New-York tribune., 1908-02-24
THE WEEK IN ALBANY.
Tote on Kelsey Wednesday-H's
Retention Seems Sure.
TBy Telegraph TO The Tribune1

week. The climax will Wednesday, when
the is scheduled the resolution presented
by Senator Ranes last week. which excluded the
Governor from the case by placing the responsible
ity for this second attempt to oust the Insurance
Superinte ndent from Office charges presented by
'"The New York World"
Kelsey men are exhibiting little alarm over re-
newed rumors that the last moment Governo
Hughes may send IN another communication con-
tanning some and especially damaging infor-
nation. There also stories seemingly ground
less. that the vote may not be reached or Wednes-
day. Governor Hughes has persistently refused to
discuss the reports that he had something up his
sleeve" The publication of the fact that p. B.
Armstrong, of the Excelsior Fire Insurance Com
Pany, had presented charges 10 Governor Hughes
has stirred up the Kelsey men, who thought they
had affairs all wound up and had assured Mr.. kel-
sey Of second certificate of fitness.
Under the resolution of procedure adopted by
the Senate new material cannot be considered in
this case. Only the charges presented against Mr..
Kelsey and the Fleming report them with Mr..
kelseys defence and Mr.. Flemings reply thereto,
may come before the Senate. Senator Horace
White Of Syracuse one of the most ardent Kelsey
supporters and friend and personal counsel of State
Chairman Woodruff. pointed with that
this resolution especially barred new matter, but
declared that nobody supposed for moment that
Governor Hughes. if he had any further material
TO present against the Superintendent would have
kept it out of his message demanding Superin-
tendent kelseys removal Governor Hughes will
not return from Chicago until Monday afternoon
He is due in New York Tuesday to speak at the
opening Of the McAdoo tunnel and at the City
Club. II is quite possible that he may not stop
of here at all. but may continue on his journey
from Chicago direct New York In that case
there could be no additional communication sent to
the Senate in time to influence the vote, and the
only way the Armstrong charges could be taken
up would be in a renewed demand for Mr. Kelseys
removal or a message. transmitting them to the
Senate for proper action.
Superintendent keisey's defence, citing his activ
tiles after the San Francisco disaster, which en-
dangered the stability of fire insurance COM
panies and his rulings questions in the depart
ment will be presented Monday night Probably it
will be made public that time. either by the Su-
perintendent by of his friends in the Sen
ate Matthew c. Fleming who Investigated the
charges against the Kelsey administration, will
have until Wednesday 10 make what reply he
chooses. and that day the Senae's discussion of
the Will begin. Present indications that
the discussion VIII not be unduly prolonged There
will not be this year the rush to make voluminous
explanations of votes against the Governor that
existed last year, for the Governor is not, tech
nfCaly. part of the case, according to the ques-
ton which will come up before the Senate. Neither
have his supporters in that house brilliant oppor-
tunity for. work in his behalf
The result of the vote. unless some material
the most startling and sensational nature should
be Injected into the case, is foregone conclusion.
and there is no good reason 10 expect any change
of that Superintendent Kelsey viii be retained
in office by a considerably larger than that or
last year. Some of his friends have been pre-
dieting that seventeen Republicans, majority.
seventeen Democrats who voted for the Governor
last year will be for him. leaving fifteen Republi-
cans and two Democrats for the Governor
Next the Kelsey question the affair of most
interest before the Legislature is the anti-race-
track gambling crusade. The next hearing on
the Agnew-Hart bills will be held week from
Wednesday before the Senate and Assembly Codes
Committee. when the county fair societies and the
Jockey Club will have Ex-Governor Black = argue
against the measures the score of the uncon-
stitutionality of a direct appropriation. Mean
while. somewhat a result of the showing made
the hearing last week and somewhat because
of the impending defeat of the Governor the
Kelsey case, the feeling here has strengthened that
the bills are unlikely to pass. OF 1t is too
early record anything definitely that subject.
The Governor is making a campaign for the pas
sage OF the anti gambling bills, he did for the
Public Service Commission bill last year He de-
clined 10 make any speeches statements the
Kelsey case his attitude being that it would be
improper to take any action tending influence
legislative action. There is little question in the
minds of most politicians here that If the Gov
ernor had made appeals TO the people" this
point the Senate's position on the Kelsey case
would have been entirely different from the pres
ent one Because of that and because OF his cam
paign in favor of the bills, the question of their
passage is distinctly open at the present time.
The Assembly Codes Committee is rega rded
distinctly opposed to the measures and unlikely
report them without violent pressure from the Gov
ernor and the public Speaker Wadsworths attt-
tude against the bills is public knowledge. His
father is state racing commissioners himself
is connected by marriage with Harry Payne Whit
ney horseman and member OF the Jockey Club.
Craig WadsWorth d cousin. Is a member Of the
Jockey Club 1t is declared by friends of the
bills that the Senate Codes Committee unlikely
report them Senator Hill. the chairman. has
hoe tkply fO in of -ba
ures Doubt Of this now is expressed here BY some
people from the western end OF the state. who say
that Senator Hill politically is closely associa ted
with Postmaster Grener. of Buffalo. that the
latter is a heavy stockholder in the Kenilworth
Fort Erie track, and thus naturally would be op-
posed to the Agnew-Hart bills. Tentative polls OF
that committee made by racing people they say
assure them of six OF the nine votes in IL against
reporting the bills. Thus the only way vote OF
the Senate the measures could be taken would
by dscha rging the committee, and Senate prece-
dents against that.
The Senate and Assembly Committees on Banks
will hold a~5oint hearing Tuesday on all the bank
ing bills presented by Superintendent Will
Jams of State Banking Department and If
time permits, on other kindred measures On
Wednesday the Assembly Codes Committee will
hold extended hearing on the numerous bills
presented to stop stock gambling. short sales and
similar transactions. The Assembly General Laws
Committee will give hearing that day on the Yale
bill designed to stop automobile road racing. This
would prohibit the Vanderbilt Cup All SEN
hearings for Wednesday have been postponed
because OF the Kelsey case. The Senate and As
sembly Committees on Forest. Fish and Game will
give joint hearing tuesday Cobb Mills
bill revise the game laws of the state which
a thing of shreds and patches with sep
arate rules for practically every county in the
state. The Glore and Whitney pure food bills
will discussed before the. Assembly Committee
on Public Health Tuesday.
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WOMAN BRAVER THAN SAILORS