The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-15
Lewis 5. Chan|eT Demands Tu|. investigation of Iac's h {. Bribery Scandal
GOVERNOR HUGHES HAS ! B|G JOB AHEAD OF HIM
md the Scandal Now Claims the Attention of the EatIre
 Country.

Albany. N. Y, February 1A-The first actual step toward widening the scope of the investigation of alleged legislative corruption is row under way in the sen- ate was taken tonight by democrat. Lewis Stuyvesant Chanier, former lieu tenant governor and now assemblyinan from Duchess county. MT. Chaner in troduced a resolution calling for a full and complete investigation and asked for l, its immediate consideration. NIT. Merritt. majority flcor leader promptly objected and under the rules, consideration of the measure was postponed until next Mon day night.
 MT Chaner explained that his measure was intended to express the sense of the assembly that the senate should Ego the limit" in its present inquiry into the Conger charges. He could not say wheth- CT or not 1t expressed the sense of tho other democrats in the legislature and declared that he had not consulted with either of the minority leaders before in troducing it.
 In tho debate that preceded his fail- ure to have the resolution considered inl- Inediately MT. Chanler declared that he had acted from a sense Of duty and that responsibility for the delay would be or the republicans
 eve accept that responsibility" said Mir. Merritt.
 You need not be alarmed about the majority looking after the honor and , beauty of the house."
 "A week is none too little to consider a matter ef such srsSe i1nportnnce,'' re- marked Speaker Wadsworth.
 Whatever Governor Hughes may con template toward helping the party out of the difficulties into which the Conger charges have plunged it, he has thus far refused to discuss his attitude for puo- lication. The governor spent some time today with Speaker Wadsworth of the assembly and with Senator Bracket. MT. wadsworth this evening intimated that if there was any probing to be done the republicans would manipulate the instr,i- ment
 Republican leaders here tonight were reticent to admit that the evidence thus far adduced in the Senates investiga- tion os the bribery charges against Sen ator Aids would compel a wider inquiry on the general subject of state legsla- tive corruption. There was nothing in present conditions, they said, that de- manded such radical action.
 There is no doubt, however. that those in authority. it is asserted, from Governor Hughes down, appreciate the gravity of the situttion and are discussing means to meet it. Bribery scandal during the last thrae days brought the members of the stat legislature back to Albany to- night ptizzled and worried. When sen ators and assemblymen left Albany last week tie Aids and Conger case was re- ysrded generally as a small mess of soiled lnen They came back to find it . rising1ood in the washtub that threat sued th welfare of the dominant party in the state, it is declared and that it has lready claimed the attention of the heas of the state and nation.
 Thus lar the only hints of corruption besides those personally concerned brought out had to do with the efforts of the American Bridge company to pro feet itsdf from alleged strike bills.
 The atmosphere on the republican side of the legislature however is not all gloomy. Some students of rolitical af- fairs tonight say that the effect of the Aids aid Conger scandals might event uaiiy lenefit the republican party by drawing it's clements closer together. They pbinted out that already in the face of a common party danger the opponents of Govsrnor Hughes had adopted more friendly attitude
 The situation has given wing, it is stated, to host of rurnors. One in flight is that Governor Hughes will be urged to reconsider his determination not to run again If his candidacy is believed necessary to rescue the partisans.
 Senator Conger is due to take the stand again when the senate resumes it's inves- tieatlon tomorrow.