New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-03
LEADING BILLS AT ALBANY.
SUBJECTS WHICH THE LEGISLATURE
WILL HAVE TO CONSIDER.
PRIMARIES TRUSTS. GOOD ROADS, SALOONS AND
THE NEw-YoRK CHARTER THE PRIN-

THE NEW-YoRK CHARTER THE PRIN-
CIPAL TOPICS.
Albany. Jan. 2.-One OF the most important
subjects t. which Governor Black will call the
Legislatures attention is the amending OF the
primary laws OF the State. Already In antici-
patton OF such move several bills have been
prepared for introduction. but so radically diff
ferent are the ideas concerning the policy to be
adopted that It is almost certain the commit
tee which will have the bills in charge will
have to frame a combination measure plan
which to have gained favor is that which
follows somewhat closely the Kentucky law. and
which provides for the enrolment in cities OF
the first and second class OF the members Of
political parties under the supervision OF the
regular inspectors OF election. Assembyman
Armstrong has an idea which he may put into
a bill 1t Is that the inspectors OF election shall
al the election ask each voter with which party
he desires to affiliate at the next primaries, and
shall then enroll him. the enrolment being evil
dence OF his right 10 vote at such primary.
w. r. Spooner not a member Of the Legislat-
ure, has also prepared a bill on behalf OF the
Allied Political Clubs OF New-York. which Is
somewhat after the style OF the bill detailed
above. but prevents primaries being held with
out ten days notice, and provides further FOR
inspectors who must take the regular oath Of
office.
To overcome the objections to the present
Antitrust laws, which have been found by the
Courts to be defective there have been several
propositions coming both from Republicans and
Democrats. and IL is likely that several bills will
be introduced. Senator Cantor has approved, as
has also Senator Lexow. bill that authorizes
the Attorney-General to obtain an order for the
mined to bring an action. so that it cannot be
charged that he is seeking the examination in
order to determine the ACCESSIBILITY Of bringing
action, which the Court has so far construed not
to be legal. 1t is not probable that any definite
action will be taken to advance any bill until
the Court Of Appeals has definitely decided
whether the lower courts were right or wrong in
declaring the present laws invalid.
There is much talk Of amendments to the pres
ent excise law, and undoubtedly several will be
offered. such TO allow Sunday opening be-
tween certain hours TO abolish the present law
entirely and go back TO the old system OF local
officials and boards and 70 allow of special ale
and beer licenses. The last proposition is the
only one which seems to have any chance Of
passing
The fight for good roads promises to have be-
hind it men who will give it the proper impetus
10 a successful elimination. Assembyman Arm
a champion Of good roads, will receive the hearty
cooperation of Lieutenant Governor Woodruff
in the preparation and passage of bill. The
plans TO be presented are numerous and will
require much study before they will be in pre-
sentable shape Senator Higbie will reintro-
duce the bill prepared two years ago by COM
mission which provides for the substitution of
money highway tax for the present system Of
working out road taxes and that the State
shall assume half Of the expense OF building
sc roads The measure known as the l.. A. w
bill provides for the establishment Of n State
Highway Commission similar to the one which
has done much good work In Massachusetts
The initiative In the building Of the roads Is left
to the counties. Senator Wray has a bill in
which he provides fog the construction OF a set
OF what are known as post roads, TO be built by
the State and the National Government to-
gcther.
Several attempts are to be made to amend the
New York charter. one in particular IL is al
legged, TO make bipartisan boards predominant.