New-York tribune., 1907-04-29
SITUATION AT ALBANY.
KELSEY DECISION NEAR.
Caucus ON Utilities May Driue Sena-
tors Into Line.
LRr relsrraph 70 The Tribune.I


that decision whatever it may be. at and dis
pose of the affair promptly Ant-Hughes men
predict with much postveness that Otto kelsey
will he removed and if the political bosses ana
corporation followers who have lined up against
the Governor are able to deliver the "old guard
this prediction may be fulfilled.
The questions all sides VIII they
dare 10 make the stand against the Governor"
can the insurance companies and the railroad in
terests which for many years got almost every
thing they wanted from the New York State Leg
islature get this Legislature TO stand against Gov
Hughes and kill his public utilities bill after
retaining Kelsey?" ''Wil Republicans rally under
John Raines to Join forces with McCarren and
Grady against the Governor. and subject them
selves the reproach of being political tools and
corporation men in the great public clamor which
IS bound follow break with the Governor"
Essentially the removal Of Otto Kelsey at the
Governors request. his retention at the com
mand Of the Senate is thing separate and dis
tnct from Governor Hughess legislative pro-
gramme. That programme outlined in his
message 10 the Legislature long before the Kelsey
thought ot. But by the cunningest OF
legislative and political manipulation the Kelsey
case has become so confused and intertwined with
the rest OF the Governors policies that its
disposition has become In the public opinion
the measure OF the fate of all the rest OF
the programme. And to a great extent, affairs
here stand now. that is the actual condition. II
the "od guard" with all the forces behind it which
caused thas significant name 10 stick. has deter
mined to save Otto Kelsey, despite the Governors
declaration his untness and tho pubics indorse-
ment of that declaration, It seems likely that the
decision has been made stand against the Gov
ernor all things.
Kelsey men maintain with emphasis that no ef-
fort has been made TO confuse the Kelsey issue
with the Governors utilities bill Advocates Of
that measure laugh when this statement IS
peated 10 them, and impartial Observers who have
followed carefully the developments of this egis-
iative session mainly agree with the Hughes men
that this IS rather absurd. Distinctly certainly.
I.r 10, .To,
with the other. Superintendent Kelsey prob
ably would have been glad TO have the affair dis
posed Of long His lawyers may not have
wanted all the delay which has resulted. Senator
Raines in all lkelihoCd had in mind only the fol-
lowing Of wise precedent when he urged that tho
Kelsey hearings be held before the entire Senate.
Yet out Of all these things has grown the chance
for corporations 10 weaken defeat the Gov
( ernor's plans and seriously cripple him In the
future administration Of his office. and Hughes
( supporters declare that the opportunity has been
seized eagerly.
CASE HAS DRAGGED TEN WEEKS
The Governors request for Otto Kelsoy's official
head was sent 20 the Senate February O Ten
weeks later the case IS approaching settlement
Sentiment which has huctuated between tho Gov
ernors side and Mr.. Kelseys. always with a dis
tnct bias toward the Governors. takes a sud
den strong toward the insurance official All
this tho Hughes men say is the result Of a cor
poration plan which. IN the details they give IS
positively startling
When the utilities bill frst was introduced cor
poratlon after corporation put itselr on record AS
faroring the spirit" OF the bill Each one had
some few reservations TO details varying with
the nature OF the business OF the Individual cor
poratior. but all would support the bin in the
. main lines OF the measure At the two hearings
where the opposition represented every law
yer. from Joseph II. Choate down declared that
they approved Of the broad principles OF the meas
ure and guaranteed the support OF the concerns
Z represented fBrfl
I ono suggested few amendments which according
10 Senator Page, would draw every tooth the roor
bil has" Even with these amendments presented
''e opposition 10 tho bin characterized on
every hand the weakest shown aEalnat any i'm,
portant measure IN many "A long year
or course. there IN the Iegislatur. what m
peared 10 be some effort 70 cause "A little troubIc
Senator Grady had public utilities bin rnvan,n.1
from last year, which he got referred 10 the Iud
ciary Committee Tor consideration with the Cover
norS bill Senator McCarreu got his bin replacing
( the Rapid transit Commission with the Board OF
Estimate referred 20 that committee as did soma
tor Cohaan the Attorney Generals public utilities
I blH But there IL ended seemingly Tho corrtdo-s
were fres from the corporation lobbyists save for
! the two or three regulars who haunt the CAPITOL
/ and the Ten Eyck Hotel regularly as any duly
/ elected servant OF the people
Everybody wondered II all the oldtiDe ogb,t,.
spirit had been scared ont of the corporations by
! the stern maE in the Governors chamber Then
all at once. the policy Of delay IN the Kelsey case
/ began, ana stray word or two about THE Gov
ernoTs noe having things all his way began
! 10 be heard The delay continued the oppostior
! TO the Governor increased Presently some bold
| soul began 10 predict that otto Kelsey would he
retained. despite the general opinion that he o1Rh,
/ TO be removed. and stories whispered around
that the Organization displeased with the
Governor because he insisted on treating every
thing. little bit Of special legislation or a
/ political appointment. its merits. Following
| reports. usually tracenbie to an nsnired
source. that the country districts were utterly dis
Of Otto Kelsey. and that the utilities bill might b.,
| all right. but II and strange procedure
for Governor TO be going around the state irving
! 90 browbeat "A legislature into passing whatever
radical bill he demanded just as he demanded II
Investigation revealed that there was n certain
amount OF truth I'm these reports-organiza tions I'm
certain counties and certain leaders were dis
pleased" bob" Hunter had lost his fob: he was
displeased. Louis F. Payn. too. was displeased as
history he has been on every occasion when
the insurance companies dispIeased
THINGS BEGAN TO GET BUSY.
But investigation showed more than that in the
estimation of ardent supporters of the Governor
| Investigation showed that wherever this dissat,s
faction with Governor Hughes seemed to break
out link in the chain of hnancial-political
manipulation could be traced. Presently railroad
lobbyists paid occasional visit TO the Capitol
| Things began TO get busy A sudden awakening
of sentiment against the utilities bill was predicted
ana that awakening duly to pass with Buff
falo in the van and Albany threatening to be a
close second And now the corporations are alive
ship which will induce some Senators to vote to
save Otto Kelsey will be used a lever against
the Governor; and, II the orporation plan has been
effective and the corporation arguments potent