New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-06
CRAM WILL Be CONFIRMED?
Democrats Claim Plenty OF votes
Despite Opposition.
ALSO TO PASS HIGHWAY BILL
Governor Dix Says Cram Is his
Personal Friend, Who VIII
Represent His Interests.

| By telegraph TO The Tribun'I
Albany Iune 5-Because OF the aosehc,
Of six Democrats tonight the nofnlnauon
Of 7 Sergeant Cram TO be Public Service
Commissioner for the ist District was nv
reported nv tho Senate Finance COMMITTEE
The Republicans. OF course. will hght con-
frmstion OF the nomination. and the DEM
ocra.ic leaders dared not have the hght TO-
night. Senator Wagner served not'ce ""
! his flock that all must he present to'h'o'
row. and apologized TO the Repuoiica"''
some Of whom attended to-niehts sesson'
expecting the fight to come up, at CONSUL
era Bile inconvenience.
Governor Dix learned on his return from
New York tonight that the Senate finance
Committee had failed to report the noh'i-
nation of J. Sergeant Cram. The Governor
, intimated that he expected favorable acton
on the nomination this week
Many letters and kilograms concerning
the appointment have reached the Governor
in addition to that OF Borough PRESIDENT
McAneny, of Manhattan. who urged the
Executive to withdraw the nomination until
the New York city subway contracts are
let.
Questioned as 10 the situation. Governor
Dix tonight said:
In addition to the letter from Mr. Nc
Aneny on the subject ! have received a
number of kilograms from gentlemen rep
resenting that they voice the sentiments
of large bodies of tax paying citizens %
Brooklyn, In which they have urged me 70
withhold Mr.. Grams nomination or con
firmation on tho ground that a change IN
the personnel of the Public Service COM
mission on the eve OF the accomplishment
81 acnt of he hrs ms
ton would throw the subway situation IN
New York CITY into confusion and provoke
dangerous delay They further state That
any change would he most unfortunate
until propositions now pending are set
tied
These fears and conclusions seem to me-
to he entirely without basis as the settle
ments referred to. II needing speedy &C
complishment, will most certainly receive
no hindrance or delay from Mr.. Cram,
providing they are in the interests OF the
majority Of :he citizens affected thereby.
Mr.. Cram is man Of energy and keen
understanding who will not waste his time
or submit TO its being wasted for him, nor
is he man TO countenance. much less ad-
vocate. anything but progressive ideas.
He is a personal friend, In whom have
confidence" concluded the Governor, and
whom | expect 10 theoretically represent
my deep interest in the vital problems
which have been before the Public Service
Commission for three years, and which
have been urging 1t to bring to a con-
clusion for the last five months.
Notice was given tonight of Republi-
can Senate caucus tomorrow morning The
attitude OF the minority on Cram and on
the Murtaugh bill grabbing the State High
way Commission patronage, will he dis
cussed. Both these matters are 20 he set
tied tomorrow IN the Senate. Rumors still
persist that Tammany has three or four
Republican Senators IL can count on Tor
any measure. This caucus is 10 try out
these men on tho two important questions
pending II will let State Chairman Barnes
and Senator Bracket. minority leader,
know whether they can depend on the Re-
publican Senators. or whether there is to
be definitely recognized bipartisan alliance
Of a few Republicans and Tammany.
The Democratic leaders say they have
enough Democrats TO confirm Mr.. Cram
without difficulty and to pass the highway
bill. There is little doubt OF Grants con-
FIJI nation. There f. still some doubt about
the passage OF the highway bill. Senator
Roosevelt will vote against II. Senator
Grady was not present tonight, but Is on
record against the measure. Senator still
County bill. said he had not decided yet
whether he would vote for the highway
measure He and some other Democrats
will hold a conference before the vote on
the bill tomorrow. The Democrats can
lose four men and still pass the bill.
Senator LOOMS has a substitute measure
which he thinks he will offer tomorrow.
Senator Roosevelt will press several
amendments.
THE bill can be riddled," he said to-
night. II am told the Governor is for this
bill. and 1t is generally regarded as an
administration measure. Yet only week
ago the Governor told me he was In favor
OF a single headed department. Certainly
this bill does not provide for a single
headed department. 1t Is no Improvement
in that respect over the present system.
My constituents are absolutely against
this bill, and | wouldn't dare go home il I
voted for IT.
An effort will he made on Wednesday TO
have the Manley bill, wiping out the pres
ent board OF canal advisory engineers and
permitting the State Engineer to appoint
special consulting engineers, reported from
the Senate Canals Committee. That body
stands five to four against the measure.
This request for reporting the measure is
regarded by it's opponents as merely a step
toward discharging the committee when
the Democratic organization gets the
necessary votes.