New-York tribune., 1908-02-04
NEW ELECTION BILLS.
ALBANY, GRIST SWELLED.
Senator Page Wants Unadulterdted
Massachusetts, Ballot.
rBy Telegraph to Tho Tribune ]

rBy Telegraph to Tho Trbunel
Albany Feb. 3.-Another Massachusetts, bal
lot BILL this providing for the unadulterated
Massachusetts ballot. was introduced tonight
by Senator Page It does not have the party
emblem before the name of each candidate, as
the Lee bill. introduced last week. stipulated.
and SO is likely to be termed unconstitutional
by its opponents. who argue that a ballot with
out the party emblem raises educational re-
quirement contrary to the spirit OF the Con-
stitution.
This bill comes from the Election Laws I'M
provement Association and other bodies which
advocated tha Massachusetts ballot last year
1t carries the same reforms as to the tally sheet
and the vote constitutional amendments as
were outlined In Assemblyman Lees BILL
In various sections of the state there is now
considerable agitation for the adoption OF the
Massachusetts ballot. A newspaper In Sena-
tor Raines's home city has out with a
prominently displayed editorial critdcising the
majority leader for his opposition to this bal
lot and terming its opponents political vult-
ures.' Several upstate cities, notably Bunalo.
indicating growth of sentiment Tor ballot
legislation OF this character.
STRIKES AT INDEPENDENCE LEAGUE
Another election bill, introduced by Senator
Cassidy seeks to control the operation of po-
IiticaI parties 1t strikes at the Independence
League by providing that organization which
has been Incorporated or is controlled by a board
of directors shall be recognized as political
party. This would have the effect Of preventing
the spasmodic development of new parties at
frequent intervals to exploit some particular Is
sue and would presumably intrench the Repub-
lican and Democratic parties in power
In addition to refusing to recognize such par
ties the bill provides that "the nominees of any
such Incorporated political organization shall not
be entitled to any place on any official ballot in
this state" The selection Of delegates to
state committee is fixed Senatorial or Con-
gress district basis, the committee may elect.
1t also gives each delegate the right to vote on
any proposition. regardless of the adoption OF
any unit rule.
Senator Cassidy would not say where the bill
came from, but he facetiously admitted that it
was drafted by the Watkins Glen Reform Asso-
citation. Senator Cassidy comes from the Con-
gress District of J. Sloat Fassett.
RELIEF FOR NEW YORK'S POOR.
An appeal for the relief OF the poor of New
York City made in the Senate tonight by
Senator Mccall who introduced bill author
izing the city Of New York to issue bonds to
the extent Of s1.500.ooo for the improvement OF
public parks. parkways and drives in the city
Of New York. Bills introduced by Sena-
tor Grady and Assemblyman Palmer provide
for the leasing of Wards Island by the city OF
New York to the state for fifty years. The
rental is 81 a year. The condition which the
city imposes the state is that within ten
years 1t construct modern hospital for the in
sane. In Of the termination or expiration
of the lease 1t is provided that the city shall
pay the state the value Of all buildings that
have been constructed.
The Buffalo police department has reached
such a state of perfection under the three
platoon arrangement, Buffalo people think, that
Senator Davis, of that city. tonight introduced
a bill requiring the Police Department of New
York City and all second class cities to adopt
the three platoon system.