New-York tribune., 1912-02-28
Republicans and Democrats
Combine to Reject Governors
Man After Bitter Debate.
CORRUPTION IS HINTED AT
Black, Who with Cronin Sup
ports Nomination, Resents
Charge of Connection
with B. R. T.
rBy Telegraph TO The Tribune. !

bate. which for frankness and acrimony
has been unequalled in the last decade,
the Senate this afternoon refused to
confirm Edward G.. Riggs. Of Brooklyn.
nominated by Governor Dix to be Pub
lie Service Commissioner in the lst Dis
trict. The vote was ~ To 2. Senators
| Black and Cronin, Brooklyn Democrats,
stood with Riggs. Immediately there
after the Senate adopted unanimously
resolution for final adjournment OF this
legislative session March 20 at p. m,
which the Assembly had passed earlier
in the day.
Primarily this action was a deliberate
and emphatic rebuke administered by
Murphy, of Tammany, and his peoplet
Governor Dix, who had ventured TO ap-
point a man whom the organization
did not want. The Governor apparently
will survive 1t. His only comment was
Men are bound to differ on matters
of great Importance"
The fight has been recognized here,
though, as having financial as well as
a political side. 1t has been termed an
Interior ugh Brooklyn Rapid Transit
battle to dominate the New York Public
Service Commission. Riggs. because Of
the fact that his candidacy was backed
by William +. Sheehan, was dubbed a
Brooklyn Rapid Transit candidate.
Black Angry at o'Brien.
Riggs's supporters have not relished
this. and when Senator O'Brien, in OPP
posing him In the debate. said ne was
against the nominee because he believed
Mr.. Riggs was associated with the
Brooklyn Rapid Transit through the
men who stood behind him, Senator
Black, his face liyid. jumped 10 his feet
and, pointing a finger at OBrien,
shouted:
do you mean to say that l stand
here on this floor for the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit? If you do you lIe!"
Senator Black. who was a supporter Of
Sheehan for Senator last year. has been
leading the legislative fight for Riggs.
Various Senators tried to calm him
down. but he refused to be calmed.
81 won't withdraw anything" he said,
unless Senator O'Brien withdraws what
he said. | won't ask to have my re-
marks expunged from the records unless
Senator O'Brien exonerates me from any
connection with the Brooklyn Rapid
Transit"
But finally he did reconsider. after
Lieutenant Governor Conway had ex-
pressed the opinion that the language
used had been offensive. He did II in
this way:
We'll. admit that / was heated.
Maybe should not have thought that
Senator O'Brien intended TO nsinuatc
anything that savpred of corruption. |
must confess that my language was a
little strong. and I ask that it be ex-
plunged from the records, but hope that
Senator O'Brien will make proper
amends TO me-"
The fate of Riggs was sealed early In
the day, when It was decided that the
Republicans would vote against him In
"A body. This decision was reached after
kilograms and telephone messages be-
tween Senators here and State Chairman
| BafleS Ildl DtPl tNiildllB'h anu 'Ii' o'N
uation canvassed pretty thoroughly in
that fashion. There was a thorough un-
derstandng between Senator Wagner.
representing Tammany. and the Repub-
icans. so that at the end Of the Senate
calendar three announcements were
made-one for Democratic caucus. one
for a Republican conference and one for
a meeting Of the Senate Finance Conn
mittee, which had the Governors ap-
pointments i'm charge
Oppose BisseII and Sullivan.
The Finance Committee met while the
Republican conference was assembling
and voted to report the Riggs nomna-
tion FOR the consideration of the Sen
ate" The Republican conference TOOK
up not only the Riggs nomination. but
those Of Herbert T. Bssell for Public
Service commissioner I'm the upstate
district and William II. Sullivan for Tax
Commissioner.
After much discussion. the conference
decided 10 vote against confirmation ot
all Of the Governors nominations the
idea being that the interests OF Repub-
lIcanIsm could be served that way bet
for than I'm any other. There was vote
ON each proposition Senators Allen.
Bussey. Thomas, Platt and walters
voted for Riggs
The Democratic caucus took long
time To assemble. The Brooklyn men
were undecided what they would do
| Finally Senator's Black, Cronin, OBrien
and Sanner. Of Brooklyn; SAKE, of New
York and Bird. of Buffalo, concluded
not 10 enter the caucus. That BODY TOOK
np the Riggs case. and after long pow
WOW IL was voted that riggs was not
prcper man to get the Democratic votes
for Public Service Commissioners.
That having been decided, events
moved swiftly. The Senate which had
been standing in recess all THIS time'
was reconyened. Senator Frawley. TAM
manv's chairman OF the Finance Com
mittee reported the Riggs nomination
"for the consideration of the Senate,
and IN the next breath moved that 1t be
rejected.
| Senator Black at once cdiie W the ue-
fence Of Riggs. He declared that the
BROOKLYN Senators early in the year had
made a. pact to stand together on this
question. and that IN conference or all
the Democratic Senators big Tim" Sui
Ivan had moved, and the motion mad
been adopted. that all the Senators
would oppose any man objected to by