New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-15
UTILITIES ADVANCED.
APPORTIONMENT HELD UP
Former to Go Through assembly
To-day-Session Dag Run to June.
IBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune. ]

IBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune
Albany. May 1.-THE Governors public utiI-
tiles bill reported from the Assembly Rules
Committee tonight. and will be passed in the
lower house tomorrow. After brisk skirmish
the Democrats Of the Assembly decided in
caucus to-day 10 vote for the bill on the final
rolcan First they will present numerous
amendments. which of course. will be voted
down So. unless the minority changes its posi-
ton at another caucus to be held before the ses-
sion tomorrow. the utilities bill will be passed
unanimously by the Assembly.
Without much doubt the measure will be re-
ported from The Senate Judiciary Committee at
an executive session TO be held tomorrow morn
ing The hearing promised last week by Sem
ator Davis gave many corporation lawyers a last
chance to-day 10 say few words against the
bill; but no especially burning indictment was
drawn and nobody expects the committee to
change the Page draft of the Governors meas
ure in any way. From the Judiciary Committee
1t will go 10 the Senate Finance Committee. 1t
is probable that the bill Will be reported from
mat committee at once Then as the Assembly
bill will come over TO the Senate by Thursday
it can be substituted for the Senate bill. and so
by Tuesday Wednesday OF next week the
utilities bill should be up for passage by the
Senate
Meantime Senator Page has served notice that
at the meeting OF the Judiciary Committee ha
will move that the recount bill be reported In
all likelihood it will be reported and passed some
time this week despite the opposition of Sena-
tor McCarren. The Assembly should pass the
Moreland department. investigation bill SWIM
nltngy also this week
So OF Governor Hughes's legislative pro-
gramme the only features on which no action is
being taken are the ballot reform and the ap-
portionment propositions On either OF these.
and perhaps on the department investigation
measures as we'll, there IS abundant material for
an outbreak of opposition TO the Governors poll
cies as vigorous almost that which he en-
countered in the Kelsey case. Seemingly, there
viii be no such contest. Yet Senator Raines and
the other Senators who do not agree with the
Governor his reapportionrent views are
standing idle. holding TO their own ideas favor
ing the two district reapportionuents- Again
the talk OF a reapportiOnrnent by concurrent
resolution IS being revived All the symptoms
OF a burning desire 20 fight the Governor on the
apporttonment question manifest, but the
Hughes men think the anti-Hughes Senators
will not have the sand TO stand against the
Governor.
REAPPORTIONMENT COMMITTEE
Senator Raines is expected to name a reap
portionnent committee this week which will
take up the struggle. According to a rurnor to-
night Senator White may be chairman Natu-
rally this committee would favor the plan ad-
vocated by Senator Raines- AS the Hughes
men see the situation. apportionment bill
combining the Parsons plan for revarnping New
/ York City with shift Of Richmond County TO
/ Suffolk and Nassau is almost certain to be IN
troduced, and such bill. they believe, would
be passed. Then. they feel certain. the Gov
ernor would that BILL thus making neces-
sary the introduction OF another measure. or. If
adjournment already had come, a special ses-
sion for the passage of reapportionnent bill.
Rurnors were afioat to-day that Senator Page
was likely 10 present bill embracing an ap-
portionment plan favored by Governor Hughes.
Senator Page has not formulated any plan yet
though he has been considering the subject
somewhat Governor Hughes himself has no
apportionment plan. he made perfectly plain
to-day, because OF reports here attributing an
unavoidable scheme him His friends say
that he is not likely 10 advocate any plan until
the Senate has indicated Enthusiastically its in
tention not to pass what he deems constitu-
tional bill The chief trouble. from the stand
point of the Hughes men, is that twenry-six
votes necessary TO pass apportionrnent
bill. and any complete redistrtcting OF the state
such as the Governor believes is necessary would
be likely 10 disturb almost that number OF dis
tricts. and ALLEVIATE from itself the support OF
most of the Senate.
Otherwise some OF the Governors friends
could Introduce a bill for such redistricting as
would meet the Governors approval and push IL
TO passage despite the opposition OF the Sem
ators who now are holding out for the Two dis
trict plan.
DEMOCRATS FOR UTILITIES
The Democratic Asseublymen adopted this
morning at their caucus a resolution. offered by
AssembIyman Wagner, that they vote for the
public utilities bill the final rollcau- This
decision was reached only after IoEs wrangling
which at times almost disrupted the caucus.
Five members voted against the resolution and
later call for another caucus was issued.
Minority Leader Oliver. who presided at this
caucus. appointed a COMMITTEES TO consider
amendments which will be supported by the
Democrats. This committee decided to advo-
cate among many others. three chief amend
ments-to have one utilities commission instead
Of two: TO have the commissioners elected. and
to have the power OF removal OF commissioners
placed in the Senate.
Tammany leaders recognize that these amend
ments will be voted down They will force
vote on all OF them. and after they have been
defeated will then vote for the bill
There was much opposition 70 the action Of
the caucus among many OF the minority mem
bers influenced by Senator NIcCarren He de-
MED that the Democratic State COMMITTEES
wished the utilities bill supported in it's present
form.
Assemblyman Cuvillier fought the Wagner
resolution from start finish. and his attitude
on the bill IS somewhat significant, as he IS