New-York tribune., 1909-03-01
LONG SESSION LIKELY
QUIET WEEK At ALBANY.
GoUernor's Primary Reform Bill Not
Expected for Serer0l Days.
rBy relegrapa to The 7ribuneI

rHy Telegrzpa to The zribune.I
. Albany Feb 2S-IE6iCatlons are that aside from
consideration OF lhe direct primary legislation and
the New York City charter. the legislative session
viii stretch out into length undreamed ot by those
legislators to have been taking ghly OF adjourn
snent By April or L. II is the opinion Of so eX-
rerienced and sag8ciors a leader as Senator John
Raines that in the Of amendments TO tho con
solidated Avs alone which win have 10 be consiG-
erred because OF the pledge under which those laws
passed and The idea of the Governor in sign
irg :ierD thar defects would he corrected imnedi-
steIy. viii be work enough 10 keep the Legislature
going for many weeks 90
J-p date not OF the important measures
schedued introduction Is before the Legislature
the direct primary hill. The various amendments
Public Service Commissions law and the
rapid transit law end the New York City charter
Ard the third month Of the legislative year - at
hand. with tie first week Of it practicsly blank
because Of the inauguration ceremonies at Wash
irg1on, which VIII take from this city the Gov
e-nor and q large part OF the Legislature
j seems probable that TIE Governors primary
reform bin VIII not be presented this week. Quite
possibly may not be ready the following
week. IoT 81 is learned thai the difficulties Of finding
exact paseology 10 the details Of the sys-
TEN aud the volume OF the task OF amending com
pIetey the primary laws mas been far greater than
the steering committee" expected when ii began
that work Then besides HAT consideration. there
stil parts % the proposed process IS ap-
Piled the rural districts which tho steering
C0IELEilHs' naklt vel %OTkeO OAL SATISFACTORILY
Ard after this group OF the Governors supporters
has whipped the measure into what il considers
satisfactory shape. il si te considered in detail
b. Dean Alden. the Governors counsel, and per-
haps Some changes made in accordance with his
suggestions before f is introduced All OF which
spells continued delay that problem.
The New York City charter-or at least the report
Of the Charter Revision Commissioners scheduled
for presentation TO the legislature tomorrow If 1t
really IS presented that time most of the egisla
tors VIII be Intensely surprised for reports have
reached this city recently Of considerable DIFF
ference of opinion within nnission various
important sections of the proposed charter and ad-
ministratfve code March Is is set by most egisla-
tors q probable date for the reception of
The report and rough draft OF the charter than to-
morrow. And they are greatly undecided what Will
happen 20 il after is received. except that most
OF the leaders have d notion that it will arouse
and the different clements in that city that ade-
qate eonsiaeraticR OF II at that stage or the es'S
BRISK DISCUSSION WILL DEVELOP.
The various amendments to the Public Service
commissions law-that putting telephone and tele-
graph companies under the commissions control
and other changes advocated by the two commits
Sions 70 meet problems which have cropped out In
:se last years work-are looked Cor in the next
week or two, though they too. may be delayed
somewhat longer While the general idea has been
tha. this legislation would be passed this year, II
is inevitable that brisk discussion Will be de-
veloped- If the Public Service Commission for the
Isl District presents amendments 10 the raDid
transit law with a view 10 Ioosenng somewhat the
restrictions capital for building new subways, a
subject of that Importance VIII demand extended
discussion. And the debt limit amendment to the
constitution in ve-v of the expected report against
Il Of the legislative committee which investigated
New York Ctys finances. viii prove bone Of -con-
tention this year in earnest.
Thus al along the line the prospect is delay
delav and more delay. The appropriation bill
mark tn
beginning OF the end. is the Assembly calendar
Tor debate but that probably will be DELAYED
1sntfl after inauguration week Other appropr1a-
toD legislation fairly well in hand and the sup
ply bill probably viii oe reported from the Assem-
blv Committee on Ways and Means about week
after the lever house sends the appropriation bin
orsr TO The Senate. But even il the Legsfa ture
rr Al tfat sine cared violence and the strong
arm 70 force adjournment without definite action
the DriTsaTy reforms. the Public Service Com
mission legislation or the New York City charter.
the changes in lhe consolidated laws would prevent
The leaders expected after those measures Were
passed anC signed that a food Of amendments
would be Introduced That food is about ~ Lend
Indicators are thar 1t VIII heavier thai.
anybody had thought and that some Of the
changes viii have 10 be made d was understood by
legislative leaders that THIS would be be
cause the Legislature practically had 10 those
laws blindfold. and The Governor even in signing
them could not give anything like adequate stten-
1son 20 them Sgch atJentiOn. though, viii be de-
nnanded for changes. and a couple Of months
night be long Time 70 devote 10 It. in con
uecrfon with-other legislative work
HUGHES MEN WELL SUITED.
Hughes men are rather well suited by this ap-
pearance OF affairs They say that the longer
the subject of prnarE reform is before the people
before the Legislature is called 10 act dehnitei:
on legislation the certain The Governor viii
be 20 win out on his demand fo- primary reforms.
Discussion Of the hughes plan is bound &C on
IN +he mean tine. and -hey hsve faith enough il
that plan 20 believe that such agitation viii only
impress the merits of & firmly the general
public and so strengthen the demand for its en-
zczraent into Indeed, the Governors friends
sre well satisfied with the state Of things at pres
en3. F5lihu Roots speech meant great deaf, they
say. and the longer that is thought over the more
Favorable appear for the Governors projec:
They feel that II things they travel
ling present the opposition must either die out
reveal Itself in such guise to almost q
popziar rrr}sing in favor OF the primary reforms.
Either case would a Hughes victory