Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-04
ATTACk HUGHES REFORMS
PLAN OF NEW YORK BOSSES TO
KILL GOVERNORS BILLS
Measures Framed for People to Be
Emasculated by Bi-Partisan Com
bine-The Utility Fight.

ALBANY, May 1.-THE bipartisan boss
combination, having demonstrated it's PROV
ess by ''vindicating'' Superintendent of In
surance Otto Kelsey, is planning this treat
ment of Gov. Hughes reform measures:
The. emasculation Of the utilities bill in
such manner as to make it less offensive
to corporations.
The smothering of the bill ordering a re-
count of the ballots cast during the last
municipal election in New York city.
The defeat of the bill for housekeeping
of the state departments, as recommended
by Gov. Hughes
An attempt to repeal the Elsberg rapid
transit act in order to make fast the grip
OF the Ryan-Belmont merger on the fu-
ture subways of New York.
The defeat of the ballot reform bill
The emasculation or complete defeat of the
new reapportionment plan for a thorough
redtstricting of the state.
There Is no mistaking the confidence Of
the leaders of the bipartisan boss combina-
ton to accomplish all these things. Though
Raines says there is no combination, the
combine is even stronger than appeared in
the vote by which the governor was defeat
nary circumstances.
Raines and McCarren.
1t is freely predicted today that there
will be more votes at the command of the
Raines-McCarren combination to carry
through its plans for the strangulation Of
reform and to bring about the return of
the old-time machine methods than in the
Kelsey fight.
Some of the senators who voted with
the governor in the Kelsey matter frankly
declare they will not be bound by any Or
ders In the future. Senators like Cassidy,
Emerson, Gilchrist, Grattan and three or
four others, who tardily or reluctantly cast
their votes for the removal of Kelsey when
1t was discovered that the bipartisan COM
bine did not need them, simply obeyed the
command of their local bosses to stand by
the governor in that case. They will not be
so easily controlled in the future, not only
because of their desire to climb on the
Raines band wagon, but because their own
local bosses, who feared defeat Thursday
night and consequent public denunciation,
are already beginning to pluck UP courage
and hope for revival of the boss industry.
Attack Conferred on Utilities Bill.
Every force that can be directed at and
concentrated upon the undertaking to de-
feat the utilities bill as it is now framed
will be at the command of the bipartisan
combine. Even the supporters of the, gov
ernor admit the probability of the amend
ment of the measure in several important
particulars The power of removal clause,
for instance, will be changed to compel the
consent and approval of the senate
The powers of the commission over the
borrowing Of money and requirement of
SUBSIDIARY companies or competitors is GER
tain to be abridged IL the combine has its
way. The right of review is another fea
ture which the Interests through their
legislative agents, in and out Of both
branches, will attempt to amend.
There is serious talk among the leaders In
control of the situation of going to the
length of even rejecting the governors utiJi
ties Dill and passing one framed by them