New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-16
BALLOT REFORM BILL.
May Encounter Opposition-Anti-
Gambling Bills Put In.
rBy ToI,s-aph to The Tribune. J

Albany Jan. Ex-senator Page and Assembly,
man Prentice introduced the ballot reform bill
to-day. It provides for the Massachusetts or
Australian form OF ballot, with the names Of
candidates grouped alphabetically under the
name Of the office for which they are running
Party designations may follow each name but
party emblems are not TO be used
The measure. which conforms to the recon-
mendations in Governor Hughes's message TO
the Legislature was drawn by subcommittee
of the Elections Lays Improvement Associa-
ton A bill Of similar provisions was intro
duced last year late in the session but failed of
passage Since then the association has been
perfectlng the measure In connection with the
new form of ballot. the bill provides for a new
tally sheet. which is believed by the association
to be great improvement on the one now in
Use The duties and conduct OF election Off
GERS during the counting of the ballots and the
election are set forth with great explicitness in
the bill.
1t Is expected that this measure will not have
easy sailing here. While even so practical a
politician as Lou Payn admitted immediately
after the last election that some new form of
ballot must be devised TO prevent the multi
pltcity Of so-caled "independent' tickets fos
tered by the present system. the Massachusetts
ballot makes a straight vote at one operation
impossible, and therefore is not likely to find
favor. The abolition Of the party emblems will
be another feature of the bill to arouse opposi-
ton, but this point the association is prepared
to waive if it becomes necessary. Whatever its
fate this year may be, the bill promises TO bring
out some Of the most interesting discussions OF
the session.
The jerome ant-gambling bills were pre-
sented to-day by Senator Agnew and Assembly
man Stanley. one amends the Percy-Gray law,
to make betting at racetracks illegal. betting
is at any other place. second makes pool
selling and bookmaking a felony instead Of a
nsdemeanor: while the third makes an appro-
priation Of $4,000 FOR the agricultural So
cieties throughout the state, in place Of the
money they receive from the racing asso-
Citations. These bills have raised no end of dis
turbance here. Representatives of horsemen
and the various appendages Of racetracks were
here this morning. almost falling over each
other in their eagerness to the text of the
measures, which they telegraphed at once to the
persons most concerned.
Senator Sake introduced a bill providing for
constitutional amendment allowing q verdict
of two-thlrds of jury in a civil case, and of
three-fourths of jury In criminal case.
Senator Cobb introduced his bill requiring
that a marriage license be obtained from the
town or city clerk before any minister may per-
form a marriage ceremony in this state Records
investigation before issuing a license. Women
under eighteen and men under twenty one years
old must produce the written consent of their
parents before license will be issued. The
measure is Endorsed by the State Bar Associa-
ton and the State Grange. 1t passed the Senate
last year. but failed in the Assembly. In speak
ing Of the bill to-day Senator Cobb said:
The bill is aimed primarily at the divorce evil.
1t has been notorious fact that for years New
Gwfofa Inn ly I'm re mar a Qa md
divorce laws. The statistics show that in the
year 1905 more than twenty-five hundred d.
vorces were granted, and in 1906 the number
will exceed three thousand An examination
also reveals the fact that upward of four-fifths
of the divorces the result OF child marriages
and what is generally spoken of as runaway
matches"
The proposed law is similar to the laws In
forced in Illinois, Ohio and Maine. The neces-
sIty for such a law has been generally recog
nized every state in the Union having a similar
statute except North Carolina The records
show that nearly one thousand immigrant girls
are every year invegled into marriage and de-
serted for the sole purpose of supplying dis
orderly houses.