New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-22
CHARGE GRAFT IN ALBANY
LEGISLATURE Votes to Investigate
Conditions in Capital.
SLAP AT CHAIRMAN BARNES
Republicans Denounce Scheme
as Disgraceful and In
sulting to City.
rRy Telegraph % The rribun. ]

Albany. July 21-Alleging corruption n
Official life and political protection ~ dis
orderly and gambling houses for money
resolutions for an Investigation Of condi-
tons IN Albany by a committee or I'VE
Senator's were adopted tonight by the
Legislature They carry an appropriation
OF $4,000 for the expenses NJ the investi-
cation.
This action. q sort Of farewell move by
the Democrats OF the Legislature. is a IL
rect slap az william Barnes. jr. Repub-
lican state chairman and leader ~ Albany
County. II was the idea OF 'Packy' Nc
Cabe. clerk OF the Senate and Democratic
leader Of Albany County. Democrats con-
slider # one Of the cieverest political tricks
they ever heard or They say II will help
McCabe in his county and the Democratic
party IN the state az large. They all as
sumo that they will be able 20 get the
goods" Most Of them base their rosy
views on some work already done by state
Excise Commissioner Farley in the so
called Gut" the Tenderlon section OF this
city
Republicans In the Senate. where the
chief fight over this matter occurred. de-
nounced il as a foul blot on the fair fame
Of the capital and a disgrace 70 the per-
son who conceived the idea. Senator
Bracket went even further. He said II
was an Insult 10 Governor Dix. who. ciu-
zen Of the capital. could hardly have shut
his eyes 70 such conditions "a were recited
in the preamble OF the resolutions II they
were true Senator Bracket announced
that no member Of the Republican minor
i-v would serve on the proposed investi-
eating committee. and said that the Re
publicans would express their contempt for
the resolution by refusing n vote on II.
Senator Sage was on his feet an instant
after the document was read. He declared
II was a foul insult 70 Albany and every
man in the city, a stain on the fair fame Of
the capital.
Senator Bracket. 70 show. he said. by
what highwaymen's methods the Demo
Gratis were moving. tied them into nara
knot on parliamentary procedure. lie
made Senator Frawiey, chairman or me
Finance Committee, admit that there hao
been no formal meeting Of the committee
20 consider the resolutions. Then he FORCED
recess Of the Senate and a special meet
ing Of the Rules Committee 70 report
riia under which the resolutions could be
considered. That rule was ludicrously De-
Yac-iva and Bracket made Senator Wag-
ner take another recess Of the Senate ana
rsd-aft a rule which would hold water
Meantime he expressed his opinion OF the
proposed investigation.
After the adoption OF the second special
rule the Senate adopted the resolutions.
The vote was 81 to o. no Republican voting
Senators Grady big Tim" Sullivan and
White. Democrats, did not vote. either.
When the investigation resolutions came
over 70 the Assembly there appeared IN
+ba centrs aisle Of the chamber the stsi-
vart form, Of Patrick z. McCabe, clerk OF
,ba ssna+e and Albany County Democratic
Isedar. who is responsible for the reso-
tuition. He had an earnest conversation
with majority leader. "Al' Smith. and the
scurrving around for votes by the Demo
cratic leaders began Immediately
They worked harder 10 get the required
nur,ber OF votes than they had for eny
other measure this session. and then barely
sAcured them. In fact. they had 70 call on
the Sneaker 20 vote for IL The vote was
= 70 9. the Republicans. with the sxcep-
t,on ~ four, refusing 10 vote az all. Dem
ccrsts who cast their ballots against the
resolution were Brace. Cossd, Drummond
and Iarue The Republicans who voted
against IL were Bryant, Goodwin. Hart and
Thorn.
After calling attention n the fact that
such Investigations we're risky business for
anv political party. being Ike two-ecged
sword. and that there was no demand
among the people OF Albany for an investi-
cation Of their city. Mr. Merritt. the minor
ity leader. said
Now. one man rises UP all alone and
takes the responsibility Of declaring that
the conditions are SO bad that he, Mr.. Nc
Cabe. wants the state 70 spend $1,000 20 see
e il can't md something nasty in the city
ne represents here Mr. McCabe got $4,000
worth Of patronage as a result OF me last
elactiou He'll lose more than the value OF
that patronage II this resolution Is carried
out
At rhe end ~ the roll call Assenblymsn
Wende. who had voted against the resolu-
ton. changed 10 the affirmative when Il
was seen thet one more vote was needed
70 pass II.