New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-01
GOVERNOR AND SENATE.
CRISIS NAY BE IMPENDING
bM Righteous JVrath' of Former
ImPel Him to appeal to People,
~ TsIegraph = The Tribune. !

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policies The crisis in this condition is ap-
preaching rapidly. and il the indications given
by the Governors mood in discussing affairs
here with his friends in the Legislature and
others who have sought his opinion on subjects
pending in the Legislature hold good the Cow
ernOr and his legislative friends viii take the
offensive and from now on wage battle for
his plans
1t has become a question now Of the Gov
ernor's taking that action which he promised in
the eamDaign-the appeal to the peOple'-ie
he found himself in extremities OF defeat for
all his plans. Including his cherished Public
Utilities bill. AS affairs stand IN the Lesislat-
ure now, even the Governors friends confess
that he is about defeated on all the things n.
suggested in his message. But this conclusions
IS based on the premise that he continues his
absolute hands of" policy. and lets the Iesfs-
lature-or the Senate. for in that house lies an
the trouble-continue to dawdIe along over the
Kelsey case. eventually acquittine KELSEY 4,
time to prejudice legislative feeling against the
Utilities bill enough to help It's enemies er1as-
culate It.
All this IS reckoning without the Governor
Those legislators who are counted antI-TIushes
men know that the Governor has II in his power
by the old methods Of refusing to sign bills OF
local import and by giving or withholding pa
But they believe that he will not use such
methods Apparently they do not seem to real
ize that when he promised to lay hts troubles
before the people he spoke Of just such a time
as the one at hand. Such an appeal may be
quite as effective as the use Of the veto and an
pointing powers.
BALKED BY ACTION OF LEGISLATORS.
The Governor knows that he has been baIzs1
by the action or influence Of some Of the Older
members of the Senate in obtaining the passage
OF the ballot reform measure. He knows that
there Is grave doubt of the passage OF the May
crafty Recount bill. He knows that the addi-
tional corrupt practices bills are dead He
knows that since Senator Raines publicly took
sides with the other Kelsey Senators. the KELSEY
men have been virtually in command Of affairs
in the Senate. with ability to retain Kelsey. He
knows, too. that the leaders in all this are the
men most likely to head the legislative fight
against the vital features Of the Utilities bill
And he knew all this before there came from
the Senate Finance COMMITTEES the defiance
the public challenge conveyed by the killing of
the Wainwright Military Inquiry bill. the enc
piece OF pending legislation on which Governor
Hughes ever expressed an opinion
Some of the Goverucr-s friends here say fhas
he received ample excuse to take the OTeusfvn
when the Finance Committee voted down the
sembly passed the Phillips Ballot bill which
would prevent independent parties fusing with
Old-Iine parties or other independent bodies. on
;he representation that il was desired by the
Governor Some legislators there had declared
openly that this diametrcally opposed to
the Governors recommendations in his messages
TO the Legislature. The Citizens Union had in
public statements called attention to the charao-
ter of the bill Yet It was passed. and report
here has said. that some Of the Senators who dO
not desire the Massachusetts ballot let Il be
known that they thought this sufficient substi-
tute
Just following this came the hearing on the
Public Utilities bill. at which most OF the FIRE
was concentrated the broad court review
proposition. which designedIy had been omitted
from the bill And after the hearing the Cow
ernor's friends learned that the chief fight IN ths
Legislature would be on this same question:
and that in the present situation there was con-
siderable likelihood that the court review cf ths
Commissions orders was likely TO be showed
into the bill.
WHEN WILL THE GOVERNOR ACT?
Men Who have talked with the Governor r.
Gently about the prospects Of the legislation rec
commended by him and about the status Of tha
Kelsey case say that the Governor seems to b.
about ready TO express himself concerning tho
game these opponents OF his policy are playing
They know he has considered the situation care
ruI1v and recognizes its gravity. And they have
found that Governor Hughes possesses a strong
sense Of duty and strong determination to ac-
complish whatever he believes is right. One
man who spoke 70 him about legislative action
on one OF the affairs which touch him keenly
characterized his frame OF mind righteous
wrath" Therefore predictions many that
he will not delay much longer about taking the
offensive.
Another hearing on the Utilities bill VIII bs
held on Wednesday before the Senate Judiciary
COMMITTEES and the Assembly Railroads Com~
mittee Most OF the railroads and street rail-
way people have had their say The chief OpDo-
sf.ion at this hearing Is expected to come from
the lighting companies. They win support the
general arguments against the measure ad-
vanced by the railroad lawyers. according to the
indications OF their views obtained here. laying
especial stress on the court review. In addition.
they will advance one or two specific amend
ments applicable only to the sections governing
the lighting companies. AS the bill stands an
order Of the commissions would fix gas price,
and the commissions in their discretion, six
months later could fix another. The New YOrk
companies are expected to suggest an amend
ment which would compel any order to hold
good for a certain specified period The pro-
visions relative to stock issues and holding COM
panies probably viii not meet the approval os
the lighting companies.
When the people who would like to change
the C;.v,5Ho.'s hill has. md,le al tH-t Susgps-
tions friends OF the bill will take hand They.
too. will have few changes to suggest. The
principal one known now will be to make the