New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-08
MR.. .S1XTON NOT HOPEFUL.
HE THINKS THE OUTLOOK FOR THE RE
FORM BILLS DISCOURAGING
ANOTHER Caucus MIGHT HELP MATTERS-TIE
BALLOT REFORM MEAsI'RE-PIATTs LATEST
MOVE TO HANDICAP MAYORS STRONG
AND sCIIEREN
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBuNE.l

AND sCTIIEREN.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIBUNEl
Albany, April 7--Chauncey NJ. Depew's pessi-
mistc views as the outlook Tor the Nt"-AV 'A
reform bills are shared by acknowledgement
Saxton Mr. Saxton went to New-York on Friday
and while there. that day and yesterday. gained
good dea! Of political information which shed hght
uron the possible fate of the New-York bhlS
81 fear" said Mr.. Saxton tonight that the
Police Reorganization act and the Ponce MAILS
,rates act will be passed. The outlook LOT o''"
is very dark Certainly the Police Magistrates act
cannot he passed un,ess a Republican caucus Is
held upor, it, and some OF the Republican senators
decline to so into one declaring that since '"e
last one was a failure any other one wouid ne u'o
less. l think that Is rather too discouraems we"
to take and that these gentlemen should ne'e''H'
less consent to attend caucus. Perhaps we couu
get enough Republican Senators present TO max
the bill a party measure. Possibly, however, the h
partisan Police bill will be passed, although some Vi
the Senators who once favored that seem Oh ia'e
to have lost their interest in it. and do not seem
inclined TO exert themselves to pass IT,
"lf these bills are defeated what reform iie"'"'
remain 10 be passed.
The chief is the Ballot Reform bill OF senator
Raines," answered Mr. SaXton, land that we GER
tainly ought TO pass. although the bill mas one
feature which | do IKE. That Is a provision
that disabled and illiterate voters can take ie'u
into the booth with them 20 aid them in preparing
their ballots. That would open door wide 10
bribery for the illiterate voter could be DrlDed anu
then the man who bribed him could accompany
him into the booth and see to it that he voted mo
ticket for which he had been paid to vote senator
Raines ought TO have stuck TO his original pro-
vision in his BILL by which two Of the election Off
GERS OF opposite political faith were authorized
TO prepare the ballots of illiterate voters ! be-
lieve he changed this provision because ne reared
the election officers would be too much occupied
10 10 this work But now have SIX electoh
officers and in other States these officials DO TINS
work OF assisting the iliterate voters, and no COM
plant has been made, so far as am aware IN
these States of any fraudulent work done by them
in preparing the ballots of the disabled or iliterate
voters | hope therefore, that senator Ralnes VIII
amend his bill which provides for blanket ballot,
symbols and the printing of the names OF party
candidates in separate party columns, by declaring
that the election officers shall be the only ones au
thorized aid the illterate or disabled voter III
preparing his ballot
The report comes from New-York the strong
est possible evidence that Mr. Platts followers
riously think of attempting TO Curtail both Mayor
Strong's and Mayor SChieren's powers in the Great
er \ew-York bill and divert some of their patron
age into the hands of Thomas G. Platt in New-Iork
newspaper correspondents have put NJ credence
heretofore in the reports OF these designs OF the
P!att Republicans. but now there is good deal
OF evidence to support the truth OF the rumOr. Pos
SHY since Mayor Strong. Of \ew-GOrk. has shown
so much independence Mr.. Plat himself has looked
more favorably upon this plan OF lessening the
Mayors powers Nothing is yet known TO the
details of the plan to embarrass Mayors Strong and
Schieren 1t is supposed that the Plat leaders
will flash the news Of their attack upon Mayors
Strong and SChieren the next time the Greater New
York bill comes up for consideration in the Senate.