New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
SENATOR SAXTON EXPLAINS.
SOME OF THE AMENDMENTS ARE ACCI-
DENTS.
HE THINKS THE BALLOT BILL SHOULD BE RE-
TURNED TO THE LEGISLATURE.

HE THINKS THE BALLOT BILL SHOULD BE RE-
TURNED TO THE LEGISLATURE.
Senator saxton telegraphed to the Ballot Reform
Ieague of this city on Friday that he desired an OPP
,ortnnity of explaining his paradoxical position OF
Father Of Ballot Reform in 1890 and the q xecu-
TONER of Ballot Reform" in 1891. The passage OF
amendments TO the Ballot Act of 1890, which were
introduced by Senator saxton and now before Gov
euor Hf for approval, renders it physical impos
siblty1 as the protest OF the Ballot Reformers ex
nresses it, for the direct nomination Of complete
ticket by the independents and "removes the hs'
yestige of fairness to the Independents hieeuiis
of prominent ballot reformes held yesterday aer
noon in the Office of Horace e. Deming NO. 90 WIZ
iam-st. in order TO give Senator saxtoh cnanoe "
explain his course. There were present LOUIS E
Post president Of the Manhattan single lax Ciuo
wbeeler H. Peckham of the Peoples Muhlcpal
Ieague; Horace u. Deming chairman Oh the hieetor"i
Reform Committee Of the New-fOrR heAoIIn Niuo
William NJ Wins, W. s. Opdyke, Henry H. Deehi'an'
George St. John S. Leavens James W. fryor 1o,lh D.
Lenett Lawrence Durham john j. ohaPinah' ~ NoOs0
IIaves l. steers william T. Croasdale, wafer D.
IasvS' y Hierv Anderson, John G. Agar and A. E.
walradt -,-.,
senator saxton made the following explanation;
have inst discovered or at least did not discover
until yesterday these delec Snr ' TRey are amend
ments In printing and in engrOssng theSS ;,9S I'D
were not n the bill as W arose. when the bill
reprinted These amendments are OF SUCH hstu 1I
that think tRa aey q Ss u 70 Of e and
the Governor TO cooperate ~ ma6 c caeS Of iepsIs
lion requiring construction by the courts, ana VIII DC
There the case of the paster ballot The bill as
q naSSed provides that the paster shall be placed upon
the ballots in such way that the Da3t. snau pe
that no part e Of s b when the VOID
apaster,' which is in the law now, was dropped OUT
and the word BALLOT substituted by mistake IN lhe
ballot piece Of paper on which inc names ~ baot
should be voted without being visible and consequently
il makes provision that might cause ulincuS' ai d
might possibly TSoy o oV that it ought to be
orrected before the bill becomes law ~.
There Is another place where the law PROVIDES lhat
tbe Ssgners shall 30 affixed to the ballot In the
printed original it was the sig t nnc1r SeSo1 ia
PIE limiting ONCE This was peculiarly slovenly
thing and legislation should 90 on the statute book
ass The Iecislature has some mistakes Of that kind
generally occurring in the printing ONCE or IN tne
engrossng ROOM such the substitution OF one word
Cor another and IL is always the custom for the Gov
ernor TO send word up TO the legislature OF 10 le
members who introduced the bill. calling his attention
10 these mistakes and asking him to have II recalled
i'' concurrent resolution IS passed through both
honses as matter of course to recall the bill from
the Governor and when it is before the body where
sent back to the other body and there concurred IN
and the bill sent back to the Governor shall make
10 on Of that kind to he Senate recalling this bin in
order that may be printed and put in proper shape
The provision which is called the caveat, pro
vision Is very strongly objected to by good many,
and it is feared by them that it will bring about
very undesirable condition Of affairs II IL Is per-
mitted TO remain While am not apprehenslve OF any
danger in the matter myself, am entirely willing
that that caveat provision be stricken OUT OF tie
Hill and il the Legislature will concur with me IN
ffe matter / will make motion Of that kind IL
never was intended as Iindrance to independent
nominations of proper kind but was simply IN,
tended to protect persons against having their names
paced upon a ballot in connection with undesirable
associates. That was the sole ana Only parp4Se %
The Amendment and I am not afraid that II VIII &C
cOmplish the evil results that some people fear
The other provision, limiting the number OF ballots
to one upon which the name Of an Independent can,
didate can be placed, simply makes definite tne law
as n was intended to be by its trainers and by the
Legislature that enacted it, and to avoid the question
~ Interpretations which has given a great deal OF
dinculty already. And the amendment was made
for the purpose of making it entirely definite, that no
question could be raised about IT, the question having
been raised but not having been passed upon by the
General Term. . . . -, MI. ~
think is decidedly I'm the interest of Ballot Re
form TO have the bill returned to the Legislature and
perfected in the particulars have named, as well as
In the interests of intelligent legislation
1t was decided to send brief Of the objections to
the amendments TO Albany