New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-04
POINT FOR KELSEY MEN.
WITNESSES TO BE HEARD.
Hearing Mast End on april 1s,
HoSUeUer.
Inr relerrnph % rhe TrIbune. J

Albany, April 3--Two hard fought battles over
further procedure in the Kelsey case to-day left
the Kelsey men in the Senate judiciary Committee
in possession of everything they want. By vote
OF TO 4 the combination which tried two weeks
ago to force the Senate TO hear the entire testi-
rnony compelled the Judiciary Committee to-day
to consent TO the subpenaing of all the witnesses
Mr. Kelsey wants and their examination under
OATH and TO go to the Senate itself for power to
administer oaths and issue subpoenas. One grain
Of comfort for the Governor may be extracted from
the result OF the two bitter fights to-day-April u
has been fixed the time limit for further hear
ings. BY a week after that the committee should
be prepared TO make q report TO the Senate, The
case subsequently, will be handled from present in
dications just as Senators Raines. McCarren and
Grady deem best. Many here suspect that this
time limit was fixed. not from any desire to close
the case 20 suit the Governors feelings, but be-
cause about the time the Senate must be debating
Superintendent Kelseys fate II must also be con-
sidering the Public Utilities bill.
And moro than ever the emphasis attached to
prevalent query which issued from the camp Of
the Governors opponents yesterdays wonder
which the Governor would rather have. Kelsey dis
missed his Public Utilities bill passed'-seems to
typify the existing situation far the Gov
ernor's enemies concerned
The final test came resolution presented by
Senator Grady. allowing the Kelsey lawyers 70
present all witnesses and whatever dispositions they
desire at three hearings before April Y. and COM
polling the judiciary Committee to go to the
Senate authority to administer oaths issue sub
poenas and hire stenOgrapher. On this the vote
stood: Ranes. McCarren. Grady. Aids. Human.
Smith. Grattan, Cohalan and Davis. for; Arm
strong, Page, Cobb and Taylor, against.
OPINIONS AS TO EFFECT DIFFER WIDELY.
Opinions from Governor Hughes's friends as TO
the effect of this differ widely.
DO feel satisfied with it?" retorted one OF the
faithful four. well. I'm like the dog that climbed
a tree. You know. the story goes on about the
tremendous grizzly bear which chased the dog
getting and neaFer. until finally in despera-
ton, the dog climbed a huge tree But dog
can't climb tree, says the fellow who is listen
ing to the yarn 'Confound i'll my dog just natural
ly had to- says the owner OF the accomplished ca
nine. There you've got it ALL
THE Governor is satisfied" said a man close to
him. IF the other fellows are. much the better
There is a definite time fixed for the closing
OF the case It won't be dragging along for months
The Governor wants TO 1t ended. naturally.
Another thing. II there should happen 20 be any
thing in the report OF the committee which the
-FOUR men VINO voted against tO-day's resolution
don't approve they will be perfectly free 10 take
up the affair IN the Senate. They're not bound
they would be IL they had voted for this reso-
luton although they favored the time limit"
Senator Raines considers the action OF the COM
mittee to-day a complete vindication OF his former
attitude that the committee had not power to go
ahead without having its procedure authorized by
the Senate The insistence laid on the power OF the
entire Senate at this juncture has raised some
men over the Senate itself is strong as 1t seems
10 be over the Judiciary Committee. 1t may not be
a part of the plan 20 have the Senate take the
case away from the committee tomorrow Hear
ings by the Senate would completely disarrange
the entire legislative programme, and many who
might vote for Mr. Kelsey a pinch would hardly
go SO far as to vote to make the Senate sit half
the summer But Senator Raines now is In the
saddle and his friends make no secret OF his feel
ing OF resentment because the Governor chose
rafh
him. the leader OF the majority party.
ARMSTRONG SUGGESTION VOTED DOWN.
The executive meeting OF the judiciary Commit
tee this morning left the friends of the Governor
apparently in the ascendant. but no real con-
clusion had been reached When the committee
convened az 10 o'clock Senator Armstrong sug-
gested that no further hearings be held. but that
the case as II now stands be submitted to the Sen
ate Sentiment was overwhelmingly against that
course, so ne suggested another course moving
formally that the hearing close on Friday AFTER
the witnesses from the Insurance Department had
been heard This pressed TO a vote and de-
feated Those for It Armstrong. Page. Davis,
Hinman. Cobb and Taylor. Against-Raines. Nc
Carren Grady. Aids Smith. Cohalan and Taylor.
Next Senator Grady presented resolution that
all the time they required be allowed the kelsey
lawyers and that they be permitted 20 summon
"a many witnesses as they liked. After hot
debate this too, was voted down on tho same line
IN with the exception OF Cohalan. as on the
rrs,,io,s motion COhalan shifted 20 the Govern
or.s side BY this time IL was l10O o'clock and tho
committee had 20 adjourn to let Senator Raines
preside over the Senate.
Immediately after adjournment another executive
session was held. Senator COhalan had been talk
ing about a resolution 20 fix a limit the hear
ings Senator Davis presented one limiting the
time and specifying that there be only seven wit
uesses summoned including Messrs. Paterson and
Appleton from the Insurance Department. Il did
not suit Senator Grady. though, and he amended
IL 20 permit all the witnesses desired 20 be sum-
moned. He also changed the date OF the next hear
ing from Friday 10 Saturday. AS adopted. this
resolution, with Mr. Grady's amendment. read:
The present inquiry shall be continued at
ing afternoon and evening; April IL, afternoon and
evening and April 12, morning. afternoon and
evening" for hearing Of such witnesses as may be
produced, and the submission or such depOsitlons
ana documents as may be offered and the hearings
shall he closed az that time. And for the purpose
az securing the testimony OF such witnesses this
eenate eu1power the committee TO administer Oaths,
issue subpenas, hear counsel ana employ stem
ographers
Against this tho Governors side mustered four
votes Immediately after the session Senator Arm
strong had a long talk with Governor Hughes. He
said he thought Il victory for the Governors
side since IL set a limit by which the hearings
must be ended, and thus prevented further delay,
Governor Hughes declined TO discuss the action OF
che committee. Senator Raines said that this
tireiv bore out his contention that the committee
was acting without due process of law, and should
have its procedure authorized by the Senate.
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