The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-12-12
DEBATE OF FOUR HOURS
Direct Primary and Massa-
chusetts Ballot Get
Most Attention.
ASSEMBLY TO MEET TO-DAY
Members Are Expected to Favor
All Five Reform Bills of
the Governor.

ALBANY, Dec. 1.-THE Senate passed
to-day all OF the reform bills desired by
Gov. Glynn except the workinen's COM
pcnsation bill, which will be passed to-
morrow.
Speaker Smith of the Assembly said
NJ was certain he would have the neces-
sary votes to pass all of the Governors
legislation by midnight Tomorrow
1t was thought best by the Speaker
20 wait until the bills had passed the
Senate before summoning the Assembly
men here in full force to vote on them.
The Governors direct primary bill
passed the Senate by unanimous vote
There were seven absentees. but two of
them, Senator Elon Il. Brown. the Repub-
lican leader. and Senator sage. who repre-
sents the district of Chairman William
Rarnes OF the Republican state committee.
we're in the Capitol but out of the Senate
chamber when the vote was taken.
Both Senators were in the chamber dur
ing the debate. Senator Brown was en-
cuscd from voting at his own request.
possibly not desiring to vote against the
hill and yet not feeling as though he
should surrender his cont tinucd conviction
that the state convention should not he
abolished. Senator Sage was in a similar
prcdlcament and merely stroled around
the senate lobby while the vote WAS being
taken.
Bny state Ballot Bi1 Passes.
The bill providing for the use of the
Massachusetts ballot ON election day was
passed 10y vote of 81 to 13. Senator
Palmer. Progressive Republican, voted
with the Democrats for H. The Repub- ,
hcans pre- sent voted against the bill, as
did Senator Wende, Democrat. of Erie. |
WHO WAS an original Sulzer Senator.
The bill which would result in the hold !
ing of a constitutional convention in April, !
1918. passed the Senate BY party vote
OF 80 to Is.
Ther, was no opposition 20 the bill pro- |
vding the machinery for the direct cleo |,
;iou by the people ~ the polls OF United
State Senators IN this State, This bill
received forty-seven affirmative votes.
Tnc constitutional convention bill pro- |!
yides for a special election to be held on
the frs. Tuesday in April next At which
will be submitted TO the people the ques- |
ton as to whether or not a convention
10 Yevise the State Constitution shal! he |
held II II is determined in the affirmative
tho delegates will be elected At the next
November election. at which time Gov
ernor Of the state and al OF tho State
ofhcers are 10 be chosen
The Republican Senators did not debate
either Of these two biils simply content !
Ing themselves with casting their negative
votes.
These four bills were disposed Of by the
Senate after a debate OF but four hours. !
mainly on the direct primary and Mas
sachusetts ballot bills.
Senator Brown nearly stole march
on the Democrats when he offered an
Amendment to the direct primary bill pro-
vding for proportionate representation in
tho state committee based on the vote
for Governor at the previous election.
The Democrats were inclined to accept
this amendment until it was learned that
its adoption would mean that Tammany
would easily control the Democratic State
committee and that such a provision might
drive away a number Of upstate Demo.
cratic Senators from its support.
Flnaly the amendment WAS defeated by
vote of &c to IS. Senator's Wende
Duhame, and White. Democrats, voted
with the Republicans for it.
An amendment TO provide proportionats
Representation In county committees like. |
wise was defeated and so were number
OF other amendments offered by Sena-
tor Brown,
BrOwn Twits the Democrats.
Speaking for the Republicans Senator
Brown twitted the Democrats. asserting
that their attitude in passing direct pri- |
mary and Massachusetts ballot bill now
was akin to locking the stable door after
the horse was stolen
Senator Thomas, Republican, OF Madi- |
son, congratulated Gov. Glynn for point !
ing out the way that many Republican
legislators had been trying to follow for
some time. and said that the spectacle
OF "a Democratic Legislature being swept
on its feet by the voice OF the people was
one Of the most progressive signs Of the
times
Senator Thompson, Republican, OF
Niagara, insisted that the Glynn bill pre-
served the party organization. while the |
Sulzer bill destroyed II. He said that the
Glynn bill as matter Of fact merely |
restored the old convention nominating
system from top to bottom and then pro- |
'yided for two Instead Of one election TO
ratfy the party convention nominations. !
Senator Godfrey Of Cattaraugus county. |
= past master OF the State Grange, voted
for the bill. though in his opinion II was