New-York tribune., 1909-04-09
FRANCIS MEASURE LEFT
NTH COMMITTEE.
.4drerse Direct Primary Report SuS-
tained-Bribery CHARGES and
DcniQLs an Debate.
IBy Telegraph to The T-ibune.l

killed the Governors direct primary bill by the
overwhelming vote OF 112 TO Is Then lest
their intentions he misunderstood they killed
the Francis bill placing the telephone and tee
graph companies under the jurisdiction of the
Public Service Commission by Vote Of 9S
70 -
50 far as the direct nominations bill was con-
Cerned the bulk Of the days proceedings bore
al the marks Of pink chatter. For four
hours and 4 half the debate amhed along.
chiefly 10 let each of the Governors adVer-
saries administer some small stab At him or
his plan. Supporters Of the Hnman-tireen
measure made a good fight. but they knew it
was hopeless and they couldn't put much
heart into il. Their opponents didn't even IRE
terd 10 keep their faces straight, and IN" last
hour OF the debate degenerated into farce,
largely because Of the bufooner- Of couple
q Democrats
Far different was the fight 70 kill the tele-
phone and telegraph amendment Alusions 10y
Asssmbl lyrnan Francis 10 the mysterious power
which had held that hill in committee and the
political interest manifested IN IL and bitter
attack by Assemblyman Bennett on Ray 81
Smith. clerk Of the Assembly, whom H. alc c:sGd
o. Influencing legislation improperly AS an ""it-
stde1" ard a creature Of this House" r"''~ed
4 storm of protest. Charges and denuncja;innr,
attacks and recrfmnations. in which Ucr" ref
erenyes - -boodle' funds and men Nho en-
deavored TO see members IF committees. flew
back and forth across the chamber
MACHINE HAS BUSY TIME
TIE Assembly machine sprang 70 The a.d Of
everybody implicated in the hod-up Of the bill.
Nj Tranciss motion To discharge the commit
tee on Electricity. Gas and Waje~ from further
consideration Of the measure was defeated over
!, ,,helr,in=l.. As a means Of expressing on
hdence in Mr. Smith, by an almost unanim"us
vote Mr.. BENEFITS speech was ,NpCnged from
the record.
Thereupon Mr, Bennett declared tEat ha would
object t. action on every bGl or the caienlar
including the annual supply ball. He tried it
with three or four. the House machine running
over him in each case. Fina.ly the situation
became somewhat annoying, ana Sreaher Na"s-
worth bringing his gavel down on the ueSk
with noise like cannon. slmos+ literally |
hammered the New Yorker into his ~esat- but ]
g moment later Mr. Bennett resumed Is M
lions to strike out. Again tn" Sleahe: CAV
e.led him dosSn mercilessiy.
Are the rules Of TINS House made for you Or
Cor SIS members %" demanded Mr.. Bennett.
II = in the discretion of the Speaker and /
zifhin the Judgment Of this House to rule out /
any motions evidently purely diiatoTy, retorted |
Sneaker Wadsworth passionately, his face ,
working with anger ! so rule You can ap- !
neal + you desire and again his gavel crashed /
on the desk.
Mr. Bennett gave up his fght. Without an
other word he left the Assembly chamber. re
moving most Of his belongings from his desk
The Governors enemies, including certain leg
,e1ators who have been extremely active in fight
ing the telephone and telegraph bill and railroad
law and other Public Service Commission
amendments, jubilant tonight Ihey de-
clare the telephone and telegraph measure Is
dead because Of q new rule this year. prohlplt-
ing the Rules Committee from reporting blll
on which 2 motion 70 discharge a committee has
been made, except on petition or vote OF two
thirds Of the members Of the House Such a |
vote never could be obtained, they say. They
srra-ently disregard the fact that Speaker
Wadszyorth is on record with a promise TO use
his utmost endeavor to have the Rules Commit
tee report this bill if it should not reach the
floor otherwise
BRIBERY REPORTS DENIED.
Not since Speaker wadsworth assumed
charge OF the House has there been such talk
Of graft and bribery as In to-day's debate De
nunciation q such reports by various members
was, however, more noted than any charges
Two things only mentioned which could
BY any Interpretation have been made to seem
lmproper-one phase OF Mr. Benefits attack
Mr. Smith. in which he declared that last
year an assistant clerk called attorney Of
the bill was unexpectedly reported. met him
al the railroad station and carried his bag to
the hotel: the other a declaration by Assembly
man Francis that a representative Of the teie-
phone companies was on the floor during the
debate Various Assemblymen protested vio-
lenty that nobody ever had seen" them or
made any improper proposals to them, and de-
ciared their belief that nobody ever had tried
20 influence the course Of this legislation i'm
properly.
The Francis telephone and telegraph bin was
taken up late this afternoon, after the direct
nominations bill had been killed. Pursuant 10
MS notice Mr.. Francis moved to discharge the
committee Electricity, Gas and Water from
Iurther consideration OF his measure. He said
he made that motion as a Republican, and also
desired TO see the measure taken care Of in the
interests Of the people. The proposition he said.
vas in fun accord with the policy Of the Repub-
Acan party and the demands of the people
Briefly he reviewed the legislative career of his
oil and his attempt 10 get the committee 10 re
port II
Opposition comes both from the independent
0ompanies and the so-called telephone trust
eald he. Both parties TO IL are mistaken in
'heir notions to its effect upon them, but they
persist in fighting it,"
Ihen Mr.. Francis spoke of the resolution
eoopted by the Merchants Association OF New /
iofk favoring regulation of the telephone COM
psIies A representative of that organization
-ast year contributed materially TO killing the
oAl' he said by advising food Of amendments
Just al the last moment. and he had tried the
same tactics this year.
call the Merchants Association" said
M Francis. either 10 rescind that resolution
y % send different representative to Albany