New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-11
APPORTIONMENT SNAG.
STRUCK IN LEGISLATURE
Nay PreUent Smooth Sailing for
GoUernOrs Reforms.
IBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune. !

|
bill Signs of disposition to resist the Gov
| ernOr's wish TO have complete redistricting OF
| the state nearly mathernaticalIy equal
/ division Of population as county boundaries will
permit multiplied to-day. until even a part OF the
| Governors legislative programme may be caught
| in this backward swing.
| Supporters of the Governor have fear now
that the public utilities bill will fail of passage
| in about its present form But they have grave
| apprehensons that the party harmony. which
/ had been brought about through the Senate
! conference agreement 10 support the utilities
| BILL will be rudely disturbed when an appOrtion-
| ment bill embodying the Raines-Parsons plans
| is presented next week. That a bill changing
| only the New York County districts and the ex-
| listing Richmond Queens district without dis
turbing upstate districts could be passed by the
| Legislature Hughes man doubts. But those
! who have talked with the Governor and know
| how determined ne is on a constitutional re-
| apportionment. know how he stuck to his guns
in the interview with John Raines in the back
| room Wednesday. believe that such bill
would be vetoed by the Governor.
Surrender of the reactionary leaders TO ths
Governor on the public utilities bill meant to
| them comparatively little beyond the setting
aside of some personal prejudices and habits OF
thought OF years standing Surrender to him
on the apportionment question must inevitably
mean the political death of some of the present
Senators and the collapse on all sides Of nicely
| adjusted political lines. the downfall. in the
| eyes of these organization men. of greater
part OF the organization machinery. Men here
| expect the state committee meeting tomorrow
10 develop much testimony along this line.
FOR EQUAL REPRESENTATION.
Considerations of this sort do not weigh with
the Governor for one moment. He stands for
| an apportionment which shall give nearly
as possible equal representation" He be-
| leves it is part of his duty. imposed by his
oath TO support the constitution, to do all in his
power to get equal representation for the people
| of the state, regardless of political personal
| considerations. His attitude now IS exactly
| what he wrote in his special message re-
! apportiOnment-he demands "a perfectly fair
| apportionment in accordance with the letter
and the spirit of the constitution "of such
| character TO be of unquestioned validity and
| commend itself to the intelligent Judgment OF
| the people"
| The possibility that the Senate still might re-
fuse to pass his utilities BILL in spite of the
| pledge taken the conference. would not
| swerve him from his duty 10 apportionnent.
| his friends say. And. because of the noticeable
reaction from that swing of sentiment which
| caused the adoption OF the Raines resolution at
the conference. there has been some comment
1 here to-day that if reapportionment
! might forget their pledges.
HEARING ON UTILITIES BILL.
Announcement was made to-day that the Sen
| ate Judiciary Committee would hold hearing
on the public utilities bill on Tuesday of next
week This is in accordance with promise
made. the understanding is. before the con-
/ ference pledged the Republican Senators TO vote
/ for the bill substantially as il stands. Railroad
men will present various amendments but
! the plans stand the bill will be reported on
! Wednesday by the judiciary Committee, and
| then. under the agreement made when first it
was introduced. be referred again 10 the Finance
/ Committee. There is nothing in the bill which
would prevent its being reported imme ediately by
/ the Fipance Committee. So. while the bill will
not be up before the Senate next week. there Is
| nothing 10 prevent its coming up for passage in
the forepart of the following week
| In the Assembly the printed bill is expected to
be placed members files tonight. The
measure has been sent back to the Rules Com
nittee but the object of its being reported last
night-a reprint-has been accomplished and
time will be lost by this recommittaI. as it can
thus be reported again Monday night and
be taken up for passage on Wednesday
So the prospects OF the utilities bill seem
glowing. But to-day. even more than before
the sudden conference action, friends of Cow
ernor Hughes have been cautious in their estt-
mates or the situation
You never tell what will happen until
after the event" said one to-day. We expect
the utilities bill to pass. OF course We expect
the Governor will get all the rest of his pro-
gramme-he means TO get IL. Don't for an in
slant have the idea that the Governor is doubt
full OF results. Only were not under any mis-
apprehension about the ceasing of hostilities
while this appOrtionment question remains TO be
solved
GOVERNORS INVESTIGATION BILL
There is one other part of the Governors pro-
gramme which may be in danger. The More
land bill. giving to the Governor power per-
sonally to investigate state departments and
making an appropriation for such investigation
is asleep IN the Assembly Rules Committee, OF
which Speaker Wadsworth holds practical
troll This bill is considered by the Governor
and his friends one of the most important parts
of his reform policy.
The bill is absolutely necessary enable him
to carry out his pledges to the people that he
would see that the laws were enforced and a
clean administration given" said one OF his
neutenants to-day so far as I know. the Cow
ernor doesn't want that bill for any purpose OF
tearing open state departments and exposing
graft. He expects to ii rather 20 convince
the public that the notion that all state depart
ments are honeycombed with rottenness is false
AS the thing stands he has money TO
investigate departments, and so he cannot be
sure that they properly: and he cannot
| give the public his assurance that no dishon-
| esty exists within them
| Inquiries about the Moreland bill recently
have brought out the answer that IL surely
would be reported but though it had been re-
Il