New-York tribune., 1915-03-31
Senate Passes Thorn Di-
rect Payment Amendment
by Party Vote.
CHARGES OF GRAFT
RENEWED IN SENATE
Message from Whitman Aids
Measure Denounced as for
Casualty Companies.

Albany, March With the gas
rule enforced to the letter, and aided
by an emergency measure from the
Governor. the Senate passed to-day an.
ether amendment 70 the workmen':
compensation law, by en- almost strict
PARTY vote. the Democrats being rein.
inforced by one Republican William
NJ Bennett. Of New York.
The same charges and talk o. graft
and sinister influences tha: marked the
passage OF the amendment to the com
Iensation law providing for direct set
Element now before the Governor were
again heard in the Senate and in the
corridors.
1t is now reported that Governor
Whitman viii sign both bills. Las,
night he intimatcd that he would veto
the bill then before HIM.
A resolution is pending in the Assem-
bly 10 investigate graft charges and
lnsinuations. II was introduced by John
Leo Sullivan, Of Chautcuqua, but Re
publican leaders desire 20 Kill the reso-
luton, and in this they have the moral
support of certain Democrats. My. Sui
livan will try to get some action on the
resolution tomorrow.
Dead Bill Revived.
The latest amendment 10 the work
mems compensation law is known az
the Thorn bill. which every one consid-
cred "A dead letter until through the
mysterious undercurrentS Of legi lativa
gossip it became known 'his morning
that the Governor would send special
message to the Legislature urging its
immediate passage.
The bill makes il mandatory for al
employer 10 make payments to an in
jurcd workman or 20 his dependents
when an agreement is reached. The
money he advances Will be a lien
against the final award. K makes per
missivc the payment Of money by an
employer before an agreement is
reached, but II this s. done IL is sole
ly on the employers own risk.
Before the dill. with slight amend
ments, was introduced i'm tho Senate,
Senator Elon r. Brown, president pro
tenn. handed up report from the Rules
Committee suSpCudlug the rules and
limiting debate on the measure TO half
an hour on each side, and providing
that no ono except tho president pro
TEN. could make d motion TO adjourn
during the debate. Il was the most
effective gag rule ever devised.
When this rule had been adopted
Senator Bennett. the only Republican
TO protest, expressed sorrow when told
by the chair that the Governor had
sent an emergency message or the
Thorn bill.
"This is uuwiee. this iamming
through Of bills" said Mr Bennett.
Wagner Leads Attack.
Senator Robert T. Wagner. minority
leader. assisted by Mr. Bennett and
others. led what little attack on the
bill they could make I'M half an hour.
"Who is il that The Governor wants
TO appease with this BIT Of leg station p
demanded Senator Wagner. "WhC
wants this bit Of rcactionary leGisla-
ton? Why this haste in jamming It
through? Why these strong arm meth
DDS? This is being put through in re
sponse to some mysterious individuals.
why, they will not even give US time
10 read the bin. let alone discuss il,
said Senator Boylan
This is sham and fraud on tho
people" said Senator Foley. "You ar'
trying TO save your face from a veto
. This restore the old vice Of the sys
ten. II is in favor of the casualty
\ companies. 1t is a sop to the Gov
n crnor's authority. You know how th,
y casualty companies treated the NO j.
men in New Jersey. The Investigation
showed they ovcrreached them 100000
in one year
"If the insurance companies en-
ployed their most eminent counsel 4
draw up their own bill. this would b
the result of their labors,' said Senate
Joseph. Everything you have dom
here you have done on the orders o
your dictator"
The Thorn bill was rushed to tn
Assembly, where il was made n spccia
order for tomorrow. The Judiciar
Committee reported 1t after a shor
session.