New-York tribune., 1908-06-10
REVOLT IN ASSEMBLY
OYER p. S. AMENDMENTS.
Objection to Methods adopted by
Sneaker and Clerk.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Albany, June "a revolt against the methoos
adopted by Speaker Wadsworth and Kay b.
Smith clerk of the Assembly, to Kill the ne"
public service amendments has developed in the
Assembly, and what many considered partlc-
ularly high handed exhibition of machine manip-
ulation stirred the insurgents to fever heat TO-
night.
Assemblyman Wainwright, who introduced the
bill to place telephone and telegraph companies
under the jurisdiction of the Public Service conf
missions tried to get it restored to it's original
form to-day. There no quorum. and he SAID
then that at the night session. then contem-
plated, he would give notice that in the future
he would move to suspend all rules and take up
tho bill to strike out the emasculating amend
ments made by the Committee on Electricity
Gas and Water Supply.
The night session was held only to permit the
reports of two committees, but Speaker Wads-'
worth this morning specifically said Mr. VAIN
wrights notice could be received. Tonight
again nc quorum was present. MI CuVliiler
had a r,otion that he would filibuster to prevent
rccel tion of the Codes Committees report on
the racing bills. Assemblyman Merritt, presid-
ing, refused to see him. and with incessant
pounding of the gavel, declared an adjournment
Immediately after the committees had reported.
Thereby he left Mr.. Wainwright standing in
That's pretty raw work. Ed " he declared
Why. I forgot all about your notice, May
hew." responded Mr. Merritt. 'Hm awfully
sorry, and if it becomes necessary to stay here
another day to let YOU get at your bill we'll
do it,
Many Assemblymen. though. declined to be
Modified by this statement of Mr. Merritts,
and maintained that this only another bit
of the "machineism' which has been invoked to
kill this particular one of the Governors meas
ures
The situation has developed virtually into
a contest between the best element of the AS
sembly and the Speaker, clerk and their personal
followers. When t new Public Service bill
was introduced at the regular session 1t was
killed by the reporting from the committee of a
set of amendments which only eliminated
the proposed control over telephone and tele-
graph companies, but according to experts prac-
tically emasculated the existing law. Mr.. VAIN
wright made vain fight to get his original Dill
reported from the Rules Committee, but his eff
forts were blocked by the stubborn refusal Of
the Speaker and his friends on that committee
Since then Ray B. Smith has admitted that he
drew the amendments which again at the extra
session have been reported from committee in
stead of the Wainwright bill embodyng Gov
ernor Hughes's recommendation Getting word
BILL the Speaker and Mr. Smith have devoted
practically the entire day to efforts to align
members against that measure. Mr. Walters. Of
Syracuse, has added his work to theirs. So Wig
orousIy have they labored that many Assembly
men usually compIaisant have refused to take
orders this time.
It's remarkable what interest Onondaga
County is showing in this BILL when every other
section of the state is willing to treat 1t on it's
This thing is too entirely. We can't
stand for it," said Mr.. Perkins. of Binghamton.
It's too much for me-" said Francis. of New
York. Il can't be regular if the machine calls
this sort of thing regularity
Il lose a day by this affair tonight declared
Mr.. Wainwright. but if they want fight they
can get all they want on these amendments of
theirs Wen see whether Ray Smiths bill or
the Governors is to pass. Whichever the AS
semby wants it have, but there mustn't
be any misa pprehension about the transaction"