New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-13
Republican Senators Say
They Cannot Deal with
Speaker of Assembly.
HOSTILITY CAUSES
VIRTUAL DEADLOCK
Relations of Legislature with
Governor Also Said To Be
Unpleasant.

From a sian Correspondent OF The TlibIrel
Albany. March ia number of Re-
publican Senators, led by Senator Elon
r. Brown, president pro tenn. Of the
Senate, want Thaddeus C. Sweet,
Speaker Of the Assembly, deposcd as
leader Of the Republican majority of
the lower house. Such a movement,
Legislators say, Is without precedent
in this state.
The Tribune correspondent was in
formed that this plan was determined
upon at the conference Of Republican
Senators Thursday afternoon. All the
Senators present we're sworn to Sc
crecy, but to-day the news OF what
happened in the conference leaked out
and several of those who were present,
when asked about the matter. con
frmed the story.
Senator Brown, in addressing tho
Senators, is reported to have said that
the Senate could no longer deal with
Speaker Sweet, and that the matter
ought to be brought to the attention Of
Governor Whitman and an effort made
to induce the Governor to make the
Republicans IN the Assembly fall IN
behind some other leader. II is not
thought probable that the Governor
will interfere.
The Ill feeling between the two leg
islative leaders has existed for some
time. II came 20 a head when John
Leo Sullivan, of Chautauqua County,
blossomed forth as the independent
Republican leader OF the lower house
a little more than week ago.
Sullivan Carries Majority.
At that time Sullivan swung the en-
tire Republican majority away from
the programme mapped out by the
Speaker Brown wanted the Assembly
70 pass the workmen's compensation
appropriation bill, with it's rider for
direct settlement. Sullivan didn't, and
said so in a fiery speech, in which he
used strong language in describing the
casualty companies. who the working
men charge will be the chief bene-
fciaries of the rider When Sullivan
finished his speech he had the entiro
Republican contingent with him. and
when the bill came up for passage, the
bill. rider and all, was defeated by an
almost unanimous vote.
Brown holds Sweet chiefly response
bic for failing to hold the Republican
majority in line. Sweet answers that
the majority were with Sullivan and he
naturally sided with the majority.
Not only are the leaders OF the two
houses at loggerheads. but the two
houses are in what Is tantamount TO n
deadlock just now. And not only are
the two houses not in harmony, but
the relations between the Legislature
and the Governor are far from being
Of the pleasantest. ln fact. everything
is at skies and sevens.
The only real constructive measure
introduced in the Legislature to date
has been the Governors bill estab-
fishing the State Tax Department.
This bill the Governors own-has
been mutiated I'm the Senate Commit
tee on Taxation and RetTcnchment, OF
which Senator Emerson is chairman.
Reform Emssculated.
One big reform in the bill the
equaliziug OF assessments by the 3. q
Tax Department has been emascu-
lated. a joker, which means the say
ing to railroads and traction companies
of taxes OH Sl00,000.000 annually, and
a consequent loss to the state, has been
put in the bill. And the bill itself has
slumbered for several weeks in com
mittee. In fact, the talk here is that
the bill will never be reported out Of
committee. One prominent state OIL
cial here to-day said:
"Thc Governors tax bill will ever
be reported out Of committee. There
are only two members Of the commit
tee who are for it,
The opposition to this bill vas first
started by Controller Eugene VI.
Continued on page I. column