New-York tribune., 1907-05-13
THE WEEK AT ALBANY.
ADVANCES WILL BE MADE.
Action Of Republican State Commit
tee Clarifies Situation.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune. !

Assembly will caucus the public utilities bill
tomorrow night. and following this caucus the
measure is expected TO pass that House
Wednesday. Still another hearing on the Page
draft OF the bill is scheduled before the Senate
judiciary Committee on Tuesday, but the pros
pect is that the bill after that will be reported
by the Judiciary Committee. Going then to the
Finance Committee, because of the expenditures
necessary for commissioners salaries, the bill
should be reported from that committee imme-
diately and probably will come up for passage
by the Senate some time next week
without much doubt the recount bill will be
reported by the Senate judiciary Committee on
Wednesday. Senator Grady seems much inter
ested in the measure just now and with his
efforts behind it even the expert work Of Sen
Ator McCarren ought not to prevent its pas
sage If the Republican Senators take the sug-
gestions made to them by the Republican State
Committee in New York on Saturday
The effect of that meeting with its unanimous
adoption Of the resolution favoring the Gov
ernor's course on public utilities. recount reap
portionment and even ballot reform. hardly can
be overestimated. Then Governor Hughess df-
rect keen speech in Brooklyn last night served
TO hammer home the impression which the re-
ports Of the state committee meeting made on
legislators here 1t all amounts to the fact that
any Republican legislator who now opposes Gov
ernor Hughes any Of his policies would stand
directly in revolt from the party judgment
and the party policy. registered by the duly
authorized party agency, any bolter from a
caucus. Even more. he would be exposing HIM
self TO the lasting wrath OF his party colleagues
and challenging that sentiment for the Governor
which voters in every district in the state have
been making known to their legislators in the
last weeS two.
NO LONGER MAN DOWNSTAIRS"
Legislators and party leaders know all this.
Though just a trife dazed at the sudden turn
OF affairs. which has converted Governor Hughes
from the man downstairs" defeated in the Kel-
sey TO the man triumphantly outlining the
partys policies, one and all realize Just how
great a victory this IS for the Governor. Even
those leaders and legislators whose keenest per-
sonal interest would demand opposition the
Governor at this point in his programme
counting the cost. Most of them. with a sad
shake Of their heads, decide that lit won't do"
Yielding now may be converted into some sort
Of minor triumph; opposition. they reckon,
means not only death, but political dishonor
Most significant was the state committees in
dorsement Of a full and complete redstricting OF
the in its effect on the situation here. Be
fore that meeting reapportionment alone threat
ened trouble for Governor Hughes Such an ap-
portionment the Governor had asked meant
the carving up OF districts laid out especially for
political death. Some slight interest is at
tached to the fact that reapportionment was not
in State Chairman Woodruffs original resolu-
ton, because il is known that he told the Gov
ernor he thought there should be a shifting of
only two districts noted in the opinions handed
down by the Court of Appeals. Yet the entire
lack Of opposition which met the amendments
presented by Ex-Governor Odell shows 10 OBJ
servers here that the members Of the governing
board Of the Republican party believed they did
not dare TO go against Governor Hughes, backed
by public and party sentiment, on this question.
Advocates of the Governors policy believe
that much the same attitude will show itself
here when that vexing question must be solved
OF course. there is a possibility that the legis-
lators most likely TO be affected by new appor-
uOnment may up the red flag and. throwing
off all restraint, oppose the Governor every
thing. Hughes men are not overlooking that
trait in human nature which makes man in
corner fight ten times harder than he would in
fight in the open, where the chances We're
about even.
FIGHT WOULD MEAN ANNIHILATION.
But it seems TO me-" observed one of the
Hughes men that a fight against the Governor
now would mean only annihilation, while sur
render could be made with honor and a chance
even 10 enlist in the victorious army
Inns i ine view taken By most people here.
Some would not be surprised TO see Senator
haines, who from the beginning has advocated
me two-dstrict plan OF reapportionment go to
Governor Hughes and tell him that under the
circumstances he would be willing to adopt the
Governors views redistricting. Such a
course would result in complete harmony be-
tween the Governor and the majority leader IN
me Senate, and any reapportiOnment bill which
Was presented then would be sure to have the
Governors approval. It would he rather in
Eeeping with Senator Rainess legislative career
100 for he has been a stickler for party regu-
4aTltY. His friends have said that a good part
of his opposition 10 Governor Hughes in the Kel
sey case was because he held that KELSEY. a
good party man. should not be removed in q
'ashion which would tend to disinteerate the on
tire organization
considerable comment has been aroused here
over the failure of the state committee to mem
oon the Moreland bill. giving the Governor
power 10 investigate state departments along
WIN his other policies Hughes men are Won
cerng If this simply an oversight or
whether the leaders think the Governor sbouId
De content with obtaining the other features or
ms reform programme and forego this one for
time at least. Any idea Of that sort is lil.aI,,
- De shattered rudely. Friends Of the Governor
fio" That the Moreland bill was drafted along
az present broad lines because Governor Hughes
iieNes the power conferred by il necessarv
" " thorough carrying out Of his promises
~" ie mas neither the power he desires nor
' Nieahs at hand for proper investigation or
- Np"i tiiehts to satisfy himself that thc
me state are having their interests
administered The Moreland hill orr