New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-07-27
PRIMARY BILL DEAD.
PARSONS PLEADS FOR IT.
Governor Finishes U'0rb' on the
ThUty-D0y Measures.


bert Parsons president of the New York county
Republican Committee. Governor Hughes let the
Prentice bill providing for official primary
ballot in New York city die among the ruck OF
unsigned thirty-day bills, the period for whose
consideration erded at midnight
The Governors statement ON the Prentice bill
follows:
"On examining this bi'I I find that il con-
tains provisions which cannot approve
Primary election reform is Of fundamental i'm
portanCe. We need official ballot, but we
need much more than that The enrolled voters
Of party are entitled 10 the fTeest opportunity
10 express their preference in the choice OF
candidates for office, and in the selection or
party representatives. Any perversiOn of repre-
sentative government through selfish domina-
ton of party machinery should be made dlfh-
cult If not impossible There. OF course, must
be effective party organization, but 1t must
square with the essentials Of popular govern
ment.
This bill in It's preferential provisions Tor
nominations by district committees and for the
use of an organization district committee col
umn on the ballot, distinctly favors those OF any
party who are in control. The enrolled voters
are not put upon even footing Instead OK
encouraging care and self-reltance IN voting the
proposed form Of ballot makes IT easy 70 dis
pense with discrimination. II is open to the OBJ
iections I have urged 10 our election ballot. and
its adoption as feature Of plan OF primary
reform / regard as a serious mistake. In MAX
ing changes should keep In view the end 10
be attained and we should proceed in a con-
sistent manner
The Prentice bin provided for an official pri-
mary ballot TO be issued by the Board Of Elec-
tions. The ballots were 10 be numbered seriaIly
with stubs likewise numbered. II declared
in support OF the measure that IT would tend
prevent ballot box stufing at primaries. Lately.
however considerable opposition TO the measure
has been expressed TO Governor Hughes. espe-
Cially from John ]. Murphy. secretary Of the
Citizens Union, who declared It would tend
prevent any independent movement within party
lines
GOVERNOR LISTENS PATIENTLY.
Mr. Parsons and AssembIyman Prentice called
on the Governor to-day to make last appeal
for their bill. They were cIoseted with him
for nearly two hours Each used every argu-
ment ne could bring 20 bear 20 point out the
necessity for such a lava The Governor heard
them patiently, then declared that he would
take the measure and their appeals under ad-
visement. The Prentice bill meant as a
companion measure and supplemental TO the
Travis direct nominations bill. which was
killed at the regular and extraordinary session
In the Assembly.
One of the most important bills approved TO-
day is the Cobb marriage license bill This
/ measure. which Will take effect next January,
| Introduces in this state SYSTEM of marriage
| licenses 10 be issued by town and city clerks. in
! the place in which the bride resides and makes
/ IL the duty Of the officials perfor&ling marriage
/ ceremonies 10 make return OF same to the town
! city clerk on or before the tenth day of The
month next succeeding the date OF the marriage.
| Violation Of the provision is made a misie-
/ meanOr, punishable by a fine of from So TO
/ $50 for each offence.
| Governor Hughes maintained as high stand
| ard in the bills he allowed to die at the END 4
the thirty day period he set by his vetOes dur
! ing The regular session. Claim bills ali
allowed 10 die. No extensions OF the franchise
I ~ iirOa dc
meriting the name of grab" bills got 10 the
! Governor. OF those to which the term ever had
/ been applied not one became a law. Two meas
! ures fatheTed by Senator Franchot which had
/ aroused considerable objection died These
/ relics of the Niagara power grab" period were
a measure permitting the appointment OF special
! policemen 10 patrol the property of the Niagara
| LoCkport and Ontario Power Company and a
measure permitting the incorporation OF the
! lower bridge company. which its opponents
maintained would legalize a bridge right abovz
! Niagara Falls
/ GOVERNOR EXPLAINS ACTION.
/ In explaining his action on this bill the Gov
| ernor said:
This bill provides that the Governor may
appoint any number Of policemen designated
] by the Niagara, Lockport and Ontario Power
/ Company. who shall have all the powers OF
/ policemen in cities and villages for the preser-
walton of order and OF the public peace and the
arrest Of all persons committing offences upon
I
/ policemen are 10 wear metallic shield in
scribed with the words. Special Police Their
/ compensation is 10 be agreed upon with the cor
poration and paid by IT.
! Il do not approve of the policy of establishing
special police force in the pay OF a CORPORA
/ ton. Nothing is more important TO the main
tenance Of public order and TO a lust respect for
the exercise of public authority than that gov
ernmental powers should be exercised inde-
| pendently of private relations. and that the
I enforcement OF the law. by virtue OF its method
should be both in appearance and fact entirely
| impartial
The laws Of 1907 now number 761. and an
| other probably will be added Senator McCar-
| ren's measure permitting private sales of New
| York City bonds, passed the special session.
| All the other special session bills have been
| during the thirty-dsy period. while 24s were
! killed in the omnibus veto.
Among the bills Of especial interest 10 New
| York which were signed to-day was Assembly
! man Walnwright's bill for a trunk sewer in
Westchester County, TO empty into the Hudson
| practically at New York's doors. This vas
fought by the Merchants Association and many
/ argued that they had expended much money on
the preliminary work. and the sewer had re-
/ ceived the approval of the State Commissioner
! of Health.
Another bill of considerable importance was
AsSemhlyman HUths prohibiting the transfer OF
[ dying patients from one hospital 10 another in
/ New York City. This the so-calIed Har-
Z who declared that MANY transfers ot dying pa
! tients were made by private and seni-private
/ institutions wishing keep down their death
rate.
The Governor approved the bill of Senator
Sake. providing that no shares of stock Of banks