New-York tribune., 1913-06-19
BILL FOR REFERENDUM
KICKED AROUND SENATE
Tammany Leaders Refuse 10
Father 1t and New Member
Introduces 1t.
TALK OF PLEDGE BREAKING
When Governor Violates Party
Promise It Seems Proper
Course, Observes
Wagner on Floor.


IFrom stan Correspondent OF The Tribune.
Albany. June Ex-Governor Suffers
message to the Legislature asking for the
submission 10 the people at the fall cleo
ton Of the question as to whether there
shall be a constitutional convention was
received grumblingly by the Senate to-
day. While II is expected that bill car
rying out the recommendation Will pass.
Senator Wagner. the majority leader,
said that il would not be without oppo-
sition.
Resentment toward the Governor rather
than the bill itself. however. caused the
Senate Tammany leaders TO refuse TO in
troduce 1t. and II was finally handed TO
Senator Simpson, the new member VINO
took the place from which Senator
Salant, the Progressive member, was
ousted. Simpson introduced IL. and IT
was referred to the judiciary Committee
after being advanced to third reading.
The same course was taken In the AS
sembly. where the bill was introduced by
the majority leader. Mr.. Levy.
The bill provides that II the people al
the November election vote I'm the affirm
atiye on the constitutional convention the
delegates to the convention are 10 be
elected at the regular election in 1914 and
the convention is 20 be held on the first
Tuesday In April. 1915. II is practically
the same as the Republican bill which
was defeated at the regular session.
The Governor vetoed the Tammany bill.
which provided for the submission Of the
question to the people at a special cleo
tion To have been held this month. For
this he was attacked In the Senate to-
day by Senator Wagner who said that
the Governor had failed 20 live up 10 the
party pledge for an early constitutional
convention and declared that the Demo
cratic Organization bill was vetoed TO get
the support Of the Progressive party FOR
the Governor primary bill
1t seems to make a difference who
violates party pledge" Senator Wag-
ner said we are accused II violating
a party pledge in relation 10 the direct
primary. but when the Governor plainly
violates party pledge 1t is taken in
some quarters as the proper course.
Tile Democratic party promised the
people a constitutional convention at the
earliest possible moment Such a conyen-
ton could have been held AT the earliest
possible moment n a special election had
been provided for between the regular
session and November Of this year. Del
egates could have been elected this fall
and the convention could have been held
next spring
m the Governor had signed that bill
be- would have kept his party pledge. lie
says the time was too short II he had
signed the bin when u reached him IL
would have been time enough. lie says
the election would cost 81 Ooor" That II
grossly exaggerated. The expense would
not have been "a tenth OF SI.oDo"0'
Al the hearing before the Governor on
the Tammauy bin the measure was at
tackled on the ground that the Tammany
leaders sought political advantage in the
municipal election in New York this year
by making n necessary 20 vote for con
sttuuonal convention delegates when
city elections were 10 be held Represent
ativcs OF the Progressive party. who op-
posed the measure. told the Governor that
his action on this bill would be the acid
test Of his administration The veto fol-
lowed.
lr mis- message to-day the Governor
sad.
THE pledged faith Of the Democratic
party 10 call this constitutional conven-
tion before the time as provided In Ar
ticle Il. Section ?. OF the state constitu-
tion. will I'm my opinion be- strictly full
nlled hy the submission Of this question
at the November election OF this year.
and n favorable. this will permit the
election of delegates pursuant 10 tho con
sttutional provision In November, 1914.
and the assembling OF the delegates In
April. 1915
The holding or a constitutional conven-
tion in April. 1915. will be three years IN
advance Of the time fixed In the const-
tuition.
The plan OF submitting the question OF
whether convention shall be called AT
the fall election Of this year and the cleo
tion Of delegates thereto I'm the November
election Of next year will avoid hte ne
cessity OF the large and unnecessary ex-
pense OF special election for such pur-
pose
The fulhlment OF a party pledge with
the least possible expense 10 the taxpay-
ers OF the state is an object which am
sure every member Of the Legislature. as
well as myself. favors most heartily"
II H. expected that Senator Brown to-
morrow will introduce the Republican di-
rect primary bill. which is the same as
the Sulzer bill with the exception that It
retains the state convention.
EMERSON AW HELD Val IN