New-York tribune., 1914-11-27
Discrepancies and Coutr,.
dlctions Pointed Out bv
Colonel Gleason.
WOULD MERGE
PRESENT BUREAUS
Earlier Primary Day and IN.
creased Limit of Expendi.
lures Advocated

One Of the most impor,an, ,,,,,,
;hat will be taken up By Cov.,.,.
Whitman and the Republican Lee.
lature this winter will be the r.vi,.,.
Of the present election law. NAM =,
perts declare that in many Dar,i,..
.ars the present law is not only ,yr.
oersome and expensive, but in ,s,,, .
instances is either unintelliyibl. =,
contradictory in terms
Colonel Lafayette b. Gleason. 49,.
tary of the Republican State Cor,-..
tee who for many years has be-,
close student Of 'he election laT al
yesterday he believed either a l.gi,
latiye committee or a special cor~i,.
sion appointed by the Governor ,bssI
undertake q careful study OF me or,l'
lem, and recommend a thorough "a.
vision Of the law.
Discussing his views yes,s,s,,
Colonel Gleason called attention % ~
division of power and the unnecs.,,,V
duplication Of officials under the Lsyy
election law.
AT present" he said. "our ,,,.
elections are under the managemer, I,
the State Super.ntenIents % Eleetie-,
and their deputies and the Seers,ary
Of State, upon whom deyoIyes the dg,,
Of sending on, tho necessary elee,ie,
notices, publishing the certificates .,
designations for nominations, inelsd.
ing instructions IN printing the bs.
lots. both FOR the general and pri-sry
elections, the furnishing Of blsnss.
polling books and election parspssr.
MALTA 10 the various county boards 0,
custodians Of primary elections. VI,
in turn distribute them 70 the ysr.o.s
election districts.
These departments might vel ).
consolidated The Superintendenn o,
Elections might be sbO. Ished, ard
department created providing ior a
single head, upon whom would deyor.
the duties OF The election superin,s-i.
ents and the Secretary Of State Ora
department might be created in re
Office o. the Secretary Of State zhci
would manage the entire matter"
When the Democrats came i-.,
power ir 1910 they found an election
Jaw which provided for a Super.nisii.
emf Of Elections ~ The metropolitan
district Of Now York. with CERTAIN
deputies; a board Of elections ior As
City o. New York Of four members
.wo from each party and a Conni'.
4.oner OF Elections In The counties q
Erie. Onondaga. Monroe and Westchs,.
ter m the remaining counties y.
work done by these officials vas per-
formed By the Secretary Of state ari
the county clerks.
The Levy election isw of 1911 i,.
creased the number o. Super'1,srt'
ents % Elections 70 three and p.
creased their operations 20 include ne
entire state. The election work vas
taken away from the various county
clerks and placed In the hands OF bi.
partisan boards % elections, appoir'st
bv the boards Of supervisors o. ne
Recommendation Of tho Repgolieia
and Democratic County committees
Colonel Gleason called attention 70
several contradictions 10 the law, par
ticularly that In regard @ me mafi'
ING of candidates for Presidential elect
Oh. lie suggested that the law ough' "
make mandatory the printing OF 20.
rolment lists % every county i'i
their fling with the Secretary OF s,a's
so any one could have access % rsn
10 verify primary petitions. Inc az
provides that objection 20 any ds,s'
mating petitions must be nled "HaI WI
three days after the petition IS 1itl
The colonel says this time should
heightened. as three days is 100 sh'H
a time 20 verify all the names on
petition. 80,
Another thing he believes j; iaM
primary dav should be earlier thar .
now provided for. -.n..,..,
Colonel Gleason said IL IS ridleg.o1
for a state the size Of New iors
nlace a limit on the expenditure Of
candidate for Congress below mat pr
r,i,ted in the federal corrupt praeie''
act. He calls atteut.c1 20 tne is''
the United States permits tne g,
penditure OF $1,000 ir me eamFas
not including printing. postage; w. .
cling expenses, telegraph ana ~.
rhone tolls, all Of which item' AZ Al
be included in the account 70 os -.
under the state law, and when ,,sv .l-.
no circumstance must exceed e, s 4.
He also believes provision shos.a :
made for the registration oy aM.' i
of persons employed m me ss,,'',. -.
the United States, students ih - 81.
tions Of learning, or inmates Ol s,, I
lie institutions in places o.Hst i,r
their homes. and who under 'ns !.
do not lose or gain q residence. T.. Ii (
that the "place Of stay p'9,.s'g pI, 3
which leealizes aoaters. according
many lawyers, should be e-.l''"'