New-York tribune., 1909-03-26
DIRECT PRIMARY BLOW
HERRING on MARCH 81.
H'ishes Of Introducer of Hughes Bill
Not Respected.in assembly.
rBv Telegraph to The Tribune J

nv Telegraph 20 The Tribune
A han March 25-Against the protests Of friends
Of Governor Hughes's direct nominations bill the
Assembly Judiciary Committee VIII hold a hearing
OF that measure on March 81 AssemhlyTan Green
fntroducer of the hll in the lower house chargeu
publicly when that announcement was made tha'
Tbis was the first part Of plan TO choke the meas
,-ra "a death before its friends could rally 10 its
support. Developments in connection with AFFAIRS
to-day went TO indicate that tho ani-Hughes men
we're putting into swing their scheme to XII all
the Hughes legislation" preparatory 10 an early
adjournment. on which The Tribune frequently has
commented
There IS some question, even among anti-Hughes
men as to the wisdom Of carrying out this pro-
grananle Il would make necessary the assur1p-
tion hv the Assembly Rules Committee, IN winch
Sneaker Iyadsworta IS the dominant influence OF
practically all responsibility for the death OF the
direct nominations bill. under a division OF
labor which would put on the Senate the TASK oi
defeating the other Hughes measures
Some members Of the Rules Committee are known
not to relish the prospect Of having TO take that
responsibility. and Senator Ranes to-day 1eit II
necessary publicly 10 admonish the Senators tnat
letters from their constituents didn't amount 10
much and could be dsregarded with sa1ety II l-e
Senators desired.
Chairman Phillips Of the Assembly judiciary
Committee caused some 81 feeling to-day when
he announced the hearing date changed from AprH
! TO the day previous Loud protest liii1eola'eiS
came from Assenblyunan Green
Neither the tntroducer OF this bill nor any OF
those interested in II has asked for hearing on
the date set said he Nor do We want any hear
ing at so early date If any hearing is heId
It VIII Re without my consent, anu the respon-
sfbilitv FOR II will rest entirely the shoulders
Of the chairman Of the committee The people In
terested in the bill. on both sides, have not had
opportunity properly consider il believe 1t IS
without precedent TO set hearing without The
consent Of the introducer Of e BILL
M Green said he thought the proper time would
be on April a. when the Senate judiciary Commit
tee had scheduled its first hearing Replying, MI.
Phillips said It certainly not q precedent he
was forming in setting the date for hearing With
out Mr.. Green's consent
We have waited most OF the winter for this
bill" said he. 1t did not appear until March ls
Between that time and March q everybody ought
10 have proper opportunity 10 consider it. and l
don't see why we should wait here all summer
for the introducer to make up his mind about q
hearing There viii be hearing on the date SET
whether Mr.. Green and his friends attend or not
.Nr Green forgets that his bill is in the custody
OF this House." said Mr.. Merritt, majority leader
The course the Senate takes has nothing 10 DO
with Us BY April Is all legislation will be in
charge Of the Rules Committee, which gives no
hearings have interest in this bill. either, and
! can't see why should violate the rules OF the
Assembly for il. If Green doesn't want a hearing
until April Il he might just well say he doesn |
want a hearing all. for as long as I've been
q member Of this House there's been only one or
two occasions when the Rules Committee vas not
IN charge by April a.
= do want e hearing, and g full and complete
one retoTted Nfr. Green. but I want also that
those interested in the bill have time to consider
II beforehand. I can't understand why M Phil
lips should be interested in hurrytug this bill l
think il IS safe 10 assume that the session Will last
until May !, and in that case, if the Rules Com
rnittee only took charge ten days before adjourn
=nent, no hurry would be necessary Heretofore the
committee has taken charge before the time pre-
scTibed.'
After the session Mr.. Green said that last night
Mr. Phillips had told him frankly that the hear
Ing was being hurried so the bill could be slaugh-
tered before Governor Hughes had time 10 arouse
the state il.
Meanwhile Senators Hinman and Davenport and
the Governor and his legal adviser are working
on many minor amendments which must be made
TO perfect the bill There viii be about twenty Of
these-in most cases merely the correction Of typo
graphical errors the changing OF word or
short phrase. Nothing OF Importance Will be af-
feCted in bills general scheme Of operation.
Supporters Of the Hughes measure are taking up
the cudgels earnest, but if their adversaries do
not get cold feet their work OF crystallizng public
sentiment will come too late, save for an eXtraor-
dlrary session Besides the speech Of the Gov
e-nor al Buffalo Saturday night Senator Daven-
port is scheduled make speech before the Cort-
land Board Of Trade Tomorrow night, in which
he will discuss the direct primary bill Assembly
nan Allen. OF Chaurauqua County, is taking few
speaking dates in the western part OF the state
where he viii advocate the Hinman-Green bill