New-York tribune., 1909-04-30
4 PLAYTHING.
His FiHbuSter Unable to ReUiUe
Public Service amendments.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune J

Albany April 29-The Senate adjourned to-
night after passing the supply bill and prac-
tfca1y all other legislation it means to touch,
having played all day with Senator Josiah T.
Newcomb. OF New York His fIibuster to pass
the Public Service amendments made a
laughing stock. he himself being the butt OF
Senate witticisms and Senate punishment
Even vet the bill, which means streetCsr
transfers for New York City, the possibility Os
lower Communication rates for upstate cities and
the effective regulation Of gas and electric light
ing companies. can be passed if Senators Faines
and Aids will bring in special rule TO permit
its being taken up and give the word to stop
hazing Senator NewcOmb- But to all intentS
and purposes il Is dead
Just thing may yet operate TO save this
biII-its vital Importance TO New York City and
the fact that to kill it IN this fashion viii fur
nish potent argument against the Republican
party in the coming municipal election. This
argument State Chairman Woodruff Is driving
into the heads OF Senator Raines and other in
fuentiaI Senators tonight. 1t may prove ef-
fectfve but the probability is not great SEN
ator Newcomb by his fIibuster has greatly an
gered his coIlea gues. including the majority
leader The Senate collectively is not at pres
ent in a temper To let considerations Of the few
deprive it of the present moments fling at Gov
ernor Hughes and the man who attempted to
fight for the Governors bill
TAKES CHANCE OF EXTRA SESSION
Seemingly the bipartisan combination which
sprang into prominence again in the closing
hours of the Legislature is willing take Sho
chance of Governor Hughes calling an extra
session. Admitting that the Importance Of the
Public Service amendments would justify ths
calling Of an extra session If they were de-
feated the anJi-Hughes leaders declared that
they would dispose of the Governor and his ex-
ira session very promptly by referring the en-
tire question to the commission which Is 70 tn
vestigate the regulation OF telephone and tsls-
graph companies But besides the Public Ser
vice law amendments at least two other bills
Of moment to large communities are buried in
the "morsue'-the Buffalo railroad terminal sta
ton commission measure and the Kings county
Court house bill which caused State Chairman
Woodruff much labor and many anxious mo-
ments to-day He tried. that he might rescue
this bill. to effect some sort Of compromise on
the Public Service amendments
Il regard the Public Service amendments
said he especially in the matter of transfer
control as of utmost Importance from political
point of view I suggested To Senator New
comb the introduction Of bill carrying the
transfer provisions. but I was given TO under
stand that Governor Hughes would not consent
to the division of the bill 1 stII hope thar
some way out of the deadlock may be found
Mr. Woodruff devoted much attention 70 ths
from the general orders ealendaE where New
cor,b drove il in his efforts TO extricate the
Public Service amendments Mr. Woodruff said
that he had arranged to amend the correspond
ing bill Of Senator Travis to be identical win
the Lee bill then 10 get It out Of the cities Com
nittee and have it passed under an emergency
message from the Governor. There were, how-
ever those who doubted whether the GovernOr
would thus assist in the discontinue Of Senator
xawcoub when he came 10 realize that the prof.
cot vas devised simply TO get the courthouse
hill ont of its position beside the Public Services
amendments.
SENATOR GRADY SARCASTIC.
Tho Senate began it's work to-day by passing
,-itbout debate the resolution for an tnvestiga-
ting committee of three Senators and hve AS
,h1,n,er TO examine into the advisability OF
n,tttng telephone and telegraph companies un-
der the Jurisdiction OF the Public Service com
missions A clause permitting the COMMITTEES
investigate the whole subject matter involved
will relieve the Senate. many leaders protes
from all responsibility for killing ths pending
a,andments This was expressed by Senator
GRADY who when Senator NewcOmb renewed
his objections TO the advancement or the bills.
declared sarcasticalIy that the Senate had just
relieved him from any necessity for his embargo
10 get action on the public service amendments"
Nr Newcomb in vain tried to show that his
! course was not dictated by hostility toward any
/ Senator or any legislation, but by desire 90
prevent clogging of the third reading calendar
! so the Senate could reach the order in which
| the amendments were languishing
| Then the Senate set itself out TO bait Senator
/ Newcomb. So many motions 10 suspend the
| rules on local bills, under notices previously
given we're made that the clerk was instructed
| to take up the motions according TO roIlcall OF
| districts.