New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-19
Bracket Challenges Vote.

Wagner said he merely called the at
tention of the clerk 10 an error I'm his
count on the detailed statement, Bracket
challenged the vote. declaring that Scna-
tor Gittins, who was recorded in favor Of
the adoption Of the rule. had not voted and
was not in the room at tho time of the
vote Cittns insisted that he had voted.
Senator Allen thereuron declared that he
heard Gittnss name called. that Gittins al
that time was not in his scat. but came
in later and tried to vote. Gittins and
Allen became involved IN a maze Of charge
and eXplanat iou. which Senator Grady cut
short by declaring that he'd move for a
recess TO permit another rule TO bo brought
i'm and voted on. if it became necessary
II wasn't Bracket let the matter go. de
clarisc that the majority couldn't purge
themselves Of any responsibilities for the
situation in which they found themselves
Senator Loomis, Independent Democrat,
began the fight on the bill. He termed il
q distinct breach of faith" on tn part
of the Democrats. He said it couldn :
masquerade as an attempt al economy, for,
while II abolished the advisory engineers,
FIVE Of them al $500 a year each, it permit
ted the state Engineer 10 hire as many con
sultirg engineers az he liked for whatever
he choose 10 pay them.
This bill simply does away with any gu
pervision Of the work on tho canals or III"
letting Of contra cts" said he, by any
body save the officials in charge of the
work. This bill can mean only one thing
that ne Democrats don't intend 10 he
watched. as the Republicans were WILING
10 be watched. Is there ANYTHING in the
Democratic record 10 warrant the assump-
ton that We don't need watching?
No insinustions Against BenseI.
II an making no insinuations against
Mr. Bensei or ANYBODY else. II is not TO
his credit though-rather 10 his discredit
that he united with others in demanding
that oil supervision he removed. Inevitably
this must excite suspicion. Millions e dol
lars viii be expended, and opportunity for
graft will be unlimited There has toen
stealing on huge scale I'm tho canal de-
rsrtment In past years. Despite this, you
insist on passing this bill?'
Senator Bracket said that Il was more
ly another case where the Democrats were
grabbing for jobs. though they were 80
ashamed Of the manner Of their taking
Them that they had nothing to gay IN de-
fence Of the bill. He said tho board of ad-
visory engineers had saved tho state hun
dreds Of thousands OF dollars.
Senator Grady defended tho bill, and
declared that the Democrats were not
thieves. despite all the torrid talk. Scna-
tor Wagner made rho only attack on the
engineers themselves. He said three OF
t,eu, II was we'll known did not do s5J
worth Of work year. one came 20 Al
bany about once in six months, he said, to
draw his salary.
Senator Loomis offered amendments -
the bill providing for the retirement by
the Governor Of two of the five advisory
engineers. The amendments were beaten,
1G 10 o. Senators Loouia. Burd and Roose-
y.it. Democrats. voted with The Repuhl-
cans They also voted against Tn" pas
sage Of the bin Itself, which was adopted,
y 20 IS. Senator Plat was the only Re
publican TO vote for IT.