New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-22
HILLS ZEAL FOR REFORM.
IT AROUSES REPUBLICAN SUSPICION AT
ALBANY.
MORE TINE OBTAINED TO STUDY THE NE'
BALLOT BILL-A RECOMMENDATION


BALLOT BILL-A RECOMMENDATION
FROM THE EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
by TELEGRAPH THE TKrBUSEi
Albany. April Ex-Governor Hil Is posing nova
days the original Jacobs OF Bailot helor'n anu
pure elections This most startling transformation
from his former attitude on these matters and II need
not be wondered at that members OF the Legislature
are questioning whether the jewels he offers Tor sac
are made OF paste or are pure diamonds. 1t VIII be
remembered that Friday last senator saAtoh lhuo
dnced a compromise Ballot Reform blll, WHICH, IL was
intimatcd would receive the approval OIL the Legs
lature 1t was also made known at the same time
that the bill had been prepared Jointly by senator
saxton by Professor Collin the law assistant OF the
Governor and member Of the Statutory Revision Com
mission by Isaac H. Maynard, another member Oh tho
Revision Commission, and by Horace r. Demine OF
the Ballot Reform League. IL was further reported
that Governor IIl had from time TO time examined
carefully the compromise measure and approved OF IL
in its final shape senator saXton upon introducing
the bill asked that it should be at once printed lie
also moved that the should be made special
order for consideration tonight in the senate.
When the senate met tonight. however, the bill had
inst been put upon the cs of the senate and Kepub
hcan senators who had not yet had chance to cX-
anime it suggested TO Mr. saXtOn that debate upon
tho measure be postponed until tomorrow. in order
TO give them a chance to read it. Senator SaXton at
once granted this request and the DILL upon HIS
notion was made special order for tomorrow.
II should be stated that there is some diStru't OF
Governor IIill when he champions Eaot-Keiorm biil
and therefore the bin he approves will be scrutnlzed
with great care by all the Republican senators and
Assemblymen.
vo,pvhile in the Assembly the Governor almost
uneonivocaly said in a message that he should sign
Senator saXtons BallOt-Reform Dill II IL shou'u
DO passed by the legislature ASsembymcn Person
of suffolk County, some time ago introduced pii
recurring that all "eXcise ballots should nave ule
indorsemcnt of the word Excise upon them.' The
Governor vetoed this Act and sent message 70 inc
Assembly regarding his action, i'll the course OF when
no DRAGGED in the statement oy the heels That lie
intends 70 sign the new SaAton Ballot Reform bill.
Here is his message:
State Of NewYork,
Executive Chamber, Albany, April 81.
To the Assembly
Assembly bill No s26. entitled "An act to amend Sec
,,o . - chan,cr 44i Of the Laws Of 1874 entitled IAN
act to create Board Of Excise in the several towns VI
this State acts amcndaoFy thereof Is hcio""'
returned without approval. This Dill Is r'sa'uou "
necessary at this IL simply proposes form oil III
dorsement TO used upon excise ballots IN inc towns u
the State. general act relative to the ioiln OF oo
and the manner Of voting is now pending III 'he S'.''
with fair prospects, l advised, Of It's passage ol
the legislature The seems to meet with sehe'a'
approbatioi and passed in Its present shape VIII Po
ably become law, inasmuch as 1t has been 'leu o'
constitutional and other objections which here'oofo Nao
made 81
a,ur and 70 the Executive In view OF the strong as
su,ance therefore, of the enactment OF this general Jaw
the legislation intended by the bill before me "oulu sem
70 be unnecessary. Under the general Balotkeoih o''
If enacted the of ballot would diner I'alca-s no"
the one here contemplated and separate excise Da.o'
would be abolished The provisions OF TINS Di "ouu ~
void IN that case and its enactment at TINS time i '"
ouently regarded a. unwise. To permit 1t TO become
law would probably be merely TO add an unnecessary
the volume OF legislation now Iapa'
lating. DAVID d. -.
But the Governor found his now role OF haio'
Rcformer such happy one that ne also "io'c
message 10 both branches Of the Legislature suggest
ing that senator Saxtons Corrupt Practices ac''
which recently became law should be strengthened
The Governor in writing his message PLAINLY Hnu
his eve upon the recent election In Albany 1hc
candidates for Office merely stated that they sehI ~
much money 10 the chairman of the City Committee
There was 10 i,emized statement OF the election OK
peDses But what was especially lacking was
report from the political committees stating "hat
amount Of money they expended The Governor p
deeply ricvcd by this omission. lie therefore sent
the following message TO the Legislature on tie SUD
1ect:
To the Legislature:
In nv annual message submitted YOU in January
last suggested for your consideration the popr'N O
the adoption Of the substantial features OF what known
as the Corrupt practices Act Of Great Biiah anu cA
rressy recommended that each candidate ana inc Necu
tive committee Of each political party should Dc required
. ,,,lsh an iteuzcd verified statement Of all moneys
e.penc,d bv them in each campaign and the particular
purposes Of such expenditures. The act which the Leg
isature subsequently passed upon this subject OehR
chspr % OF the OF 1890, makes reasonably severe
.uirncnt. with reference Ming OF tented state
ents Of expenditures by candidates but fails to demand
similar oblg cation the part Of political agents or COM
mittemen
In the memorandum fled by approving this bill
s.ld. ..The whole measure 5 far 1t goes is meito-
rious and il enforced and sustained by al active vigil
liant and ar enlightened public sentiment Is capable OF
accomplishing some capable and genuine reform"
The initial oleiaton o. this measure al recent munich
nal elections has made clearly apparent that the
act doe, far enough and has demonstrated that '
excellent provisions should extended TO include
political agents and committees among those required !"
flo statements expenditures. Without such extern
,o, the nr,cal benefit desired by the passage OF tho
act In dscoriaeing large contributions By candidates
will ONLY De- partially secured 1t has been 3tcy SHOWN
tina. candidates while formally complying with The new
law have a. general rule, merely sworn that certain
sums contributed by them had been paid over by them
IN the charms an Of their respective poca
committees for legitimate campaign expenses but oi
what specific purposes Moneys thus given were cx
pended was not disclosed, and the committees them
not required TO render an account oi io'S
received paid out $50
The information thus actually furnished TO the public
IS neagre and unsatisfactory, and docs not fully accom-
,.h the desirable objects the NewYork was the
c,t STATE in the Union b. adopt Corrupt Practices
Act should BE- equally prompt to remedy any d.
fects or omissions which may Dc disclosed In It's actual
operations.
desire therefore respectfully to call the attention
., the Iepaturc 20 the which actual OK
nermont OF the law has clearly developed ana
N suggest that the be amended 20 meet the OBJ
,oction raised have caused u be prepared an amend
mon, To the Penal Code which is intended 20 strengthen
a,d rerfec tho law and which take pleasure In trans
uniting herewith. has been carefully drawn, ana woud
seem to be as strict requirements as the purpose OF
the statute demands
heartily commend II 10 the consideration OF the Legs
,.,ure While # Will b. observed that the proposed act
uopo.cs no restriction upon the amount o. money which
candidates or other persons contribute for political
PURPOSES nevertheless desire TO suggest the ACCESSIBILITY
n, some such limitation somewhat analogous ~ The pro-
os y, thu ENGLISH act This would Involve the cstab-
ishnent OF a scale amounts properly graded which shall
,,scrbe the maximum that the candidate for each
one may contribute for the purposes Of h> election Such
rro,,,on might also limit In some appropriate manner
IN, amount Of expenditures by committee, and Of subscrp
-. .. co,,,lbutors DAVID b. HILL
The hill which the Governor recommends is as