New-York tribune., 1912-02-13
DIX MAY FIGHT MURPHY
BlSselI Nomination Likely to Test
Opposition.
GOVERNOR FEELING HIS WAY
Osborne Said to Have Declined
State Chairmanship-Tilden
Now Mentioned.
IBy .rclcer.n1 :, - rrlhnnc |

Albany, Feb. l2.-Apparcntly Governor
Dix has determined TO fight Murphy of
Tammany. and Fitzpatrick. Of Buffalo. his
| chief lieutenant. on one matter. at least.
Herbert y. B!sS,!l, nov LuGacy Gomnlis-
sioner. told his friends to-day that he had
been definitely offered the place now vacant
In the upstate Public Service Commission,
that he had accepted # and that the Gov
ernor had promised to send his nomination
TO the Senate this week.
Bissel has been opposed vigorously by
Fitzpatrick. and Murphy has stood with
his associate boss IN upholding the claim
Of the organization" to this place. F1tz-
patrick himself was d candidate at one
| time. but the opposition which bowled Nc
Cooey, Of Brooklyn, out OF the possibility
of getting the appointment on the 1st Dis
trct commission also knocked out FTtz-
| patrick.
Thcreupon Murphy and Fitzpatrick de-
Cided that the berth must be given TO some
body acceptable TO the latter Notice was
served on the Governor that II he nom-
mated Bissel the Senate would provide op-
: position to his confirmation. Bissell subse-
quently made a canvass for support among
the Democratic Senator's but 1t must have
/ proved discouraging to him. for the talk Of
his appointment suosided for a few days.
! Now the situation seems changed again.
[ It Is said 10 be the Governors plan to
send Bissell's appointment 10 the Senate
| before he names a Public Service Com
missioner for the lst District, Health
| Officer OF the Port OF New York and a
| Superintendent Of Insurance. Thus the
| Blssell nomination would be a test II
the organization chose TO fight 1t, the
Governor would know, presumably. how TO
meet the situation as to the other nomi-
nations.
The Organization" is seeking very hard
/ 10 land the fat job in the Insurance De-
partment and expects kindly treatment on
the other patronage.
! II is not at all impossible that the crude
work OF Murphy In postponlng the meet
| ing OF the Democratic State Committee
| has at last forced the Governor 10 make
up his mind on the proposition of fighting
! the organization" Just now the under
standing here is that William Church Os-
born, the Governors friend, has declined
! to become chairman or the state commit
tee in spite OF the Governors pleading.
| Still the Governor had a second string to
| his bow in Samuel J. Ttlden, I'd, also OF
the Democratic League, but somehow 'he
community OF interest which would have
led TO the election OF Dix man at the
head OF the state committee and the APP
| pontment Of organization off1cials does
not seem to be in evidence.
| In view Of this situation, the other ap-
pointments at present are uncertain. APP
| parentIy the choice for Public Service
| Commissioner in New York lies between
| Edward g. Riggs. the political writer,
with sheehans backing, and Philip Far
| ley now Deputy Fire Commissioner, with
Murphy's backing Either appointment
would be credited TO the Organization" T;
consequently either may. be supposed now
TO depend on the attitude the Senate takes
| toward the Bissell nomination.
| DR.. O'Connell is still supposed to have
! the best chance for Health Oricer. but this
would be a Gaynor choice rather than one
dictated by Murphy.