New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-29
BOSS" PUTS ON SCREWS
Murphy Orders Murtaush High
way Board Bill Passed.
CERTAIN He HAS CONTROL
pesrite Confidence of Tammany
Leader, Outcome Is Really
in Doubt.
m, telegram 10 The Tribune ]

rR, Telegraph 10 The Tribune
aIbanv Nav 9S-Feellng certain mat ne
has the necessary control of the Lesisiat-
ure Boss Murphy. OF Tammany HAM,
has sent 10 his leaders here word 10 Jam
through the first Of the big measures IN
which the 18th street organization is vitally
interested. That is the Murtaugh bill re-
organizing the state Highway Commission
which the Senate will take up for passage
on wednesday. Democratic efforts 10 pass
4. probably will develop the biggest ana
most sensational fight Of the year
Despite Murphy's confidence, the outcome
as things stand really is in douoI Inc
Tanmany leaders assert that they VIII ne
able 10 poll practically a solid Democratic
vote on this measure. In addition, they
vhisper. they have two or three Repun-
,ican votes which they can commander IN
dire extremity. The Republicans. on the
Other hand. maintain that not one OF thelr
number Will desert 10 Tammany on this
hill Also they say, there will he lined mp
against the measure at least five Demo
cratic votes-those Of Senator's Roosevelt
s,ulweu Griffin. Bayne and Duhamel.
These men constitute most Of the new IN
surgency" which grew out of Tammany's
Burd sometimes an insurgent, sometimes
with the Organization will vote for the
highway bill.
Senator Roosevelt Is pretty certain 10
vote against the bin as II stands. As TO the
attitude OF Senators Stillwell and Grimm
there is more doubt. ordinarily they are
good enough organization men. and they
themselves haven't defined just the extent
to which their resentment against Murphy
because Of his treatment Of their Bronx
county bin may carry them. Bayne Is IN
somewhat the same position. But II the
five vote against Senator Murtaughs bill
Tammanv will need to get at least one Re
publican vote 10 pass the measure Many
reports have been revived that Senator
Emerson. Republican. Of Warren County,
would vote with Tammany. Emerson al
WAYS has denied these stories and stoutly
affirmed his entire devotion 10 the present
Republican commission
The Murtaueh bin lcgSlates out Of office
the existing commission essrs. Hooker
and Allen. Republicans. and Earl, Demo-
crat II proposes 10 substitute commits
sion Of three members. made up Of the
state Engineer. elective; the State Super
in'endent Of Public Works. appointed by
the Governor. and a superintendent OF
highways. appointed by the Governor.
These men would have equal powers in
preparing plans. approving them. laying
out routes. appointing all subordinates of
the commission and similar work The SUI
perintcndent of highways would have sole
charge Of the practical work Of road build
ing and road repairing.
Opposed from All Parts Of State.
Opposition came from all parts of the
state to the measure when it was first pre-
scented. People interested in good roads
objected. primarily. to any change in the
personnel or policy or methods of work of
the commission. Also. they lodged many
protests against the scheme of having an
elective officer serve with two appontive
members of the board, declaring that in
stead of centralzng responsibility. as Gov
ernor Dix contended. il would divide it
badly
Democrats Of the Democratic League
- brand are. wrathfu because the State Ensi-
neer and the State Superintendent Of Pub
. iic Works as the hill stands. would have
voice in the distribution of patronage.
They say this means. in plain English,
tndi ldinmdNN VIII gran an the JOBS anu
make the Highway Department into huge
upstate political feeder for 18th street. To
that advocates OF the Murtaueh bill answer
that even If the state Engineer IS to be
considered q Tammsny man he would be
only one-third Of the proposed board, while
the other two-thirds would he men ap-
pointed by the Governor and likely 10 work
together as he desired ON matters Of
seem 20 convince the anu-Tammany Demo
Gratis who point out that i'm the end how
ever II happens. Tammany usually gets the
Jobs Senator Roosevelt has prepared various
amendments 10 the BILL which he probably
will offer when the night comes. one of
these amendments would place all power
over appointments by the new commission
In the hands Of the Superintendent OF
Highways
Senator Roosevelt also has evolved q new
nil which no may present this week 1t
would add the Superintendent Of Public
Works and the state Engineer 10 the pres-
ent Highway Commission. without making
any Other changes MANY Republicans have
told him they would favor that. and some
organization Democrats might vote for it.
He had another scheme 70 wipe out the pres
ent commission and substitute for IL a
board of five. including ihe Superintendent
OF Public Works and the state Engineer.
Governor Dix didn't like that. and told him
so. so he has dropped tina one.
Tammanv will go into the fight with all
the advantage OF position and numbers.
Only desertion by Al least five Democrats
can prevent the organizations passing the
bin In whatever form seems most desirable.
IN the Assembly the insurgents have pre-
served a pretty fair organization. and on
some things still vote together about as
they did ln the senatorship fsht II the
Democratic League can align them against
the highway bill. IL might be defeated in
the Lower house-if some Republicans did
not form a bipartisan alliance with the
Tammany men on St. That's always Dos
sibility nowadays.
Following action IN both houses on the
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