The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-25
PRIMARY BILL AGREED TO.
ALE o0NFEREEs IooEPT ELIHU
ROOFS DRAFT.

Gov. Black ssia to Have Frousuncea n sstis-
faetory-nt Allows the Inreiiea Party
Veter TO support Anyboay ne Pieases
In n MunioiBai Eiectien-Other Roints.
Tho Union League Club Special Committed on
Primary Liquidation, consisting Of Paul d. era
vath, Charles c. Beaman, William Brookfeld,
Henry W. Cannon, John Proctor Clarke and Elihu
Root. President Of the club, and q committee
representing the men enrolled In tho "now Re
publican organization" consisting Of Gen.
Wager Swayne. Chase Mellcn. James s. Leh-
maier. Henry Taft and William Houston Ken
yon, and william II. Hotchkiss of the Buffalo
Republican League have agreed upon a primary
bill after considering tho matter for nearly two
weeks and consulting q number of prominent
Republicans from New York, Brooklyn and
Buffalo.
The bill was drafted by q sub. committce made
up Of Mcssrs. Cravath, Root, Hotchkiss. Taft,
and Mellen. After its main points had been
decided on by the full committee a proof of 1t was
taken TO Albany on Tuesday by Mr.. Root and was
given to Gov. Black, who 10 deeply interested in
securing the passage OF q satisfactory primary
law. II is understood that tho Governor was
satisfied with the measure, and that stories of
disagreement over 1t are without foundation.
Tho full committees held a joint meeting
yesterday afternoon and unanimously APP
proved the bill. There arc several eight
changes to be made and several minor details
to BIO fully worked out, and until this Is done
the bill will not be given out for publication.
1t was announced last night. however. that its
principal features as agreed upon were as fol-
lows:
All voters to have an opportunity to enroll at
the time OF registration of voters for q general
election; the rolls to be kept open thereafter
until thirty days previous to the primaries.
The only test Of right to enroll to DO an ex-
preston Of general sympathy with the princi-
pies Of the party and intention at the timo of
enrolment to support its candidates at tho sue
ceeding election.
Enrolment with tho party not to DO deemed
to prohibit the voter from voting with or taking
part in any other organization or association for
tho election of city officers.
Party rolls to remain on file with the registry
lists open for inspection to oil citizens, who may
take copies or them. Preliminary elections of
all parties to be before the regular public cleo
ton officers. and under tho same rules and regu-
lations prescribed by the election law for general
election.
Returns Of the officers conducting tho pri-
mary elections to be conclusive In making up
preliminary rolls OF the conventions.
The bin provides for review by tho courts of
the organization OF conventions, and that there
shall DO embodied in the Penal Code clauses to
enforce its provisions.
In a statement issued last night the joint COM
mittee said Of the bill:
while this bill does not represent all tho in.
dividual ideas and preferences Of the various
persons composing these committees. 1t does
represent the ultimate result of their COM
mon judgment, after full discussion and con-
sideration, as being a fair and effective bill. The
proposed law does not change the present pro-
vision OF the election law. to the effect that any
party which at the last general election cast
10000 votes for Governor is entitled to q party
column on the official ballot. nor does 1t in any
way hamper or interfere with tho smaller
parties. such as the Ship Democracy. Prohi-
bition, and Socialistic-Labor parties. The draft
bill does not propose any new basis OF
representation. but simply permits all parties to
continue the methods of representation which
now constitute the general rules in the two prin-
cipal parties. 1t does not. however. permit rep
resentation based upon enrolment. which has
been one Of the most fruitful sources of fraud
in this city during the past few years. While
the bill must necessarily provide for some I'M
official primaries. it specifically REQUIRES all the
principal primaries TO be held on the regular
official primary days"