Perth Amboy evening news., 1911-02-06
LEGISLATURE
TO Get SOME
WILSON BILLS
Following Conference With
Democratic Senators Re-
forms to be Brought Up.
WOULD ACCEPT NICHOLS
PRIMARY BILLS
Especial Correspondence J


Trenton, Feb 6-As result of
conferences between Governor VIII
son and a number Of Democratic SEN
ators, it is expected that several bills
containing ideas entertained by the
former concerning legislation deal
ing with subjects on which the Dem
ocrats made pledges during the cam
paign. will be introduced in the
legislature this week.
Although number of bills deal
Ing with these subjects election
and primary reform, corrupt rrac-
er and employers liability-haye all
ready been introduced in the 1egisla-
ture, 1t is understood that an eff
fort will be made to advance the
administration" measures over SIM
liar bills now under consideration.
This plan on the part Of the Demo-
Gratis, however, is likely to encoun-i
: ter the serious opposition of the Re-
publieans, at least in the senate,
where Senator Nichols bill extend
Ing the direct primary system to the
nomination for governor and repre-
sentative for governor was last week
reported favorably and will prob
ably be passed before, the legislature
ad1ourns this week.
Progressives Favor Bills.
AS already told there are a good
many progressives in both parties
who are anxious to see the Nihcols
bills sent to the House from the sem
ate, with the former body promptly
taking up and passing them. IT this
were done. and Governor Wilson
caused the enactment OF the Nichols
bills by signi,g them, there are many
friends of the latter who say that
such result would have a tremen-
dous effect in strengthening the
Democratic administration coming
80 soon after the governors success
ful fight over the United States SEN
atosship.
"The Democratic legislative lead
ers will make big mistake II they
try to sidetraek the Nichols primary
bills by substituting measures Of a
similar character from Democratic
sources" said prominent Democrat
In the state mouse today. Natural
", the Democrats are anxious to OBJ
tain all the credit possible for bring
Ing about good legislation at this
session, but 1t must be borne In
mind that the senate still has Re-
publican majority and 1T will be in1-
possible to enact any laws without
the votes OF Republican senators. In
view Of this situation, it seems to a
good many Democrats and friends OF
Governor Wilson that 1t would be
the part of wisdom to accept the
Nichols primary bills and send them
70 the governor as soon as possible
have no doubt but that ii an effort
Is made to substitute Democratic
measures for the Nichols bills 1t will
result In the Republican majority in
the senate retaliating by holding up
the legislation on the primary sub
5ect. Such an outcome would be de-
plorable when 1t is considered that
the Nichols bills are adequate to the
demands for the extension of the
primary system to the offices of gov
ernor and representatives in con-
gregs. It would probably preeipitate
a party squabble that would do no
good and might do very serious
harm to the law making work this
winter
AS | view IT, continued the
Democrat, "it would have wonder
full effect upon the public to secure
the enactment Of laws extending the
direct primary system to governor
and congressman in almost the very
beginning Of Governor Wilson's adj
minlstration. or course, it would be
very nice from a Democratic point of
View to have the bills come from
Democratic hands, but, after all, this
Is desire that should yield to the
very great advantage that would
come to the public from the immedi-
ate enactment OF laws that Will wipe
out the old-fashioned political con-
ventions In New Jersey"