New-York tribune., 1909-04-07
ASSEMBLY REVOLT
AGAINST GAG RULE
TO ASk DISCHARGE OF
COMMITTEE
In Senate Ercn Anti-Hughcs Hen
Protest against QHick Mil
ing of Measures.
IA go % Ths Tclbans. J


Hughes's direct nominations bill in the Assem-
bly, tomorrow certain well considered
plans of its foes can make ii, there developed
to-day in both houses strong opposition to the
gag kill and run" treatment Of Hughes Iegis-
latiOn laid down by his opponents This Oppo-
sition probably will take the form in the As
sembly of attempt tomorrow TO force the
discharge of the Committee on Electricity. Gas
and Water from further consideration of the
Francis bill putting telephone and telegraph
companies under the Jurisdiction OF the Public
Service commissions
In the Senate II has taken shape in a demand
not only for proper hearings on the Hnman-
Green direct nominations bill, but in protest
from a whole not considered over
friendly to the Hughes policies against adjourn
ment until the Legislature has considered fairly
the important business now before il. Coupled
with this has come further admoniton to
antf-Hughes legislators from in Washing
ton interested in the party's welfare-this time.
according to the gossip. borne by Vice-President
Sherman last night-that all decency had been
outraged in the gag and jam methods pursued
TO discredit and defeat the Governors measures
and that there must be In any future proceed
ings at least a semblance Of deliberation and
decorum.
At the present stage 1t seems doubtful whether
such message. even should it come direct from
Senator Root would have any effect Woodruff,
Wadsvorth. Raines and their followers seem to
have determined on their policy. The Assembly
at present is taking the lead IN all this Speaker
Wadsworth Assemb1yman Jesse Phillips and
AssembIyrnan Fred Hammond. Of Syracuse. last
night took hasty count Of noses and decided
they had votes enough to permit them 10 do in
perfect safety whatever they liked The pro-
tests Of Assembly Bennett against the cor
poratfon trend of legislation and the peculiar
manner in which measures favorable to the cor
poratfons we're advanced while measures for
which there a statewide der1dEd Ian
guished in COMMITTEES alarmed them somewhat.
but not enough 10 cause them TO abandon their
plans
PREPARE To FIGHT TO-DAY
Assemblymen Francis and Bennett tonight
prepared themselves for fight TO get the teie-
phone and telegraph bill out of committee They
know this will be a difficult undertaking. al
though they count on much support from men
who are tired Of seeing a few COMMITTEES heads
dictate the destinies OF every bill introduced IN
the lower branch Of the legislature
II don't know whether We shall get the oiH
ont or not. declared Mr.. Francis. I'VE ought
10 have the moral and legislative support Of
Speaker Wadsworth. after all h has said Any
body who has been around here three weeks
knows the Speaker has only 10 crook MS Httie
finger and the bill Will come I couldn't see any
use in waiting on the pleasure of Chairman fale
anv longer. The way he ana his committees
laughed NE out of the room last week shOWeu
what they intended to do with the bill 60 no"
we'll have this thing right out in the open'
where everybody will have TO stand up and De
counted 1 want TO see IL these fellows VINO
are strong at strangling bills in committee viii
be as bold when it comes u playing Black
Hand methods on the floor
While Mr. Francis and his supporters believe
the sentiment of a majority OF the House Is
with them. they will have 10 contend agalhst
the time hOnored legislative dislike OF dischaTS-
ing a committee from consideration of an lnpor-
tant measure. no matter how II has nisnan-
died that legislation Under ordinary clrcum-
stances they would have chance OF success.
Their chance now lies in the fact that there Is
such general dissatisfaction with the raw ma
chine methods used in the lower house IN the
last couple of months 1t would not surprise
friends of the bill to see Mr. Francis and his
sdherents beaten when they try TO have the
committee discharged. and the Rules Commit
tee when II takes charge of all legislation next
week report the measure Immediately
The telephone and telegraph bill must come
ont of committee in the Assembly for ehe same
reason that the direct nominations bill must
declared an Assemblyman tonight. "Wads-
sr,otberfng that bill In committee two years in
succession He's getting from under. I expect
10 see the measure pass the Assembly But
watch the Senate. See if the bill, when II gets
there does not meet all kinds of difhculttes-aH
innocent. unavoidable delays, you understand
hut still the kind Of delays which will bring
adjournment day to hand without this bills
being passed. II 1 am any judge of legislative
conditions, there is too much political influence
at work and there's too much money at stake
on this thing for that bill TO pass both houses
of this Legislature
Hughes men in the Senate are at work en-
fea vorfng TO convince the leaders that IL would
be dangerous jam through unimportant
measures kill all the important bills and take
bastv adjournment There seems to be
general notion that before any such programme
can be carried through Governor Hughes will
be likely to call the attention of the Legislature
to the desirability of completing its work in a
speciaI message such as he has sent on one or
two occasions
LITTLE IMPORTANT WORK DONE
Scarcely any of the really important work of
the session has been completed Some Of the
consolidated laws have not been passed
Amendments containing nobody knows what
but purporting TO errors in the con-
solidated laws already passed. are clOgging the
calendars The administrative code to supple
ment the New York City charter is not yet be-
fore the Legislature The charter itself is not
half read forest preservation and water supply
legislation of Importance is still to be consid-
cred. and all the public service legislation is
vet to be disposed of. Even legislators not
overfriendly 10 Governor Hughes. when they
consider how little of the really necessary work
- -. co,,,DIata5 are heginninZ 10 urge can