New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-10
TO REFORM THE PRIMARIES.
A BILL PREPARED BY SENATOR FRANK
D. PAVEY.


MEMBERS OF POLITICAL PARTIES By THE
REGULAR INSPECTORS OF ELECTION
THE RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN
PRIMARIES FUNDAMENTAL.
Senator Frank D. Pavey has prepared a bill in
relation to primaries which he intends to intro
duce in the Legislature next month. In reference
to the measure he makes this statement:
NO legislation to reform the primaries will be
effective which docs not begin at the bottom. The
right to membership in party and TO participate
in its primaries is the foundation of all party allie
glance. This right should first De defined and pro-
tected All legislation for safeguarding the further
steps Of political action should be based on this
foundation. No substantial superstructure can he
bdnt unless this right is firmly secured. The OBJ
jcct OF this bill 20 define and protect the right
to participate In primaries. The plan Is taken
from :he Kentucky law. 1t provides for the enrol
mont in cities OF the first and second class. Of the
members OF political parties. under tho super
vision of sworn public ofiicials-the regular inspec
tors Of elections II is simple In operation. tar to
every party and faction and reduces the chance
for fraud to n minimum.
The plan Ats any form of party organization. 1t
does no: violate the constitutional provision for &c
crecv in voting il gives palmer indication OF
the tickle, an cector will vote than actual partci-
patton in party work does now. 1t fixes ny law
,ae status Of each elector, so far as the question
of his membership in a party IS concerned. Ii de-
plenented by other provisions for the protection
Of the actual exercise of the franchise. 1t mus;
eradicate o. materially reduce the present evils
which bring party management. into such dsre-
pue.'
The text Of the proposed act is follows
Section /. As used in this Act. primary district
IS any political subdivision In and Tor which
is nG n si on 'e rs or meetings
for registration of electors for the general election
in each year. shall ask each person who applies
registered
register for. the purpose, of participating In the
q The 0s sha GfF be % in
Td of hf the ssF Of m he se
further question shall be asked; "Wtth w, What po.
question eli snail be recorded in The column Of the
case any person applying to be registered does
desire 10 state his PARTY 9 b ne s n, o no,
&C, bar to his rign. to register for me purpose
Tarty Animation has been so stated and recorded
In the registers OF electors or in the special regis
only those shall be entitled to participate in the
primaries Of their respective political parties from
res s q1 to The date Corresponding
e' anv elector who shall remove. not less than
thirty days prior the date OF any primary from
The last preceding general election 10 a different
primary district. any eector whose party a'il'a-
Of his necessary absence from the city of his resi-
dence during the entire day of each and cry day
Of registration or BY reason OF his sickness during
the entire day Of each and every day Of r,gistra,,
ton or by reason OF ms San III b ,hG axe o.
ceding general election or by reason OF c1moina-
s9sre Of SuG The following and form Any
such elector desiring 10 be specially registered
S ss Of ae ANN NOT pr Gss v With the officer with whom
the registers OF electors IN 'he pace OF ms r
present place Of residence his place of residence
at the time Of the registration Of electors for the
last preceding general election and the name or
the political party with which he wishes &c ann.
ate together with fun and complete statement
tered" If such elector has removed from primary
ssFt sb IN r ynfs hs h a
electors for the last preceding general el.cuon ms
am es,oSan Of the resistratlon book in which
his party utilization is recorded stating mat ms
corded as ailiaiins with the same poitG,a party
named IN his aida of his absence the statement
Of facts contained in his affidavit must specify
the dates and S Of reason es Of his sickness his
af,davits must specify the dates Of such sickness
physician stating the residence Of the physician
he knew such eeeior to haVe 9fTs tSe
entire day of each and every day OF
H., sTGh no SlGS'ot the statement Of in his am
davit must contain the date OF ms attanii,s ms
Of residence and party allia,i9n Of all such .lec
tors Ming adaylts as aforesaid shall 6e reserea
aGeSr1 whem the adavits are filed in book to be
kept for that purpose and marked special regis
The registers Of electors filed with the Superin-
,endent ~ the Conceal Bureau OF Elections In the
civ OF New-York. with the city Clerk o. Buffalo
and with the clerk of the city or county In which
the election district is situated and me specia,,,
be public records and open TO inspection ana copy
inp al any time by any elector OF the state: IL
shsu he the duty Of any OF the officers In whose
custody such registers are thus Kept TO certify
IN the correctness Of any transcript OF the names
and other particulars OF any electors who are re-
corded or specially registered affiliated with any
politjcal party upon the payment to him OF a fee
Of one cent for every twenty names so certified by
him It shall be the duty Of the general committee
az a poltical party for county 10 furnish to the
officer designated by its rules and regulations,
certified copy or copies OF the list or lists OF cleo
tors whose party afi1liation has been recorded or
soecially registered in the election district or dis
trjcts Contained in the political subdivision In and
Tor which any primary is held and such list shall
constitute the roll Of the party In and for such
s,Ibdi Vision from the date Of the general election
next after such registration 10 the date OF the
responding general election year later. The
production by any elector OF copy OF such list
duly certified by the proper officer. containing his
name and statement OF his utilization with the party
holding the primary. shall. prima facie, entitle him
vote thereat.
The quadruplicate register Of electors made by the
Board OF Inspectors OF each election district at
their meetings for registration for the general cleo
ton in each year shall be arranged with two COLI