New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-10
MFNT PROVIDED FOR

,,,,ad n the Senate to-day a substitute for
primary Election bill which he introduced
,.s, Friday. An examination Of the new meas
- .his afternoon did not disclose any serious
,enses in the text as printed in The Tribune
last saturday. The friends and not the enemies
:, ,be bill have apparently made the changes in
9, william H. Hotchkiss. OF Buffalo. and Elihu
Do. II York. are reported 10 have mad
mos; 10 DO with the latest modification of the
measure Mr. Hotchkiss represents the Repubii-
can League Of Buffalo. which has taken an
active interest In the movement for primary
reform.
one Of the important changes IN the bill as
handed in to-day was substitution for the foI-
lcwing section
The delegates 10 every party convention in and
foT any political subdivision chosen in any city or
rSlsce 70 which this acJ is applicable snail be
spg,r0neo ne near as possible upon he basis Of
the number OF votes cast therein for the parry
candidate for Governor a the iast precedl & gen
eral election
The substitute reads:
II the boundaries OF such unit Of representation
shaA have been changed sine Goyerh0r Cove ihn MS WIS
Der Of votes in such unit Of representation at
the last elco1 q & sGts ofe Since an election
a; which STATE oicsr was eiSGso sba sg fx such
basis OF representation.
ITS AUTHOR SAYS ABANDON 1T.
It's alleged by some persons that this would
mean that II the present Police Board were TO
change .he boundaries Of the election districts
IN New-York City the Low electors would not
ne able 70 get representation. Mr.. Hotchk1ss'
who drew the section referred tc. said when
the matter was brought to his attention.
- am Informed that some persons criticise a
clause which added 10 the primary hiec-
tor law by Senator Lexow and myself late last
night The criticism IS based upon q misua1er-
standing both of the purpose and scope oi INC
c,euss AS the bill stood when we revised 1t
last evening no provision was made 1or "N'hs
the basis Of representation in convention IN
case election districts such units ana 'he
,orrasr,ss thereof are changed. This IS the
cax. 4, buffalo and IN most Of the cities or the
..oo,a class For that reason We ihouSh' II
better to provide that II the BOUNDARIES were
.harred after an election for Governor theh
representation should be based upon the iast
vote for state officer, as, for instance Court
OF Appeals Judge last year; and II the pouil-
daries were changed after the last election lor
orv state officer. that in that event (Which
would happen very rarey) the basis OF repre-
sen,at,on could be left 10 the party commit
tees.
"AsInow read the BILL it might be that this
.,s,sa would apply 10 New-York this year IL
Il does II should be stricken from the Dill ana
sorrs be,,er measure devised. If il does not, IL
,roh,h,v ,s better 10 strike it from the bill in
the interest Of perfect understandings
"sneaking for those gentlemen outside OF the
LEGISLATURE who have been most acuVe III li's
uasser and who have given d vast amount Vi
time 10 what to them, has been a labor OF love
entirely, think say that the clause op-
iActtd 10 may be stricken from the bill or re-
N!sed IN any way that may De satisfactory 10
all This movement IS OF too much importance
20 1eopardize Il IN any particular through
Inisund -rs;arding
Il make this statement IN justice TO myseH
inasinuch as ! am more responsible .or the pio
vision than any one else. and III the interest Vi
a of which / have been ana shal' con,
,nue 10 be a warm and. trust. disinterested
advocate"
STATEMENT BY Mr.. HOTCHKlsS'
Mr. Ao;chkss also made ;he following s'a'e
men: with regard 20 the new Dill;
no t.I reported by the Judiciary Committees on
lions ec., hastily drawn Al the tiine % n "ts ia
s .wSefs S iterested in he question have been
%or,,irs oyer the Bin as then introduced. The re-
suit Is the substitute reported to-day from lie 1u
Tse Substitute Is carefully phrased bi IL, 1t is
IN ali us essentials the same o as Vas Was iFtv bve
beer ;he Interest OF Se2THeSs n,es and IN
Cnangcs group themselves as fo!.ows: -
F!rst-Tne sections OF ne bl.l nave pee, oeen i reaI
meHt and ending with conyention a { IN the proper
order it was lhonSht wise %5e 70 dr2p i0n ',o
thai there woald be danger Of It's eolh,eti,ng
with section Il Of ne Penal code 70 amend whica
20 81 the new system bill was introduced a'
second-Two changes have been made looking
toward greater secrecy FIRST. in regard 10 enrol
ment. ana. second. IN regard 10 voting. As lhe pl
now stands. when an eiccior registers ana ne shai
deea:e MS WISH 10 e'rol WIN party M ana ne IS
answer orally. or a. his option ME win the Board
o. inspectors the declaration provided in case an
maze the enrolment without further question and
%lnoa shows rs d[Ssraor bn , Ctr witch an
ToIe9 o,,b ihe party has also neen added Further
than his and 10 make the ballot secret. pro-
vision nss been made for unVot"d ballots, and com
RUIZ an nyS,ed baS atSF oe 10 nSfs the ee62 52 Of
a.er IN charge OF a box ara proVlqiig that snch
ericer shall Immediately deposit such unVoteo bal
ThirG-The provisions applicable to New-York
City have been redrafted and assimilated TO the
res, OF the bi. No change, however hos been
made in the procedure which will be necessary the
Forrtb~Fsrties in cities othe; than New-York
vii ave a greater option under the substitute bill
81 unIer he er IN LIN 1r Without enpo'm4nt NAV
June or september and may hold their June pri-
&c a proper Certificate expressive of such desire.
FtI1ne bin as now drawn da aPPes 10 cities
-lsuon. II is compulsory upon cues OF me first
villages OF over hye thousand Inhabitants can avail
themselves Of its provisions in one of two ways:
majority parties desire. and file certificate 10
thar effect with the proper officer, thereafter the
law viii he applicable TO such city or village: sec
ono Il only one of the committees representing he
Two majority parties desires 10 come within the
provisions OF ne act. 1t can. by fling proper
certificate compel the submission Of the question to
the people at the next general election.
ASIDE from a slight change, permit Ing parties In
cities other than cities of the first class 10 choose
their committees either at primaries or In conVen-
tions, and which change was desired by many OF
the smaller localities Of the State. other changes
have been made IN the bill 'of character which
calls for explanation. In all It's essentials the bill