New-York tribune., 1907-04-18
HUGHES KILLS CANARD.
Attempt to RecOmmit Gomez Fire
Cent Fare Bill Fails.
- TeleEraph 70 The Trleune. ]

Albany. April 17.-Attempts to recommit ths
Wagner bill providing for a five-cent fare to
Coney Island were defeated IN the Assembly to-
day by vote of "A to 40 after one OF the sharp
est fights Of the year. Acting under orders, AS
sembIyman NIoreland. the majority leader
moved 10 send the bill to the Committee on
Railroads. basing his arguments on the ground
that the passage Of this bill would emascuIats
the Public Utilities bill by taking from the COM
mission appointed by the provisions OF thse
measure powers expressly provided by IL for the
commission To influence members OF the ma
jOrity party 10 vote for recommittaI a rapork
was generally circulated. and for a time believed
by many. that Governor Hughes desired ths
measure killed.
This attempt to shoulder on Governor Hughes
the onus Of killing the bill had It that Speaker
Wadsworth had been sent for by the GOvarno-
and directed to fight the bill. Despite the 4acs
that such an action on the Governors para
would have been entirely against his avOwed
policy of nOn-nterference with legislation, tn
which he has strictly adhered throughout the
entire session, this report gained at first wide
circulation. Governor Hughes said this evenings
that he had adhered TO and would adhere to his
policy of not interfering with legislation In any
way.
when bill comes to me- he declared. chem
is the time for me to act on it. not before =
that I sent for Speaker WadswOrth and ordered
that certain bill. believe the so-caIlsd Five
Cent Fare bill. should be killed to-day There
is no foundation for this statement. I have not
ordered the bill any similar bill to be killed.
I shall assume responsibility with reference to
such measures only as they reach me and as
have opportunity to deal with each specific
measure according to its merits
After the move To recommit had been lost an
other explanation for the affair was advanced
Some legislators said that George w. MOrgan
counsel for the Metropolitan Street Railway
Company. had made a strong fight to have IL re-
committed.
Hardly had Mr. Noreland taken his seat after
moving 10 recOmmit the bill before dozen neul-
berS. Republicans and Democrats. We're endeaV-
motion He asked if he could guarantee
that the Public Utilities bill would be passed
In practically unamended form and IL he
would assure members of the House that the
commission created by the Public Utilities bill
would he able To take up the question of the fare
To Coney Island in time to afford relief this
summer.
At this juncture Mr.. Rogers. OF Broome asked
Assemblyman Merritt, intTOducer OF the Utilities
bill and chairman of the Railroads Committee.
which reported the Wagner bill, why he reported
this bill If he thought 1t would enasculate the
Public Utilities bill Mr.. Merritt replied thar the
bill was reported because the majority OF the
would vote against the motion to recOmmit that
he was ware Of the COney Island situation and
the disgraceful riOting that had been caused by
the attempts to collect a 1O-cent fare last
summer
Amid great excitement members OF both pa--
ties crowded around Mr.. MOreland. urging him
to withdraw his motion to recOmmit The ma
jOrity leader was evidently in a Ouandary Hs
whispered hurriedly with Speaker WadSWOrth
for few moments. then made a direct appeal
20 his party to support the administration"
1T Is cunning attempt on the part OF thu
minority cripple the Utilities biIl' he charged
IF the Utilities bill should later be defeated. o.