New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-03
BROWN ATTACKS
WHITMAN GROUP
Senate Leader Proposes
New Committee TO Guide
City Legislation
ARGETSINGER LEADS
FIGHT AGAINST PLAN
Republican Caucus Re
cesseS After Clash; Battle
During Session Seen

Dhi iiiS oNOS'Oh wv
Iron stan Correspondent Of The Tribune
Albany, Jan. 1.-THE first clash be
tween the Whitman and Brown forces
in the State Senate, presaging a con
tinuous fight Throughout the session
which opens tomorrow noon, came 90
night in the Republican Senate caucus.
1t was occasioned by a proposal Of
Senator Elon r. Brown, president pro
TEN. and leader of the anti-Whitman
element OF the party, TO establish
new committee of New York City Sen
ators to have charge Of legislation
affecting the metropolis
The debate behind closed doors just
began to get hot when the sponsors oil
the plan engineered recess until 10
o'clock in the morning. In spite Of the
suspicion of the Whitman forces, the
resolution is expected 10 pass.
Senator George +. Argetsinger, OF
Rochester. Governor Whitmans leader
in the Senate, who also represents
George W. Aldr;dge and William L..
Ward led the opposition to the Brown
PROPOSAL. When the caucus broke up
al 10 o'clock. Senator Argetsinger was
determined to take the matter 10 the
Governor and talk 1t over win MN
before permitting a decision. AS a mat
ter of fact few Of the Senators kno"
tonight Just how they feel about th9
plan. because they have not had a
chance to digest NJ. -,..
Tho new committee idea, revolu-
tionarv departure IN the Leg stature
was sprung by Senator Brown soon
after the caucus began. IL was a com
plete surprise 20 almost all OF inc ne.
publican members. Only re" OF
Browns supporters knew ms plans
few hours before the meeting. ne
significant feature of the incident IN
dicating clashes during the session, IS
the fact that on its face the brown
proposal is regarded as good one,
but because 10 proceeds from Brown IL
is looked upon with suspicion by the
Whitman Senators.
Brown Would Head Committee
Briefly. the suggestion Of Senator
Brown. presented TO the caucus as
resolution. was the new committee OF
New York City Senators, to wnom
would be referred all legislation AZ
fecting the city, be composed OF thlr-
tccn mem bers-eleven from New forA
CITY. one from upstate and himself
ev-oficio. or the eleven New Workers
eight would be Republicans ana three
Democrats
go = trss,rr IN
through without a fight.
As soon as Senator Brown an
nounced it in the caucus Senator
Argetsinger jumped 20 his feet and
holly denounced the plan and IT'S
sponsor. Argetsinger is chairman OF
the Senate Cities Committee. He de-
clared the new committee idea was not
only a personal affront 90 him as head
of the regular Senate committee, but
the beginning of a concerted steamer
roller" attack. lie said that he did
not propose 20 stand for IL, and en-
phatically urged the Republican SEN
ators in the room TO stand by him.
Argetsinger was evidently indignant.
Argetsinger did most of the object
ing for everybody. IL was apparent
that he did not know how far the Brown
scheme would 60 Because Of its orr
Gin he was inclined u believe IL must
contain a Joker somewhere. That was
the fear Of the other Senators, who
wanted time to talk over the PROPOSE
ton before committing themselves. The
incident began to assume more inter
csting proportions when somebody sug
gested a recess until tomorrow and
Senator Brown willingly consented.
Blow at Argetsinger Body
The Brown plan. if adopted, would
take away from ATgetsinger's Cities
Committee all control over New York
City legislation. As soon as bill
affecting the city was introduced 1t was
referred to the New York City commit
tee for recommendation. II was sug-
gested that both the new committee
and the old committee hold a joint
conference on the bill before reporting
IL, but the new committees say-so
would be practically final.
Even the New York City Senators,
however. were dubious about the plan,
so sudden did it arise. Senator George
Cromwell said that he did not know
how he felt about it without some more
thought. He believes II would be all
right if New York City consistently
sent 70 the Legislature men VINO did
not represent interests which would
be more inimical to the city than the
treatment which the city has charged
was accorded to it at the hands Of the
upstate Legislators On the other hand,
SIS per cent Of the legislation referred
TO the regular Cities Committee afFec 3
New York City alone.
The Brown plan was the result OF
Senator Browns investigation Of New
York City finances a year ago. Some