the clerk
1t was not until yesterday that the report
was presented to the senate, and then came
a two hours debate, in which Senator's
Grady and Raines took delight in showing
how little they care for the newspapers.
or at least how little they said they cared
Senator Page, however, was on his feet
with an amendment taking from the clerlt
the power of removal and leaving it with
the senate He said:
we have for many years gone on here
without trouble or difficulty leaving the
power to revoke designations and to re-
move Objectionable reporters from the priv
nges of the floor of this senate in the
hands of a majority of the senate | can
see no good purpose to be served by giving
this power to an officer of the senate I
can see much evil that might result from
the adoption of this proposed amendment
to the rules
Il do not clearly understand the purbose
of the committee on rules in making the
suggested amendment. OF course a mr.
pose might suggest itself to me- but it may
not be the one which was in the minds of
the committee on rules. and that one is
that it is to hold this as club In terrorano
over the, reporters that their comments
upon legislative matters may be couchad
In such polite language that complaint of
the reporters might not be made to q
clerk, and his zeal stirred up to the noint
of exercising the power that has been given
to him.