New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-23
CALLS BILL POLITICAL JOB
J. 0. Hammitt Exposes Amend
ments TO General Election Law.
nv 1.legraph 70 The Tribune.

nv Telegraph 70 The tribune
Albany 1une Answering declarations
TIA, the Wagner-I.evy amendments 20 the
general election law arc efforts 10 make
'hat law uniform in it's provisions through
nv, tho state I q Hammitt. secretary OF
The Citizens Union. to-day SAID TINS oe
fence of the Tammany measure was not
sincere. and that the bin was ponticai
fob re said whoever drafted Inc pili
rok mighty good care not 10 have some oi
lts provisions apply uniformly to the en-
tire state. notably those as 70 eieouon
boards
One feature Of the bill. termed by him
3 "ripper provision" legislates out Of Of
&C., the present Board Of Elections IN
New yory CIV and provides for the sp-
pontment Of new board by the party
members In the Board Of Aldermen MT
Fammtt said
There Is clearly no reason for mes
changes except the fact that the or or ~ 20,
ton behind this Wagner-LeVy bill ls not
satisfied with the present commissioner
o. Elections. and expects TO be oeuer "a.
isNed with q new board appointed by IT.
aldermen. instead Of by the MAY OF, Sor
York City is the only city in the state IUI
which a Board of Elections is proVlqeu III
nc Wsgner-Levy bill Every othero bo@L
of Elections belongs 10 a county 49,
Of New York City the Board or ElecuohS
is 70 b., appointed in each instance by me
County Supervisors. The SUPERVISORS dIe
tho usual appointing power 10 aPPosiht
county officers. There is no Mayor VI
county and the supervisors are the eA
ecutive head OF the county government.
IN New York City, however. tmere ,o or an,
supervisors. and il is customary TOT a ~,
continents OF city officers 10 De iA0e ''
In this respect the Mayor exercises ioi
he city the functions when tne suP'ii
Nsors exercise for an upstate couheS ,ha
Uniformity had been the purpose oi Wy
craftsman OF the Wagner-Levy plib ~
seems that ne would have provldeu Ioi
Inc appointment Of the Board or Eieoa ~.
N New York city by the Mayoi' iIe
cialiy since this Is the provision oI Wy
present law. In no case does the iooaIu
Of Aldermen exercise for the cry lhe IT,
pCintive powers exercised for the couiI''eS
" ne supervisors. YET lhe az, az O. aidernen
Inc power 10 appoint the BOard oi o
ions. Clearly this Is not pro'isio LIE 'T
Uniformity, but only a proVieio tSGoc,,ons
more certain that the boaI t,,ooI machine
Vii be subservient TO po1tlcaI H n,,n9s.
IN fixing the salaries OF the coming
ssi0hers Of Elections the drai ,,Hrm,ttv lie
Dlil had no regard for uIiioi M S9,,,rnis
provided that the salaries or me CS'ii ~,
sion4rs in H. counties outside OF New
York City should be fixed py .he p,be
nsors. presumably because they a. Inc
chief financial board OF the couii hg,aeat
board that makes up the county my s DIsse
q the New Sa9 n Tor 3 Cts Commissioners Of
Elections should be fTed by the Boa ,r ,b Os
Estimate and Apportionment winch Stead ~
SShli financial board Of mat CRY. exod nv
~ provided that they should pe lac" ~
"t legislature AT 5000 YER. ,-,,o,,art
again, in regard 10 the rstner Hoard
''ts' Of providing ofices for me rs. ~
tiections and equipment ioi letting
rees-s matter which involves W .rs
~ rsny contracts-the super1so,s ~
ven control outside Of New ioIs hs,gsd
~ the Board Of Elections itseI 49,
Sih thi. duty In the city OF Ne" WIN