New-York tribune., 1910-02-22
IN OPPOSITION TO
TAFT md HUGHES.
UadsUorth Takes Floor to Op-
pose Chapler Resolution-Onc
bv Sen. Nesccomb Presented.
fRx Tel.eranl, 70 Ths rrihnnel

resolution calling for a sweeping leglS-
'stive investigation to ascertain whether
q any time corrupt attempts We're made
u influence legislation. Speaker Wads-
worth and Assemblyman Edwin A. Mer-
-irt. ir majority leader. were fighting
on The floor Of the Assembly the Chanler
resolution Of somewhat similar purport-
II was far more than the Chanler reso-
luton itself that they fought That res
o1lt3on. put forward by a demand mani
festlv too imperfect in phrasing to bring
about any real investigation, served
merely 10 afford the Speaker and his
faithful assistant an excuse for opposing
-, INVESTIGATION Of previous legislat-
ures
There was no nistakins either their
words OF their meaning as the respoilsl-
he leaders Of the responsible Repuhi-
rsr r7aioritz. in the lower house: they
deliberately used all their prestige and
raoliricaf power there - Kill the Cnan-
L. resolution. and thus make impossible
The way Of any similar proposal less
faulty
ATTENDED GRISCOM MEETING.
The sirnifcance and Importance Of the
Sneakers action tonight personally and
1--7fticaIl,. are vast. in view Of the exist
ing crisis here. Speaker Wadsworth was
o.a ~ the men who attended the Taft
Hughes conference at Lloyd e. Criscom's S
home n New York. He heard Governor
Hughes and the nations Chief Executive
gree that te restore public commence
il public servants and in the Repub!lcan
r4rty there must be the widest inNestl-
catlon and the most drastic houseclean-
5-z He has sat daily through the Ses-
sons Of the Aids bribery irQuiry and
fas listened 10 the testimony there, and
tonight. dropping the dignity OF presid-
srg officer Of the lower house, he de
,lzred IN 50 many words that there was
nothing to investigate and no inVestiga-
I'm vas necessary or proper.
The Speaker left himself d loophole of
oz-sT.e h hasing his speech on the dec
le-aticu that no charge whatsoever has
been made against the character or
raeord II any member OF this present
f.use8 But the impassioned protest
which he made against the idea OF in
restigarion in general WAS accepted on
al sides Is setting him definitely against
President TAFT and Governor Hughes at
Ills iuncture And the fact that he took
rhe floor tonight TO make his speech in
G5-ares 10 what an extent he is willing
l. 80 in his fight.
rADSWoRTH' REASONS OBVIOUS.
speaker WadsWorth's reasons are OBJ
.5cus The disclosures already made
have brought a howl OF denunciation
-rcn al over the state. which has been
az much denunciation OF the existing
political system as Of the individuals
lrr-ern+ed.
Th. Aids case disclosures have been
The most potent argument advanced so
far 1cr the enactment Of Governor
lIugnes-s direct primary bill. Hughes
republicans say that Speaker Wads-
worth Is fghting for the very life Of the
.9I5 system, which, TO use his OWN
words. .izicked me upstairs into the
lpe4ker-hip-
n ztew Of Speaker Wadsworth's en-
-.srj. stand tonight it is significant
fls1 Senator NeWcomb's resolution
,.r1,-s The personnel Of the committee
-z-b=.h b would be chosen under it. The
rreu named represent distinctly the
.,.-. ..yressiyes'' in both houses. including
me Democratic members. The resolu-
ION selected Senators Davis. Vain
wright. Davenport and Schulz and As
..esaliynlan Neimert, Dana, Roberts,
s1ortr and Chanler.
DAVIS FOR FULL INQUIRY
senator Davis Is the only man Of them
al who has been in any degree 3 part of
me old system and he. in presiding
Ger -ba Aids trial. has showed himself
10 1.e m favor or the fullest kind of an
5r,-es-faarion into that and all other al
eyed corruption.
Fu presenting his resolution senator
c-ev-corab declared that he resented any
s-sren7enr or intinaation that II WAS n
rrndAd bv naming the committee 10 re
ec-r on the presiding officer i either
bed
,-,.osl-er 7Hadsvortn's dramatic course
- +ba Tovyer House Was entirely uneX-
re-,ea He occupied the Speakers
.bsfr while Assemblyman Chanier was
a~cufnc for the adoption of has resoIa-
iion The former Lieutenant Governor
mo Is considered virtually I" ne the
Democrats, leader IN the Lower House
ed he had expected that such ACTON
would be unnecessary because the
Wainwright resolution IN the Senate
would be acted on by this time. but he
hsd toU.d il otherwise
Mr. Ch2nler said ne was amazed 10
I'1r the counsel for Senator Conger re-
oa7tIE conceGe that corruption fund
bad been raised in 1903 for the purpose
a Influencing legislation in The Assem-
biz IFo said that when he came back
t. the Assembly he expected that Il
Ine0eer of rhe majority would introduce
su-a > resolution IS he had introduced,
md t1at be regretted that II had been
Ieft to- minority member Ee believed
that T. seek "a Investigation whom cor
1up,icn had been charged was the duty
cf The majority. because IT would have
tncn carried more Weight
SPEAKER TAKES THE FLOOR
fferc Speaker N-adsHorth turned Tie
taatr over to Assemblynaan Fowler. Of
leter county. and appeared on the floor
g. speak against the Jhanler resolution.
IL said that il Was the first time in tive
years that he sought recognition for the
ls-oosa Of taking part in debate on