New-York tribune., 1909-03-16
BILL NOT YET READY
LITTLE PROGRESS MADE.
Members of Primaries Steering Com
mittee Haze Disagreement.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune. J

| Albany. March 15-Contnued conferences of the
steering committee which Is at work Gov
ernor Hughes's direct primary nominations bill
| brought that measure little nearer 20 completion
! to-day than it the end of last week Op-
timistic legislators say It will be ready for intro
ducton Wednesday other members of the little
which is preparing the measure smile wearily
when asked about II, and refuse 10 make any pre-
diction.
As a matter of fact the work is being hindered
not Only by the difficulties naturally attendant
a task of that magnitude, but by local pride and
seduous for local interest and to a certain
extent by personal pride. II is manfestly ques-
tion present of too many cooks" The interests
of Brooklyn and Manhattan are not in certain de-
tails the interests of upstate communities: indeed
conflict with them and friction has resulted from
that conflict It seems likely 10 become greater
when the question Of introducing the bill comes up
At the end of last week the conferrees thought
that they had about reached an agreement on the
basis of committee representation which is one Of
the fundamental propositions Of the measure unde"
the Governors plan. When Darwin r. James. of
the Brooklyn Young Republican Club. and others
got here today they decided that they couldn't
stand for the provision as the upstate men had
drafted II in any circumstances, and that particu-
lar section Of the bill ripped apart and re
dra fted. Now the Brooklyn and Manhattan men
feel satisfied with # in its present state. they say.
but the upstate not.
Senator Newcomb and William II. wadhams. of
Manhattan attended to-day's conference. They
Joined with the Brooklyn men IN the protests against
the form OF the section governing committee repre-
sentaton.
1T was in such shape that New York City
man could stand for it declared one of the Citys
representatives 1T might have been all right for
up-staters. but I'd like to know how any New York
city could have voted for measure which
would have wiped him out in his district. That
would be reforming little bit too far. We're all
eltrusts this discussion of course but after all,
we're human little bit. and politicians little
bit also"
Likewise the question of permitting nominating
committees to name their successors is a point
Of difference which may produce further trouble
before the hill is IN final shape. Brooklyn men be-
lieve the committees should have that power The
upstate men against Il. holding that members
of a committee should be nominated by petition,
and those bodies should in no sense be self-per-
pe'uatlng
Considerable difficulty, also. will arise over the
identity Of the ntroducer of the bill in the Senate.
Brooklyn men think Senator Travis, who has
handled the bill FOR years. should have that
honor this year. when it is the vital issue Of the
legislative session Upstaters want Senator Hin
man or Senator davenport. both Of whom are
LAWYERS and trained speakers. Senator Travis has
told friends he would be willing matter OF
principle to sacrifice himself 10 the good Of the
cause II II became necessary. but the Brooklyn
men can't see why it should be necessary
When MI James came here this morning he
declared things were running smoothly. That was
before he had attended any of the days con-
ferences. But on the question Of Brooklyn's hand
ling the bill in both houses he bristled up instantly
THAT question hasn't been taken up I'm confer
euce yet.'' he said, but I can't see any reason
why Senator Travis shouldn't handle bin this
year which he has passed in previous years There's
no argument to my mind in the fact that ooth
sponsors Of the bill would come from Brooklyn.
This has been very largely a Brooklyn matter
from the beginning,
Naturally all these differences, while they are
not fatal by any means and will be ironed out
satisfactorily please the anti-Hughes men IN the
Legislature and the politicians outside it. They
chuckIe every time they refer to the Governors
friends" and standing joke has teen made re-
garilng the date OF Introduction of the measure
Ihey a re not losing any opportunity OF magnify
ing these differences and making capital OF them
in their campaign defeat the Governors pri- !
mary reforms. Indeed. they are far nusler AZ
present in making propaganda against the Cover |
guments in favor or It.