New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-25
PROGRAMME AT ALBANY
BUSY WEEK PROMISED.
Utilities Bill Hearing and Kelsey
Examination Important Features.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]

TBv telegraph to The Tribune
Albany March 24-Though this will be a busy
week in both houses Of the Legislature two things
VIII overshadow all other developments-the hear
ing on the Governors Public Utilities bin on
Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary and AS
sembly Railroads committees and the continuation
- The Kelsey defence on Thursday before the Sen
ate judiciary Committee Much interest IS being
displayed here in this first formal discussion Of the
utilities hlll and much speculation IS rife 70 the
FORM opposition 10 the measure viii take From
The developments at this hearing the Governors
friends think they get a fair indication q
what they VIII have TO fight 70 pass this bin. In all
probability amendments viii he suggested or
offered formally then which will he pressed in sub
sequent committee meetings or the floor OF the
senate This hearing. in short win be the first
skrmish Of the battle, and VIII disclose practically
al the enemies plan Of attack
AZ the same time there viii he considered IN
cordance with the clever tactical move OF Senators
Grady and McCarren several days ago. the Grady
hi,l 10 establish board Of control for public uti-
ites in New York City, and the McCarren hill 70
give The powers OF the Rapid Transit Commission
10 the Board OF Estimate and Apportionment- Sen
ator Grady has not been in tire Senate FOR several
days. though he has been active in other sections
OF this city. hut Il Is expected that he will be
the committee meeting on Wednesday. Senator
McCarren also IS a member Of the judiciary Com
nsittee. These two looked on here the lead
the legislative enemies the Governors bill
Enough Senator Cassidy IS likely o give them
measures be considered AZ the time as the
Governors hill viii give them excellent oppor-
sunity 10 suggest consolidation of the three meas
ures amendments 10 make one conform tho
others Thus the way WIZ be open for dozens OF
suggestions for mutilating the Page-Merritt It'll
flies bill
RAINEss OPPOSITION CARRIES WEIGHT.
Some question has been raised here since Senator
Rainess attitude against the Governor on the KEEL
-4-ou IA ,Fut- ysI,T
lion last week whether he would be against the
Public Utilities bill 1t has been common talk
that he did favor the Massachusetts ballot.
Though IN this he has been only one OF many poll
ficlan-leEisators who have practically killed al
hope Of the Governor getting this part OF his
form scheme from the Legislature. his opposition
carried weight because az his position as majority
leader. Similar opposition 10 the Governor on the
utilities hill might produce complications. the
Governors friends probably will want a caucus OF
she Republicans called 10 consider the bill and
make Il caucus measure
The Kelsey defence wiz he taken up again on
Thursday. Sensational evidence is promised IN
his favor for that time. This is believed TO be
letters showing that he consulted the late Governor
Higgins about the retention OF Messrs Hunter and
Vanderpoel respectively deputy superintendent ana
chief examiner Many persons here cannot see
how even that can help him much. IN view Of the
fact that Governor Hughes early last summer then
not discussed candidate. urged him 70
discharge those men, and his advice was seconded
by Senator Armstrong AT the meeting Of the Bar
Association. which Superintendent Kelsey barely
recolected
Up 10 date Mr.. Ke,sey's lawyers have presented
testimony and exhibits amounting TO about two
hundred thousand words. ard they have Just got
good starr II the!r case Hundreds CT exhibits are
stin 10 Re presented. and many more witnesses
examined. II they have their way. TIE tine neces-
sary 10 have all this material printed and cons.d-
cred By the committee can well be imagined. Long
before the committee could get through the mass
40
3orTned The salient facts brought 2ut 20 far seem
10 prove that supertrte7dent KeIssy vas at his
desk every day. that he hundreds OF letters.
that he Cseo Eis best Judgment IN raising on de-
paEtmental adai:s presented hv his subordiua.eE
sometimes turuj2g down .e.r suggestions in favor
OF suggestions offered by persons outside tho de-
partment in whom ne had csnedence: +Est be ere
sentco a preliminary aanGal report ~ the rae.s-
nature early IN "a year. wnic7 ROM r his pcele-
eessofs ever had Gone. ard thez tie Governor had
sat1 e that reCorr -hs: = R-as ~ good reuorar-
dun
KELs-7T EXAMINATION THURSDAY.
Tst th- Governors contention thar suysrintoldenr
KELSEY neglected rs higher duties-t,le .'cevio5s
duties o. he first inporrarc9'-to attend 10 the
crstorlar- round % routine dez,artuaent sffat-s
seems rather 20 De proved tban coutroverted by
The case his lawyers have presented. The Govern
orF friends IN the judiciary Counittee 'hink that
!. ne ease goes on for a fer days longer in This
fashion they VIII have no nee6 20 argue that tho
~
dismissed Examination Of KELSEY himself probs-
oly viii take W ali OF Thursday and Friday Then
must come a decision by the committee whether
Other Witnesses 10 be heard. on the decision
O. that question viii rest the speedy termination
% the case.
The Bingham police bill will come before the
senate Tor advanceInent 10 third reading on Tues
oay. Most OF the arguments made against the
measure ~ committee and the public hearings
VIII oe repeated, doubtless. but It seems sure "a
iass the Senate by good. safe margin. senator
'faoy doubtless. XIII fight g with all IFS power
o-l mat hardly can stop the measure Some ~
nr legislators who heard yesterday of Magistrate
Whiim2n's crusade against the police for fsilrre
10 close the saloons in Captain DAYS rrec,rc,
practically threw Up their hands conce6ira, tba, s.
any further arguments were necessary 10 irs,ra
me niiIs passage that would furnish The necessary
impetus.
ne recount bill VIII be passed early in the week
ny ne Assembly without any especial dficuItv
"hen i gets 10 the Senate though its co,,re.
"ii not prove so easy. From present appearance
mere exists little chance that II wiU mass 80.
BODY The present Indications are that II win az
N committee. or course. the Governor has ,o,,-
mitted himself 10 the recount proposition. and be
may win 50 decided n victory in the KELSEY cas.
ano the public utilities night that the recount nm
VII follow. also. Close observers OF legislatf,,,
'Aoosh, think TINS IS unlikely. and that the re-
count bin VIII go 10 sleep peacefully alor, -rs.,.
t2e Massachusetts ballot measure
CRITICISED BY MR. WHITNEY
Senator saxes bill. repeating the sa.e-st,,,1e
Eleventh avenue track removal OF last year viii
come I'D for passage in tho Senate on Afoneay
night This measure is compromise proposition
70 which the New York Central and The Rand
transit Commission have agreed. Il is being
- s1S)