New-York tribune., 1908-04-09

hesitated for an instant II Agnew had not Wlth-
drawn his motion. the Lieutenant Governor
voted 10 table the motion TO reconsider. That
permits the Hughes forces to take up the ques-
fion again if they can get one Of the stray votes
back on their side.
Under the rules of the Senate the presiding
officer has the deciding vote in case of a tie on
all purely parliamentary questions He has no
vote on the direct question of the passage of a
bin. For this reason he could not have broken
The tie by which the bills were defeated
There is an incidental question, technical but
important, whether in the case of one of the
bills the procedure has not left Senator Asnew
with only three days in which to move recon-
sideration. The paramentarians were earnest
~ discussing this tonight.
The second bill amending the Percy-Gray law
10 wipe out the present special penalty for race
track gambling. lost, % to 25. There was
no debate. and the only debate on Agnew's mo-
tion 10 reconsider the vote and table that mo-
tion came when McCarren took Chanler to task
for his vote and Page and Grady had a tilt
THE SENATE CHAMBER CROWDED.
Long before the Senate convened every seat
in the galleries occupied and persons were
standing wherever they could find room. The
space behind the rail on the Senate floor
throEged. and II o'clock came there a
struggle of others TO squeeze into the chamber
Lieutenant Governor Chaner Immediately after
prayer directed the sergeant-at-arns rigidly to
enforce the rule governing admission to the
floor. and this prevented for time the gather
ing Of a throng such as marked last Wednes-
days debate
Yet despite that. the discussion warmed
up, the clerks and employees in various depart
ments in the Capitol and friends of Senators and
Assemblymen swarmed into the chamber in
suchs numbers that soon a far larger assem-
blage than last weeks was listening. Wives
and daughters and sisters of Senators formed
gaily dressed group of spectators. Mrs. Hughes
for the first time visited the Senate in session,
but was not present when Grady made his
venomous attack on the Governor. The pres
ence of John Sanford. state racing commits
sioner. was rendered notable by the frequent
excursions TO him by Senators Wemple and
Emerson. Among other visitors was the we'll
known keeper of the largest and most flourish
ing poolroom and gambling house in Albany.
Grady and McCarren opened the fight by Bit
ter, caustic attacks Governor Hughes and
denunciation Of him for singing out racetrack
gambling. instead Of fighting Wall Street spec
ulation. On this they talked xouminousy.
GRATTAN COMES IN LATE.
Meanwhile the real events were proceeding
under cover Senator Grattan came in late. his
face drawn. his usual toviaI manner gone. to
make room for a subdued and somewhat nervous
air Immediately the word ran around the Sen
ate circle that Barnes's editorial, which Hughes
Senator'S denounced as the most brazen castiea-
tion Of a political subordinate within their ex-
perience, had done its work Grattan himself
confirmed this few minutes later. when he an
nounced TO Senator Agnew that he would vote
against the bills. He did not attempt to explain
his reversal of position and his intention to vio-
T--1 Ii -,T-=1 L.
tion was necessary. Everybody had heard Of
the midnight session he spent with Barnes de-
flying his political chief repeatedly, all to no
purpose.
Then a few minutes later Senator Knapp. of
Essex County, told his friends that he could
stand the pressure no longer and would vote
against the bills.
All the politicians in my district are on my
trail be said, "and the only people who want
to vote for these bills are the ministers who
never did anything for me-"
But t1e-sne point which held the interest of
every person there was the unaccountable alb
sence Of Senator F'ancher. Of Cattaraugus
County. which has already been explained. No
body had seen him: nobody had heard
of him since the previous night. He did
not answer his telephone. Senator Agnew
sent out men, who could not find him at
his hotel, get any answer at his room or learn
II ne had been there all night Talk Of getting
the sergeant arms TO enter his room cropped
out; but The. h9teI people declined TO yield the
keys. And then the startling rumor spread
that # friends of the bills moved a close call
OF the Senate. which would compel his presence
or suspend proceedings until he came, they
would not be able 10 muster enough votes 70
adopt the motion. That. if true, would in
itself defeat the bills since II left only twenty
five votes for their passage concedng Cassidy
in support Of the measures and Wilcox against
them.
sUBsURFACE DRAMA MOVES QUICKLY
So while Grady and AIcCarren were battering
away al the Governor the subsurface drama
moved swiftly and intensely.
Grady was the first speaker. He maintained
that every Pharisee every "whted sepulchre,
without exception plotting and planning
and, as they know how, praying for the success
Of the bills"
The Governor. with unfairness unworthy
Of his great Office" said he. has made his CON
tributions toward the creation of this prejudice
in the public mind that this is a moral move
menf and that il would be opposed by no one
who wasn't Of corrupt mind, debased conduct
and willing that the youth and manhood of the
state should be debauched, that they might fat
ten their finances on misery. It's only because
the Governor is such good man that he thinks
racetrack betting is the only form of gambling
eXtant, while that bad man, that notorious de-