New-York tribune., 1910-04-13
Appoints a Committee of Three
to Draw Resolution for
Broad Inquiry.
WILL REPORT IT TODAY
William Barnes, Jr., Attacks
Governor Hughes in a Savage
Editorial on q Re-
cent Speech.
Try Telegraph 70 The Tribune J


gun to crumble. Two conferences. which
lasted until midnight tonight. brought
forth unmistakable evidence OF that
state of affairs.
Machinery was set into motion which
will result in a few days in the passage
by the Senate Of a resolution for a wide
and thorough inquiry into all suspicious
transactions involving legislators and
legislation. Little doubt remains now
that the Assembly viii adopt this when
il reaches the lower house. Influential
Assemblymen said to-day that the tenn
per of the House was such that Speaker
Wadsworth would be unlikely to under
take to interfere To kill that resolution
Evidence Of a desire on the part OF
the Republican machine 70 meet the
Governor ON the direct primary issue
which was given at the second confer
ence furnished a distinct surprise.
Senator Cobb. who has announced hts
intention To support a direct primary
bill. invited Speaker Wadsworth. the
most bitter opponent of the Governor on
that reform. to meet Senator Hinman
and Mr.. Green. sponsors for the Cow
ernor's measure. Not only did they con-
fer. but while the Governors supporters
stood firm. the attitude of the anti-direct
primary people vas distinctly one OF
concession. 1t was a straw which indi-
Gated decidedly which way the wind Is
blowing here Just now.
The Senate Finance Committee met
tonight and subcommittee was ap-
pointed TO draft resolution for a gem
eral investigation of legislative cOrrup-
ton. in accordance with GOvernor
HuShes's recommendations. This resOlu-
ton. when reported to the committee.
will be made a committee measure AMI
reported favOrably Beyond question,
the Senate will adopt the resolution.
The subcommittee consists OF Sena-
tors Agnew. Of New York; cobb. OF
WatertOwn. and Harte. of Long Island
City. cobb and Agnew both are in favor
of the broad general investigation ami
Harte has no objection to IL
The subcommittee will meet the first
thing tomorrow morning" said senator
Agnew. "and We hope to be in position
to report TO the Finance Committee in
the AFTERNOON we VIII TAKE uD
Wainwright and NewcOmb and Travis
resolutions in the light Of the Governors
message. We hope to draft a resolution
for broad general investigation. which
l think will prove satisfactory 10 every
body 1 have not discovered any Objec-
tion 10 such an inquiry within the
Finance Committee. and l expect the
a.. -,
This action on the part Of the Financs
Committee is entirely satisfactory TO
men like Hinman and NewcOmb amt
Wainwright. who have fought hard for
the closest inquiry Of all suspicious leg
isIative activity.
They believe that the character Of the
men on the subcommittee Of the
Finance Committee presages action Of
the right sort 20 lead to a thOrOughgOins
inquiry which will let the light into
all shady transactions. They are par
ticularly pleased at the appointment OF
Senator Agnew To the subcommittee.
He is one of the so-called insurgent Sem
atOrs. Il warm Hughes man and closely
associated with the more radical ele-
ment in the Senate.
Hughes Victory Probable.
While the Finance Committee was de.
batting the general inquiry proposition.
Senator Cobb and Speaker WadSwOrth
were holding a conference in the next
room with Senator Hinman and Assem-
bIyman Green. intrOducers Of Governor
Hughes's direct primary measure and
L to-
the organizations primary reform
bill
This meeting was called by Senator
cobb with view to recOncilins what
ever differences may exist between the
Governors views and those represented
in the Legislature by Speaker Wads-
worth and his followers
Most of the talking tonight was done
by cobb. wadsworth and Meade. Who
pointed out why l. would be- the proper
thing TO pass the Meade Phillips bill
and "A great wrong 70 adopt the Gov
ernor's direct primary bin
Senator Hinman and Mr. Green didn't
say much. They let the other fellows
do the talking. Their attitude appa--
entity was one Of show me. The con-
ference broke up AT little before mid
night None of those present was will
ing 10 talk for publication. They said
that this was merely the first cf "a series
Of conferences. which might or might
not work out compromise measure.
Direct primary advocates are willing
10 prUphCsy that the "CcmprOrnise meas
ure" will he the Hinman-Green btil
about as IL stands to-day certainly not
in any form radically different from
waht IL is now
Barnes Attacks Governor.
William Barnes. jr.. Tn an editorial n.
his newspaper Tonight attacks Governor
Hughes and his New School of States
i'm bitter fashion. tie declares
that the Governor is playing deep
game of politics." that the LEGISLATURE is
rot now and never has been Corrupt.
Dishonesty there always has been the
exception. not the rules. hc says. Among
other things. he says;
We trust that the Governor of New
York viii for "a few days cease his ad-
VertiSing the state as corrupt. as he dill
In his message last night and in his
address, last Thursday night wSen he
said
You know that for years We have noe
had decent government in this state but