New-York tribune., 1909-07-27
HEAR OF KEYSTONE LAW
MC4RREN NOT OPTIMIST.
Nc1C Workers Think Primaries Lac
Could Be Improved.
{ BY Telegraph TO The Tribune. !


Philadelphia, July 26.-New York State legislators
including Senator Patrick McCarren. of Brooklyn.
heard a thorough explanation this evening Of the
operation OF tie Pennsylvania uniform primaries
law.
County Commissioner Frank J. German was the
principal witness before the committee which was
appointed at the suggestion Governor Hughes to
look into the various primary laws of the country.
with view selecting the hest one for New York
State
After exhaustive and comprehensive expIana-
tion Of the uniform primaries law i'm force i'm this
city, Mr.. German admitted that since the enact
ment OF the law there had been one instance
in which the Republican organization had not die
tated the nomination of candidates all offices
on the Republican ticket.
Mr.. German sad that. while the calibre and
character Of men nominated for the higher Offices
the organization ticket have some what i'm
proved, the smaller fry, particularly the men
chosen to act judges Of election. have rem4ined
unchanged.
The commissioner added to this statement one
that there had been instances since the uniform
primaries law became effective where the Repub-
Iican machine mad forced the election minor
ward offices of mer who had been convicted on
charges Of ballot f 1suds.
These declare tions prompted Senator 11cCarren
to declare that uniform primaries law which sti
leaves tho balance Of power in the hands OF the
leaders is not very good Law. Like many other
laws remarked the political boss or Brooklyn,
this be improved.
Incidentay, the Senator vertured the opinion
that 1T would be extremely undicnifed for man
who had been President Of this country run for
Mayor Of New York.
The commission met in the assembly room at the
Board Of Education at 2 O'clock Walter II. Knapp,
Of Ontario. counsel for the commission, conducted
the proceedings.
!. Henry Scattergood, q member Of the regIstra
tion commission was the first appear before the
board Of inquiry, and he told the investigators how
the personal registration Law operates He explained
in detail the various provisions OF the law and how
they are carried out in each of the ctys 1174 dvi
slons In effect. IT is similar to the registration
law OF New York.
Mr. Scattergood expressed the belief that the law
here was good one and had helped TO purify poll
tics but added that il would be still better If the
gax-paying qualifications removed from the
voter.
The method Of conducting elections under the law
was explained by County Commissioner German.
Asked by Mr.. Knapp what he thought of the law,
Mr.. Gorman frankly admitted that il could be i'm
proved
At the conclusion of Mr.. Germans thorough
PLANTATION the commission adjourned until 10 o'clock
tomorrow morning, when the investigation will be
resumed with the hearing Of ex-COunty Commits
sioner Charles P. Donnely. State Senator John I.
Murphy and several other political leaders.
When asked what he thought of the Pennsylvania
act as expounded by Mr. German, Senator Meade
replied: -'It be greatly strengthened. Many
safeguards be thrown around II AS IL STANDS
now, it is no better than the old system