New-York tribune., 1908-05-26
MCARREN is ROASTED
HEARING ON HIS BILL.
III Wsrphy-C0nners Men and Brooklyn
Senator Haze Warm Debate.
by Telegraph to The Tribune.


Albany, May 25.-If Senator P. H. McCarren did
not fully appreciate few weeks ago what some
Oh MS Democratic colleagues il the state conven-
ton thought of him he got every opportunity to
realize 1t at the hearing this evening before the
judiciary Committee on the McCarren bill regulat-
Ing political parties and prohibiting corrupt and
arbitrary methods
legion of Murphy y-Conners supporters filled the
Senate chamber and talked voluminously against
the bill and its introducer. A good part of the
time it was difficult TO know which under con-
sideratfon. While several legitimate arguments
presented against the BILL of the talk
was justification of the action of the convention
in unseatng the McCarren delegates and a dis
cussion Of McCarren's characteristics.
McCarren himself jumped into the fray with re-
peated questions and comments. Once. when one
of his opponents fatty declared he never was
honestly elected, the lanky Brooklyn man almost
lost his temper.
You're a liar he exclaimed hotly. Then. with
a wry smile, he modified the statement. You're
not telling The truth he said.
The hearing was started in the right direction.
but by the time two speakers had finished. Nc
Carren had become the subject under consideration
Thomas +. Magner, of the Kings County Demo-
cratic organization, argued the constitutional
ton, and said that under the McCarren bill a man
might actually be incarcerated in a penitentiary
and still be member of the Senate committee
and there would be way of removing him.
Herbert Bissell. of the Erie County Democratic
organization declared that The party IN power
would be likely to get decisions in its favor from
Judges who owed their advancement to politics.
You can't get a political speech a political
contribution from Judge" said Senator Raines,
but you expect to get political decision
The third speaker John F. Carew, happened to
have been member of the committee on con-
tested seats the convention and when his eyes
fell upon McCarren sitting in the front row. he
couldn't resist the temptation of telling the whole
story. He wanted pay his compliments to the
hole 1a
declaration that there public demand for
any OF the measures recommended by the Gov
ernor Senators Raines and Davis believed he was
trying to get off a Democratic campaign speech at
the expense of the Republicans. and stopped that
quickly
He declared that the committee on contested
seats acted properly in unseating the McCarren
delegates.
1T was shown before that committee" he said.
that men who had died were voted. and that per-
sons whose mail had been returned because they
could not be found. were voted. 1t was shown
before that committee that in district 315 more
votes were cast than there enrolled voters. L
here to sustain the action Of that committee
We don't anything about sustaining that
convention, said Chairman Davis.
The Legislature right to say that
political party shall have state committee than
it has to say that the Presbyterian Church shall
have board of bishops who shall be ordained in
way prescribed by the Lesislature, Carew con-
good as majority rule
Senator McCarren broke in to say: Everyone
knows that Kings County delegates were foroibfy
thrown out of the convention inethe most fraud
ulent. most Illegal and most brutal manner ever
known in politics.
James Church. of Brooklyn, said there
demand for the bill, except from the Governor AMI
from Senator McCarren, whom he called a keeE
lawyer and an astute politician. The real leader
not the titular leader. of Kings County, said he
has been quoted saying that Senator McCar-
ren is the best asset of the Republicans in Kings
County. Don't let think that the Governor in
tends to deprive the Republican party in Kings of
its best asset
Mr. Raines was puzzled about the real leader
OF Kings and later he asked Mr.. Church to whom
he referred. Colonel Dady,' replied the speaker.
The political leadership of McCarren was at
tackled by George Williams, chairman of the anti
McCarren organization in Kings County, who said.
The Democratic party in Kings County when he
took the leadership polled 1900 votes and that
has gone down TO 60 eco. Home rule is all right,
rule by some who is always looking make
something out of it, that is different"
Every speaker at both the afternoon and night
sessions of the hearing a Democrat, and the
Republican members of the committee plainly
evinced pleasure at he continual wrangling going
on between Democrats Of different hues.
Isaac NJ. kapper. speaking for Senator McCar-
rem, said that either such bill would have be
PASSED or taxpayers action would be justihabe
TO prevent the expenditure of a quarter of a
million dollars in New York City for the primaries.
GIVE the inspectors" said Senator Grady.
and you take the votes and I'll be elected You
30 It over in Kings County
You can't get TO stand here and admit any
such thing vehemently replied Mr. Kapper.
oh, l understand continued Senator Grady.
Il have been in politics long enough know that
inspectors allowed to sit by the leaders
unless they be depended upon carry the
election for their party
Former State Chairman Melville Havens, of
Syracuse, said he was instrumental in drafting the
measure and recited several contests in Onondaga
County, repetitions of which, he said, he wanted
to prevented Other speakers for the bill were
Colonel ". G. Rice. of Albany prominent in the
organization of the Home Rule Democracy; Deputy
ATTORNEY General Mott and Judge Lynn. of Roches
ter.