New-York tribune., 1915-03-14
Warning to Get in Line
with Upper House Rouses
Assembly Leader.
NOT SUBJECT TO
SENATE DICTATION
Programme Mapped Out for
Senate May Keep Legislature
Until May |.
lrrom a s,,n Correspondent OF The Tribune


Albany, March 13.-The differences
between the Senate and Assembly
reached climax to-day, when Senator
Elon X. Brown, the Republican leader
Of the former. declared that the AS
sembly leaders must get into iine' II
they expected TO have any OF their
legislation 90 through the upper house:
The Assembly leaders on learning OF
the Brown ultimatum did not attempt
t. conceal their displeasure.
"The Assembly submits that 1t has
the right TO its own opinions and CON
victions," said Speaker Sweet, "and 1t
is in no way subject 10 the dictates or
opinions of the Senate"
And as Speaker Sweet has control or
the powerful Assembly Ways and
Means Committee, this is no idle boast.
The trouble between the two houses
began when the Assembly refused TO
pass the direct payment rider TO tne
bill appropriating s425,000 for the
workmen's compensation bill. The
Senate leaders were open in expressing
their anger at this action and have de-
termined, il possible. to force the AS
sembly TO stand for the rider.
"My stand in the matter" said Sena-
tor Brown to-day, ais that a Republican
caucus decided on the rider before II
was introduced. Assembly members
as well as Senate members, agreed on
the rider before it was introduced. ne
Senate did its duty and passed the bill
The Assembly backed down. The lower
house cannot treat the Senate IN
that fashion, and it is high time the
Assembly realized that fact :,
"The Assembly is not opposed 70 ai-
rect settlements as between employer
AMI employee" said Speaker sweet
when told Of this statement. we
are in favor Of that, but we are op-
posed to allowing the casualty com
panies TO settle with the workmen. We
are willing TO meet the senate more
than half way in the interest Of har-
rnanv. but we will make no compromise
that provides for casualty companies
dealing with injured workmen.
"That is final. 1t is not our pur-
nose to legislate dollars into the
pockets Of the casualty companies,
which seems to be the purpose of the
Senate. We intend to protect the
workingmen of the state, ana there Is
no possible way for the Senate TO
force the Assembly to pass the bill
as il came from the Senate, which Ia
Senator Brown to-day announced the
programme which he intends TO force
through both houses. He declared that
the ewes of the nation were on the Re
publican party in New York state and
that nersonal ambition would play no
mart in the relations between the Sen
ate and Assembly. He said that tne
Governor was in harmony with the SEN
ate programme.
"The people are desperate for relief
from the four years OF maladm ihlstra
tion we have Just had" he said, "and
if we fail we will leave their ahalrs IN
a condition that will bring condemna'
tion on the party"
lie thought that the programme ne
had mapped out could be completed by
April 10. but that it may take until
Nav l, as it is intended to keep the
Assembly in Albany until the pro
gramme is carried out. Here are the
measures he intends 10 put through:
REORGANIZATION of the Hospital Com
mission, Conservation Commission and
1st District Public Service Commls-
sion. amalgamation of the Labor lie
partment and Workmen's Compensa-
tion Commission, reducing expenses OF
health and insurance departments III
fact. cutting about S3,O00,0OO from the
expenres of all state departments;
making changes in the labor and com
pcnsation laws in the interests of both
business concerns and wor kmen. and
rcorganizing the Elections Board and
cutting its ( st TO the state by S3oO'oOo
a year. oooooo
Senator Brown said that s4,0oo,OOo
more can be raised by multiplying the
secured debt exemption on bonds ana
mortgages hereafter filed, increasing
the automobile tax and taxing five
cents on each dollar charged for cham
paene at retail. He said that because
Of differences regarding the re-estao-
liyhment Of the nominating state con-
vention the Senate had agreed to con-
sent TO the submission of the question
TO the voters of each party at the
primary next fall.
The Senate steering committee APP
pointed yesterday will take up the
work of carrying out this programme
and will endeavor to reach an agree
ment on these various measures with
the Assembly.