New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11
KELSEY HEARING SOON.
PROGRAMME AT ALBANY.
Superintendent Expected to Make
Eloquent appeal "Wednesday.
LIZ TeleEraph % nc Tribune. J

Albany, March l0.-Hearngs before the Senate
Judiciary Committee on the Governors recon-
mendation that Superintendent Kelsey OF the In
surance Department be deposed will occupy
large part Of the attaching to the coming
legislative week Superintendent Kelsey has been
deyoting himself to the preparation OF good de-
renee and when he appears before the committee
on Wednesday to plead for his official life he is
expected to make an eloquent appeal on the ground
OF his past record of public service, his honesty
and the large amount Of work in the Insurance
Department as a result OF the investigation and
the Hughes legislation.
The understanding is that other witnesses Will
be heard before the committee so that the
trast will be drawn sharply between Superln-
tenGent Kelseys narrative and his testimony of
things unaccompl.shed and things never attempted
at the hearing granted by Governor Hughes How
much Of hearing there will be, or whether there
Will be more than one hearing. at present seems
uncertain. No doubt exists that the question or
Kelsey's removal will FASTENED TO the whole
Senate speedily the Governors friends can
arrange H. II may be that after the hearing on
Wednesday they bring IL TO a vote. Inc re-
suits OF the two votes at the last meeting. when
the question OF delay successfully combated
by them shows that the Governors friends have
control Of the committee. at least that mos OF
its members are unwilling TO be registered against
the Governor on this particular question 80 Il
may be that next week or the week after that thS
much discussed lineup over the removal OF super
jutenden. Kelsey will pass. While super
intenden. Kelsey now seems stronger To fight re-
nloval than at any time since the Governor made
the request most OF the people IN close touch with
affairs here expect 20 see the Governor VICTORIOUS
in his first real contest.
Since the passage OF the Bingham police bill by
the Assembly little legislation OF Importance Is on
the oalendar of either house for passage Most OF
the measures OF real Importance slumberlng IN
committee and with the Introduction last week
OF the Public Utilities Commission bill embodying
the Governors suggestions for the regulation Of
public service corporations there came practically
the end OF the introduction % important meas
ures this legislative year Bills embodying every
phase of the Governors message 20 the Legis-
lature are now before committees OF one house or
the other While the Governor friends are hoping
for speedy consideration OF these measures. they
realize tina; the scope is wide and the affairs
important that there is work for two or three
months.
UTILITIES BILL OF FIRST IMPORTANCE.
OF course the Public Utilities bill assumes the
place Of paramount Importance. on that will prob
ably be concentrated the fire OF all who oppose
an: feature CT the plans laid out by the Gov
ernor. whether they happen 20 oppose anything in
that particular measure or not II the Governors
friends are able 10 pass that bill in the face 81
the opposition II has aroused from the corporations
affected BY its provisions and tho in the
Legislature who be swayed by the influences
brought 10 bear by those corporations. there
little reason why the rest OF the Governors
mendaiions SnOud not be enacted into law. save
perhaps the Ballot Reform bill That stands IN
a class by itself IN the antagonism which it has
created among some OF the political Legislators
who in It the destruction OF their present.
power.
The general subject OF ballot reform here IS d.
vided into three phases-ballot reform proper.
is presented by the Page Prentice bills for the
Massachusetts form OF the Australian ballot: the
recount proposition and direct nominations Chiehy
the opposition OF the politicians is centred the
pen hall r-ith {Df1a
pendence Of voting. But tho recount is not az all
favored by the upstate Republican leaders. and
they rather scom at tho plea for direct primary
nominations which has come from New York and
Kings counties On general principles. the Senate
may be put down opposed TO these meas
ures Whether the Senate Will see a light depends
greatly tile decision of the Kelsey case and the
pressure which may be brought b. the Governors
friends 10 pass Public Utilities bill. The lower
house more favorably inclined toward tho
recount and the Massachusetts, ballot but when
the measures embodying those propositions are re-
ported It will be no light task to pass them.
A hearing on the Prentice Massachusetts ballot
bill is scheduled before the Assembly Judiciary
Committee this week. Large delegations are ex-
pected to advocate this measure.
On Wednesday the Assembly Committee Elk
else will hold hearing on this years Local Option
bill introduced by Assembiyman Winters This
measure is somewhat to the suggestions
made by various legislators of experience than the
measures OF previous years. but. because of its
being advocated by the Antl-SulOOn League IS not
popular with any legislator. The strong dislike
engendered among the legislators by that organiza
ton and its methods TO have attached itself
TO a bill which otherwise would not be especially
ooposed save by the saloon interests Even despite
the unpopularity Of the Anu-SaloOn League and
the Jokes here investigating that organization
to sec where it got its money and what was done
with IT most of the upstate men in the Assembly.
II Is believed Will vote for the Local Option bill
because of the pressure from the clergymen IN
their districts.
INTEREST IN STORAGE COMPANIES.
Though not strictly in the legislative feld the
conference OF representatives of various cities and
commercial organizations on the water storage
proposition which viii be held here this week will
create much interest among the Legislators. This
conference. which is to be held the request Of
the Albany Chamber Of Commerce. is TO discuss the
O'Seill- Merritt constitutional amendment for the
flooding of state lands. An invitation 10 the Gov
eruor TO be represented sent because lie is known
10 10 deeply interested IN the water storage PROB
lem with its companion problem In this especial
case OF saving OF the forest preserves has as yet
heeD unanswered, bat answers nave peen received
from many cities and commercial bodies, and dele
Gates named BY many Of them. hearing on the
Merritt amendment has been set by the Assembly
i,dicis5I t,ommittee for a week from Tuesday. and
on the following day there VIII ce nearing before
~. toint judiciary committees on thRt day, too,
ther. viii ne a hearing before the joint codes
ynittees on the Jerome antiganibling bills which
would prohibit racetrack gambling
Among the important measures introduced last
v,aek vas Asse niblymaa Wels's bill providing for
redivision OF New York City into municipal court
Manhattan The measure IS advocated by the
1Sitzens Union its provisions are in line with
11oo- mans court" Assemblyman Prentice intro
6uced again his bill permitting the street Cleaning
Commissioner 70 nave 5uTiSuSso smbivmsn '
would forbid civil service employees from holding