New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-28
WEEK Of OPPORTUNITY
FOR GRAB LEGISLATION
Many a Joker Likely To Be
Jockeyed Along in Closing
Days at Albany.
TIE.UP IN APPOINTMENTS
Tammany Will Let None Out
Till Sulzer Sees Light on
Patronage and Veto
Power.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune. !

leaders fondy hope this will be the
last week of long and troublesome
session, for. unless their plans fail,
they will quit lawmaking on Saturday.
Everything is in readiness for the end;
all the important bills on which action
must he taken are in position for the
final moves.
So, too, arc many salary raising bills,
job grabs and measures which one cor
porate interest or another fondly hopes
will be Slipped across" in the closing
rush. There has been greater vol
ume of legislation this year than in n
joker bills have been jockeyed along to
place where they can be passed in
the hustle Of the final days Of n session
without any of the attention and de-
bate which would he their portion in
less troubled and busy times.
The all-important situation at the
close Of the session is the fight between
the Governor and the Legislature over
the Sulzer direct primary bill. In
volved in this are several appoint
ments. The Governors threat to use
veto power and the power of patronage
10 procure the passage Of his bill has
caused Tammany 10 decide that no fur
Their appointments will be reported by
the Senate Finance Committee until
some settlement is reached.
In the Finance Committee now await
ing confirmation are the nominations
OF John Mitchell To he Commissioner
OF Labor; John y. Carlisle, 10 be High
way Commissioner; John II. Delaney
10 be Commissioner Of Economy and
Efficiency. and John b. Riley. TO he Su-
perintendent Of Prisons.
Direct Consequence.
Untn the Governor began his threats
relative TO the direct primary bill Car
Isle and Delaney were certain OF con-
frmation. Mitchell was slated for re-
lection. and Tammany men insisted
that the Governor knew when ne sent
the nomination TO the Senate that
Mitchell would not be confirmed, but
sent In the name, anyhow, Just 10 get
appointment. Riley also was slated
FOR rejection. as the Finance Commit
tee. after investigation and much
study. decided he was not fitted for the
Job.
In addition 10 these places. the Gov
ernor had given his word TO men in
tercsted TO appoint George NJ. Palmer
Democratic state chairman. and Will
lam r. Lefiingwell. OF Watkins Glen. a
very wealthy man with a liking for
public Office. To the vacancies in the up
state Public Service Commission They
were entirely acceptable 10 Tammany
and were 10 be confirmed The Gov
ernor has two other important ap-
pointments TO mako-those of State
Architect and State Health Commits
sioner. His handling OF these patron
age questions now is part OF his
direct primary campaign.
The Sulzer direct primary bill is
slated for slaughter on the floor OF the
Senate. There is a bare possibility that
ii may be passed IN the Assembly, but
not much. The Republican minority in
both houses is expected To vote almost
solidly against IL, in accordance with
action taken at formal conference of
Republican legislators OF both houses
last week. The Governor threatens To
call an extra session If his bill is
beaten.
One Of the most important questions
of legislation remaining for action is
the matter of workmen's compensation.
4 committee OF four Democratic Sena-
tors is at work endeayoring TO draw a
bill which will reconcile the questions
in dispute. II seems unlikely, from
any progress reported yet, that they
will succeed In satisfying the support
ers of the Murtaugh- Jackson bill, now
on order Of final passage in the Senate.
or af the Foley bill, occupying the same
position.
The Murtaugh-Jac kson bill is backed
by the labor unions. The Foley bill has
the backing of the Insurance Depart
ment. but is opposed by the labor
unions because it permits casualty
companies to write compensation in
surance. and they say they've had such
raw deal from these companies in tho
past that they won't stand for giving
added opportunities 10 them.