New-York tribune., 1910-06-29
CHANGES IN COBB
PRIMARY MEASURE
Senator AgneW VIII Present the
Amendments at To-nlor-
rows Session.
DEVISED BY Mr.. GRISC0M
Changes Submitted to Governor,
hut He Has Given No In
: dication as to His
Attitude.
NV Teleeraph 20 The tribune, !

!
AEharA. June 2s-Amendr1ents TO the
trohh direct nominations bin which Sen
ator Agnew. Of New York, will present
tomorrow, were discussed tonight by
him in a formal statement indicating
briefly the changes which they would
make in the bill as il now stands These
amendments have been laid before Gov
ernor Hughes. He has given no indlca-
ZION whether they net his approval
These amendments apply 10 New York
City for the most part and are designed
10 make conditions under this measure,
if il should become law, resemble pres
ent conditions in the routine of primary
day
They were devised by President Grls-
com Of the New York County Committee
and some Of his leaders 1t is under
stood that if they should be incorporated
IN the bill as it passed the Senate most
Of the New York County Republicans in
the Assembly who voted against the
Cobb bill at the regular session would
support ii this time.
Chief among the changes is one eX-
empting county officers within first class
cities from the operation Of direct nomi-
nations Under the Cobb bill as it
stands county officers III the counties
within New -ork City would be nomi-
mated al conventions in a municipal
campaign year, the idea being that any
municipal fusion would include county
officers. This proposed amendment con-
tinues the county convention in New
York City; thus direct nominations
would apply within New York City only
70 Senators, Assemblymen and Repre-
sentatives in Congress.
While these changes may win addi-
tional New York City support for the
bill in the Assembly If they are adopted
by the Senate, there are indications that
they may lose considerable upstate sup
port Assemblyman Perkins, OF Broome
county. a hard and fast Hughes sup
porter and an ardent direct nominations
man, criticised them on the ground that
they represented too much '-monkeying'
with the bill for a particular countys
benefit. One other Assem- blyman not SO
outspoken felt the same way about it
There is some doubt here whether
these changes Will have Governor
Hughes's approval. Senator Agnew viii
not say that they have. He is handling
them. though, on the belief that they are
not displeasing TO the Governor and will
not work any harmful changes in the
Cobb bill.
Senator Agnew's statement was as
follows:
First-In q Presidential year primary
day shall be eight weeks before cleo
ton day. instead Of seven, as provided
in the Cobb bill
Second-in New York City a voter
moving after enrolment shall lose his
right 10 Yate at the primary
Third-ProVides for rules Of the state
committee not inconsistent with law.
Fourth-Cobb bill excluded executive
committeeman from Senate and Con-
gress district committees. This amend
ment provides for their Inclusion.
Fffth-Cobb bill exempted county Off
GERS from provisions Of the bill in year
when a Mayor of a city of the first class
was 10 be elected. This amendment eX
emptS them every year.
SiXth-Delegate TO d party convention
must not necessarily live IN the district
he is chosen TO represent. Such re-
Quirement can be adopted by the PARTY
committee.
Seventh-A Presidential elector need
not reside in the district from which he
Is CHOSEN Inc party committee has
power so to order.
Eighth-The party name and emblem
shall be printed on the primary ballot.
Ninth-A number of changes in word
ing are provided TO the effect that names
for committee places appearing on the
ballot shall be in groups with a circle at
the top This is on the well established
principle that a voter when considering
the machinery Of his party is mainly in
Terested in voting for his party leader.
This responsibility is fixed on that one
individual
Tenth-Under the present law New
York City primaries are open from to
=. n. There seems to be no good
reason for longer hours. bat as upstate
districts are accustomed TO longer hours
the Cobb bill is amended to provide for
primary hours from 8 TO o. m. and
for such longer hours as the county COM
mittee may direct. not to exceed three
additional hours prior to ) p. m.
EleTenth-A new section is added pro-
Tidlng for the organization Of primary
boards. This provision will lessen the
expense Of primaries.
Twelfth-Time for the completion of
canvass by the custodian of primary
records is heightened from three to five
days.
Thirteenth-Time for filing designa-
tons by party committees is extended