New-York tribune., 1911-02-16
TAMMANY |NSOLENT TO
RIPPER BILL ENEMIES
Opponents of Sullivan Measure
HeckIed. Badgered and Pes
tered by |nSo!ent Questions.
WOMAN SHABBIL-Y TREATED
Judges, Magistrates, Civic and
Reform Associations and Prom
inent Lawyers Oppose Bill
at Hearing.
nv Tflerraph 70 The Tribune. !


Albany. Feb 15.-lf any body Of citi-
zens OF this state ever got rawer
oruder. more insolent ard more defiant
treatment from members Of legislat-
ure than did the body OF citizens who OPP
posed Senator "Christy" Sullivan's in
ierior criminal courts ripper bill to-day
at a hearing before the Senate Judiciary
and Assembly cities committees from
Tammany Halls legislators. 1t isn't
within the memories Of the Oldest In
habitants.
This bill legislates out OF Office the
fifty-five city magistrates and judges of
the Court of Special Sessions now hold
ing office, and provides for the election
Of their SUCCESSORS In districts laid out
In the measure. 1t is known here as an
"orgarlzation" measure, which means
that it has the approval and active sup
rort of Boss Murphy and his minions
1t is, in legislative parlance, "a fat
thing"
There appeared against this measure
judges city magistrates, many repre-
sentatives Of civic and reform organiza-
tons OF New York City and prominent
lawyers Of splendid reputation. They
were heckled and badgered and pestered
by continual fire of questions. some Of
them pertinent. more Of them impcrti-
nent The average Tammany legislators
display Of wit is a fearful and wonderful
thing, 10 be comprehended only by his
Fellows. There was gaping roomful Of
them, and at every jibe and jeer and
Hneer they set up shouts of laughter and
rounds OF applause.
As a fitting climax To this came
speech from Assemblyman Aaron J.
Levy, chairman of the Judiciary Com
mittee of the lower house by grace of
Tammany and police court lawyer Of
experience. according to his
own admission. Levy defended the bill
by attacking almost every one who had
spoken against il by name. As an ar
raignment by an Fast slider Of the eIc-
ment in the community called there
'highbrow" and silk stocking" his
speech was eminently successful. Other
wise, il was an exhibition of coarse in
science, cloaked. in clever phrases which
kept the admiring Tammanyites in roars
Of laughter, and caused one or two Dem
ocrats not Of Tammany who happened
to hear IT to declare that they were al
most ashamed to belong to the party
which harbored Tammany.
Levy critieses a Woman.
II is well known fiction that the East
side is gallant to women. Assemblyman
Levy disproved 1t. at least so far as he
s concerned. by attacking one. Miss
Naude Minor, who opposed the Sullivan
1ilI as A representative Of the New York
Probation Association, in such fashion
hat Justice Alfred r. Page felt Obliged |
q call on Senator Bayne. presiding, to
heck the abuse.
Miss Minor has been a probation Of !
icer." said Levy. THE probation OFF, |
,ers are opposed to this bill because they |
hink that if district leaders become |
udees district leaders will also become |
,robation officers, and they Will lose their |
obs"
Justice Page. sitting In the rear Of the
.oom. interrupted Levys fervid periods.
1T Is unusual. TO say the least, for a
member of the Legislature to abuse |
;eriatim all the speakers on the other |
,ide " said he. Il do hope he will spare
he ladies'"
Senator Bayne. tho chairman. eau
joned Mr.. Levy to he more careful.
,hcreupon the speaker protested that
,hat he said was not meant as an at
ack on Miss Minor.
And / repeat what ! said over and
,ver again" he added In stentorian
.oice; II am not attacking anybody; I
I'm merely speaking out my mind frank
y. and | have got night 10 do that
,ben men como here and show the In
tncerity In attacking this bill that has
,een shown here this afternoon
Jeer, at Professional Reformers.
Irvy's speech was presentation ~
rsmmany Halls views on the general
,,hiect Of reform" and ''reformers." II