New-York tribune., 1908-03-03
ASKS HUGHES FOR NAME
LETTER STTRS ASSEMBLY.
Resolution Unanimously adopted
4ftfr Spirited Debate,
fRr Telegraph to The Tribune. ]

Albany March 2.-PubliCation of letter given
out from the Executive Chamber, in which the
writer told The Governor that gamblers and horse
men put up $4,000 TO kin the anti-racetrack
gambling bills in committee, has stirred up Iesls-
lators 10 such an extent that tonight the Assem-
bly, unanimously adopted a resolution calling on
Governor Hughes TO tell the name of the writer
More than that, the resolution demands from the
Governor n statement OF his knowledge OF the
writer's tTustworthiness.
OF course since the Governor has seen ft TO
Ihink this matter OF enough Importance 10 give 1t
10 the public tins he must have inyesti-
gated and satisfied himself Of the responsibility OF
the writer" said Assembly, Hammond in pro-
posing the resolution. His resolution was as fol-
lows,
Governor of this state has received and is in pos,
session OF I Ielter aug tseu 70 mn ~ az t,,an,?
gambler stating IN erect lna1 II Is tn n;S,
Of the opponents ~ the so-caed anti-raclng blliS
having jurisdiction thereof and the Legislature 10y
the use of money. anG that members of the Legs
lature have already indicated that they are sub
5eci 90 influences of such character; now, be 1t
ernor he and hereby is respectfully requested to
transmit said letteF or copy theIeGI; Iar ana raTa
relative said subject matter. together with
a statement to his knowledge or lnformduon as
70 tho identity and responSibiiity OF tIe auIholS
thereof 90 the Assembly Tor the infoInauon if1l OIL
The letter which has aroused.the ire of the legis
lators was made public. among many others sent
TO the Governor, and was printed this morning II
follows:
To the Governor: Let me say TO you that Il. am
] admit that the book1rlaker the trainer and many
II Is The worst kind OF q oracH game. we uoh IN
tend 10 let YOU stop it You may pat up one hun
1,utfinc up ssHoo-stroleer arguments, Your
] takes loss XIII committee than in either
house. and that's what 10 play for; Now.
IN ~ 3 oJToIS IT gong snd % vor committee n the
Legislature viii do it. too, Watch and see
hsSemblyrnan HamponJ. of Syracuse acting ma
49,
on Codes. which has the anti-ganbling bill :n
charge. presented his resolution the
Legislature convened.
Attacks Of ali kinds have been made before
this the Legislature and its committees" he
said Usually they go unnoticed but this is out Of
the ordinary The Governor has fit to think
this matter Of enough importance TO give it TO
public Of this state He must have investi-
gated and satisfied himself with the responsibility
of the writer. This IS a matter the Assembly ought
not 70 permit GO unnoticed- It is entitled TO
know who and what the writer is. and it is for
that reason I offer this resolution that we may
get this document and any others along the same
rne which the Governor may have
Mr. Palmer. minority leader. declared that when
a man attacked the Legislature over his own sigma
ture he was somewhat manly, but that the BODY
must resent any covert or sneaking act
IF not said he 1T tacitly confesses the truth
am somewhat surprised our Executive has MADE
himself the medium for spreading this slanderous
no other way. The who repeats a charge
commonly is regarded guilty as the man vino
makes il and our courts have held uniformly that
the man knowingly cireuiates false statements
IS as liable as their author The Governor does NOT
give the Of the writer, but leaves an lhph-
cation against this body.
AssernbIyrrlan Wainwright wanted 10 know what
the Legislature could do after II got the name OF
the letter writer recalling recent experience whe
il tried to get the name of the author Of certain
newspaper story. and failed ridiculously
This seems unlikely TO lead anywhere and we
shall not be able do anything" he predicted
of course not, If this charge is true" snapped
Mr Palmer, ''hut assume II is not true
The letter writer hit with peculiar force on sore
spot IN declaring that the gamblers were going 10
kill the hills in committee In The Judgment OF
most people here. the hardest kind OF battle VIII
he necessary to get the bills reported from COM
Inittee in either house and the committee members
are not pleased to have themselves held up as
holding out signals Of distress the victims
Of boodlers.
It seems rather unlikely that caucus can be
made 10 accept these bills party measures
Some OF the Hughes men have been saying that
probably the bills would be made caucus meas
ures and thus passed easily. Senator Raines said
tonight that he had received no request for a
caucus on them. Asked if he considered them as
proper legislation for consideration by party
caucus he replied. They seem raise moral
issue not a political issue. ] don't want to com
init myself that question We will face the
question Of a caucus when il comes Up. II le~is-
lation takes up any subject mentioned in the party
platform political questions, then its properly
material for a party caucus
Senator Asnew. the sponsor for these bills, said
he had not asked for caucus and was not yet
convinced Of the advisability OF any such action,
at least until the bills had been thoroughly and
completely considered by the committees. The gen
eral belief here IS that the Assembly Codes Com
ittee viii take about the same view Of the caucus
rrorostion as that which Senator Raines indicated