New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-05
WEBER
PIANOS
Fifth Avenue and Sixteenth St.
PRIMARY BILL EXPLAINED.
1T AIMS TO MAKE PRIMARIES LIKE
REGULAR ELECTIONS.

THE MEASURE TO BE SENT BACK TO THE SEN
ATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR THE COR
REcrIoN OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
T1oNs FOR IMPROVEMENT INVITED.
Albany. March 4.-Senator Lsxow. chairman
Of the Senate Judiciary Committee. who intro
duced the primary bill to-day. said this AFTER
noon that It would be returned to his committee
for such further action as may DE necessary
He explained its provisions as foiio"s'
THE principle upon which the Dill IS iouhoeu
Is essentially. TO asslmilate. as far as prac-
ticable. the primary system OF u 'ta'e 10 'ha'
Of the Election law. Party enrolments In the
future are to be had under the sanction Oh TIC
law and before the Board Of Election Inspectors
in the same way a general election. Inc oiisi-
nal enrolment takes place any day OF regis
tration for election purposes Such enrolment IS
10 be made in separate enrolment books. the
contents of which are to be held secret untii the
day after the general election. ~hereupon they
become public records open to public Inspection
and COPY This procedure is adopted In order 10
preserve intact the statutory and constitutions
mandate for the secrecy Of the ballot
The enrolment books are to be nieo Win INC
officers having charge OF the genera e'e0'0'i'
ANY qualified voter may enroll on those days.
and In the month OF December any qnailheo
voter not enrolled may secure the addltio" Vi
his name to the enrolment books by ming WIN
tho election officer properly acknowledged Ger
tincate setting forth his qualifications as Vo'er
ord for enrolment with the party with whch
he desires to affiliate
THE supplementary enrolment taxes p'"0e ."
Nav of each year before the same ooh'u Va
general election inspectors. at when any pei'o"
qualified and not enrolled on the days Vi ree'
,ra,,on or Incoming since qualified. may enroll In
the same way on days OF regis'ra'io"' i"'
whole procedure Of supplemental enrolment con-
forms To that Of the original enrolment on days
Of registration.
Two official primary days are proViueu oii'
IN Tune and the other In September. The one IN
June is for the choice OF delegates 10 State ooi
vent,ons. That in September known as the
annual primary day. is for the choice OF oeie-
gates to the various conventions. Primary
districts are organized from two contiguous
election districts, and each party holds its pri-
nar,es on one and the same day. one party IN
one such election district. and the other party
IN the remaining election district composing
such primary district. and these are SUPERVISED
nv the inspectors Of election Of the particular
party of the two election districts acting az
rounded by all the safeguards Of a general eiec-
ton.
"One each of all ballots used must be handed
to the voter whose right to vote is determined
bv the official enrolment book. The canvass Oh
ballots and declaration Of results are made IN
conformity with the provisions OF the Election
law The public officers tabulate the returns
and make transcripts and grant certificates ana
make up the official rolls OF conventions from
the filed returns. All steps are guarded with
the same care and subject to the same response
ble official control as in the case OF general
election
conventions composed OF delegates selected
or the party enrolment plan receive their Of
fetal rolls Of membership from the Bureau OF
Elections or other corresponding election OF
fetal ami temporary and permanent organiza-
tons can be effected only on call Of the roll
Of such certified delegates.
'"The courts are vested with authority to In
quire into and mete out appropriate justice IN
all cases Of violation Of the act or Of the enrol
ment primary or convention rights OF the indi-
vidua
This In short, is the system adopted, COM
mencing the next general election For the
snecial purposes OF this year an enrolment gov
erned by the same general principles shall take
declarations may be filed and duly acknowl-
edged emitting qualified voters to be placed on
the roll of their respective parties. The June
primary follows, as also the other annual prl-
mary provided for every other year. Inc May
enrolment takes the place for this year both
Of the registration day enrolment ana the spe-
cial enrolment Of other years. The declarations
TO be filed correspond with those provided 10 De
filed In December
"The June primary determines the party or
Ranization by the selection OF a County Com
mttee. ,., -.
THE act in terms IS applicable to cities OF
the first and second classes. leaving 1t optional
with cities OF the third class and other places
where personal registration is required by law
10 avail themselves of the provisions OF the Dill
nv a majority vote of the General Committee OF
the party in such territory. al,
"Tbe bin substantially represents the welding
together Of the best features Of all the PROPOSE
tions that have been under discussion. ana
presents a compact and harmonious whole that
in its Operato, guarantees to every lndiVlduai
member Of party absolute equahty OF repre-
sentation in the PARTY management ana IN the
choice OF delegates and in the making OF nomi-
nations terrifying this guarantee by severe pen
alties OF a criminal nature for violation or prl-
vate- right and by furnishing a complete civil
remedy by mandamus or certiorar1 IN the SUI
preme or County Court.
THE bill has been carefully drafted, and Is
complete in detail. Naturally. In view OF the
complex subjects now for the first time de-
termned by statute. and in the expedition which
has been necessary because Of the approaching
adjournment there were and are unmportant
inaccuracies that will necesstate proper amend
ment. We have thought II best to report the
bill 50 that the people may become acquainted
with its provisions. and any suggestions that
may occur to the many studying the bill may be
communicated to the judiciary Committee
(T'he full text of the Primary bill IL printed
elsewhere In this fssue.)