New-York tribune., 1890-04-30
A CHANGE OF FRONT.
DEMOCRATS OPPOSED TO A JUDICIAL
OPINION ON THE " BLANKET BALLOT
Mr. LINsON's SIGNIFICANT REMARK-COMMIs-
SioNERs To EXAMINE THE CIVIL CODE.

Mr. LINsoN's SIGNIFICANT REMARK-coMMIs-
sioNERs TO EXAMINE THE CIVIL CODE.
fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rnrBUSE.i
Albany, April Ex-Governor IIs consuming de-
sire Tor Judicial opinion TO the constituiionaly
OF the blanket BALLOT seems to have died out
speedily, If the action Of his Senate following may
be taker as guide. week or 50 ago Mr. saxton
introduced bill decide the question in legitimate
way, By referring it 10 the supreme Court, but the
Democratic Senators this morning could speak OF it
only with rldcue. and when vote was called II met
with their united opposition. Mr. SaXton explained
tlat the measure designed In the interest OF
those who maintain that the blanket ballot is essential
to the present voting system and is indispensable to
the convenience of the voter. =" 1t seems to me-, he
added that nobody can object 10 il. because 1t calls
for what all the senators desire, and the Governor
has already attempted to secure irrgularly what 1t
will secure by regular methods
Well" cried Mr. Cantor now that the Ballot
Reform bill has passed and j. in the Assembly pro
vdinS for separate ballots. 10 such contingency can
possibly arise as this measure seeks to cover
The contingency can arise rctortcd Mr.. Saxton
precisely the same under the present system. IL
the bill now in the Assembly should become law,
The ballot might bc changed by writing the names OF
two sets OF candidates upon it, or by preparing printed
slips containing the name, sf two sets. one
set might be erased. Then that ballot would
not be counted under the bill as
il passed, and this precise question would arise
Mr. Linson said he thought the request for judicial
opinion mistake and would unnecessarily compi
cato the situation, rendering the Ballot Reform Dill
more likely 10 be defeated either in tie Assembly or
In tho Executive Chamber" Ih, opinion coming
from a close to the Governor on balloIrc
form matters Mr. Lnson. is significant enough ana
may mean that the Governor IN spite Of his own ana
other peoples assertions, Is still casting about Tor
convenient excuse to Kill the Ballot Reform bill
There were. unfortunately. not enough Republican
Senators in the Chamber to overcome the opposition
to Mr. ,aNton's bill. II therefore failed to 20 through
but Mr.. >axton saved 1t from untmcly death bJ
promptly moving that the vote be rcconsidercJ ana
that that motion lie on the table.
The venerable David Dudley Field has been In
Albany several time, this session to look after the
prosp poets Of the adoption of his civil code 'hder
the provision Of the Constitution which requires tie
Legislature TO cody the law the commission appointed
years ago prepared series Of codes. which have
all been adopted excepting The civil code. Iat cod'
has several times been passed by one branch OF the
LEGISLATURE hut has failed in tine other. The friends OF
the codincaon at This session drew up bill appoint
ing commissioner to examine their code and ascertain
whether il really embodied the law. This bin. which
Mr. Iyos introduced In the senate Authorized 80 toy
crnor TO appoint the commissioner with the consent OF
the senate. Judge Robertson. the chairman OF the
judiciary Committee l. said. however. 10 nave recon-
mcndcd that the commissioner should be named III
measure. which deprive, The Governor Of tie power
Of appointment and says David Dudley Field, Noih
Davis and such persons they MAY select are hereby
appointed commits ssiOnei~ whose duty II shall ic 10
examine the civil code prepared by Tho ,omm'' toner.
Of the Code passed the senate IN the session oi
I~s-. and report 10 the Lce-laaic with AL couNenien
speed
Mr.. Chase Of Albany. ,irongl, objected 70 the
substitution. on the ground that II empowered Ny
Field 10 pass on A. work. and read Ntra'l, from
A California newspaper -ho'>Als that the California
rar Association not satisfied with the Workings OF
tl' code
Then Mr.. SaHton threw Nr. Lim-on into state Of
mind hy opposing the codhcaton on general principles
There (. no sush thing arguing with Tire opponents
Of codincatlon Mr.. Iln-On declared d." You might
well talk The north wind started ont lilc al the
rcst Of the old 0gcs 81 the bar opposed 10 c0uohton
hui wa, con-, cftci rs the argument and memorial
II tho Ncv. ort state Ear Association against j..
Thought that 4 they couiu't Ind any thing moro 10
against II than they DID. II must De pretty coot
ihug I'm theory and PRETTY good thing IN opeiai ion.
Mr. Ives substitute was accepted and was ordered
20 third reading.