New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-04-23
Assembly Discards jerks
Measures as Lobbyists
of Traction Company
Work Openly ON Floor
One N. Y. City Man
Votes for Increase
0. ]. Smith With Minority
i'm Count of 66 to r.:
Little Chance of Revival
From a Staff Correspondent

ALBANY, April 22.-The jerks in
creased fare bills were beaten in the
Assembly to-day. Only one New York
City member voted for the two meas
ures: Assemblyman O. j. Smith, Repub-
lican, of the 22d New York District.
4Assemblyman George U. Forbell, Re-
publican, Of Kings, voted for one of
the bills, but switched on the second
During the debate many charges were
made from the floor that traction lob
byists were working among the men,
bers to influence their votes.
Speaker Sweet listened to the charges,
but made no move to stop the lobbyists,
who were violating the Legislative law
which limits the privileges Of the floor
to members Of the Legislature, elective
state officials and accredited newspaper
correspondents.
Ullman Assails Lobbyists
Assenblyman Sol Ullman, Republi-
can, of the 9th New York District, was
outspoken in his charge of lobbyism,
and directed Speaker Sweets attention
to them.
paid agents Of the railroads." said
Ullman, "are dragging members out
into lobby, trying to win them over
TOR these measures. / insist that all
members be directed to remain in their
seats during the debate"
Speaker Sweet, who yesterday brought
the debate to a sudden close by order
ing the Assembly to adjourn when. he
found there were not enough votes to
pass the bills, paid no attention to the
suggestionA
The vote on the first bill was sc for
its passage and II against. On the sec
ond measure, as the result of Assem-
blyman ForbelPs change of front, the
vote was SIS for and Is against.
After the bills were defeated A.
the measures, moved that the vote by
which the bills were lost be reconsid-
cred and that the motion lie on the
table, so that should the necessary
votes be corralled before adjournment
the measure could be again put to a
vote.
81 object" said Assemblyman Martin
G. McCue, Democrat, Of New York.
Why" exclaimed the Speaker, 'this
is courtesy that has never been de-
MED member in the eleven years that
have been here!"
Not Issue of Courtesy
81 don't mean to be discourteous to
any one," replied McCue. "This is not
a question Of courtesy--at least with
me. 1t is one of duty. If the Speaker
wishes to be branded as one trying to
give aid to the railroad lobby by afford
ing them an opportunity to see mem
bers they have not yet successfully
hc< 10 4
it my solemn duty to block any such
move | am here to help keep these
bills dead"
The motion to reconsider was
adopted, however, by vote of 8S to 54,
1t is not believed that in the two
days left to the Legislatures life the
traction representatives can obtain
the necessary ten or eleven votes to put
the bills across. There was only one
ley, Of Monroe. All the others have
gone on record.
The first jerks bill provides that
agreements may be made between
municipalities and traction companies
increasing the fare above that named
in the franchise or contract. The
second provides that the Public Service
Commission may increase fares where
it seems just and reasonable, if at the
enQ OF SIX mOntnS OF negotiations Cnc
municipality and the city cannot
agree.
The introduction Of the bills at the
tail end Of the session, together with
the loosely constructed phraseology,
insured the death of the bills from the
start. Even Sweets heroic treatment
failed to give them the sembancc Of
life.
Many Of the men who voted against
the bills declared that if the measures
had been introduced at the beginning
Of the session and ample debate per
mittcd on them with view of climi-
| mating the jokers, there would have
been more than enough votes to pass
them.
Roll Call on Bill
The vote on the first bill follows:
Against Republicans: Adler, Amos,
Baumas, Blodgett, BLY,, Bourke, Brady,
j. Carroll, Caulfcld, Cheney, Damicol,
Dimin, +. Dobson, Doherty, Fox, Gemp-
Ter, Gillctt, Halpern, Hawkins, Jeffrey,
Jesse, Judson, Lee, Mullen, Neary. Par
ker, Pellet, Petite, Richford, Ross,
(contnusd on page three,