New-York tribune., 1907-06-07
AMEND TRAVIS ACT.
GILCHRIST BILL PASSED.
Setback for Governors Ideas on
Direct Primary Nominations.
rBy Telegraph to The Tribune ]


Albany June 6.-The first setback which any OF
Governor Hughes's legislative projects have re-
ceived in considerable time came to-day. when the
Senate accepted the Gichrist direct primary nomi-
nations bill amendment to the travis pii'
which provides for optional direct primary noAlha-
tions Denunciatlon Of the Travis bill a de-
fusion and a snare, a measure promising reform
but really adding to the powers OF the pohNc~l
BOSSES" accompanied this change. Yet many
friends Of the Travis bill have maintained that the
Gnchrist bill, which comes from State Chairman
Woodruff and the Brooklyn Republican organiza-
tion presented only to kill the Travis bill, with
the idea that a mandatory bill never would be
passed or, if passed. would be vetoed
AS to the attitude of the Governor the Glchrlst
bill. its sponsors seem to nave been somewhere
near the truth, When he learned what had taken
place, Governor Hughes, Senator Page and Assem-
byman Prentice took the Gichrtst DILL for careful
mar reform scheme such as thai Advocated in the
Governors message with the Prentice bill providing
showed the Governor and the legislators who went
over the Gilchrist bill with him that this measure
would be absolutely contradictory Of the Prentice
bill and that they could not be made TO Jbe at al
As d result Of the conference. Senator rage ana
Assemblyman Prentice went away convinced that
the Governor desired the Travis bill, without any OF
Some idea exists here tonight that there was
rather desire on the part Of some Senators to try
attempted another subject with the Phillips
Dent nomnaons undeP sse Sc df reform
such a desire existed 1t is destined never 10 get
Senator Travis moved to have reconsdered the
his and intends to fight it out tomorrow If pos
sible. compelling the abandonment Of the GichriSI
The feature of the debate on the Travis measure
White who is a friend OF State Chairman Wood
ruff He declared that direct nominations were one
OF the fads OF the day and was distinctly opposed
Senator Traviss bill. he went on. was "objec-
uonable as any such proposition well could be-.
HIS information ran that Governor Hughes had had
been at the meeting. Senator Travis quickly cor
Tected him on that point Whatever the sehomeht t
great Republican counties up state would denounce
10 their ideas, since there the Republicans were
responsible 95 for the governmeht ,,,, ,,or,,
had favor" said Senator White. The law now
tions desire. This bill would add nothing to the
law to accomplish the purpose its introdlcer had
the, extreme. It makes US take the Massachusetts
with the methods in use at primaries knows what
that would mean II would permit q minority OF
Then, TOO. one one party might use use It and the other
Talk Of reforming primaries by any idle sub
terfuge Ike this is nonsense" went on Senator
influence Voters under this law Guo as undsr ds the PTe
ent one Any man familiar with the methods and
this is no safeguard. The danger IN my opinion
would be much greater than under the present
senator Travis moved call Of the House before
6sn5s 4nd 46eFs M fd @ @ been sG5gaed Senator IN tor
travis bf He EXPLAINED that f. came from M the
Kings County organization and a mandatory
He declared that only the Missionaries would sup
port a measure like the Travis proposition. His
amendment" adopted, 27 to II
The Assembly passed to-day. under emergency
message from the Governor. one of the Wainwright
corrupt practices bills amended There was
up Assemblyman ZAP Smith. a Tammany Demo-
crat, said he would move to strike the enacting
hus m has 0n e b sad h Fas %as Certain r39
downstairs has the majority bluffed"
drawn after Mr.. Wainwright had explained the
measure. IF this bill is lived up to-" Mr. Smith
best things for both political parties that has hap
pened this year or for many years past"
Governor, among other reform measures. In special
message which he sent the Legislature several days
pared two so-caed corrupt practices bills designed
20 perfect the law adoDted last year. These meas
message resulted in bringing them out last night.
The bill passed to-day requires every expenditure
OF sums OF q or upwaT9 TO be ,acconnte9 for by
Tecelpted Dill stating the particulars OF expense.
These accounts shall be preserved for fifteen months
after the election to which they, relate.
Statements of expenditures filed by a candidate
must be itemized and include all contribuuons made
by him for campaign expenses The bill further
account of their election expenses, and provides
that If this should not be done they may be re
CURED to appear In court within ten days after
the issuance OF order calling on them to explain
why they have fled expense accounts
fled within twenty days such petition may be pre-
sented at any time not more than sixty days after
the fng OF the statement. THE said petition and
order TO show shall be fled and any order or
Judgment made in the proceeding based thereon
county in which the election held
Senator Agnew's bill, providing for an investga-
powers of the and the advisability OF
state control of them. was passed by the Senate
Senator Fuer's bill on the same subject but is
less carefully drawn and carries no appropriation
Governor Hughes in his special message recon-
= ha IA hoe 7efar