New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-28
But Is Firm in Opposition
to Argetsinger Con
ventiOn Scheme.
BILL BELIEVED NOT
LIKELY TO PASS
His Task More ArduOus, Cher
Executive Says, than He EX'
pected 10 Find 1t.
From . star Correspondent Of Tie Tribun'l


. Albany. Feb. 27.-The Argetslnger-
Mackey bill, containing the provision
for party conventions TO suggest state
candidates, is not likely to become
law this year. Governor Whitman an.
nounced to-day that he was against II
in its present form and was particu-
larly opposed to its convention sectloh'
IL shall be opposed to any suostar
tial change in the method OF maHIns
nominations" he said in an interview;
ave have had only one real triai Oh
the present system of direct hoHlIna
tons, and it has apparently "orheu
we'll. It should have more thoroGsi
trial before it is changed materlally'
The Constitutional Convention is 10
meet soon, with the strong possIoiiity
that the short ballot will get serious
consideration and probably be adopteu;i
No radical changes in the fundamentals
nrircinles of the nominating and cleo
ton system should be attempted uhtll
the convention finishes It's WORK
The Argetsinger bill has caused con-
siderable dissension among members OF
the Legislature, and it is doubtful II IL
could be passed in either house IN lts
nresent form. II is expected that a
conference of the legislative leaders
will he called in short time, wnen
amendments will be made striking out
the convention plan and in other way
conforming the bill to the IDEAS OF
Governor Whitman.
MANY consider that there are good
features in the bill, but hold that THESE
good features were put in TO take tne
curse off the convention plan. "hlch'
they say.is sought by reactionaries.
The provisions in the bill when tne
Governor will urge be er acted into la"
are that the number OF state super
intendents of elections be reduced from
three TO one, and that the boards oi
elections be abolished in all except inc
large counties of the state to reduce
expense. /.
lie also believes tina, primary day
should be fixed for tie first day OF reg
istration, and he would eliminate the
"place of stay" Joker, which would al
low voter to register from his tath'
er-in-law's chicken cool or any othei
Mace. He said he doubted the advisa
bility of transferring the election WORK
now done by the Secretary of state
20 state superintendent Of elections
because the Secretary o. state is the
custodian of state records under inc
constitution, and such transfer woulc
lead to a duplication Of work.
While favoSing the bill to transfer
the Labor Department back to bu-
reau under the Secretary OF State, Gov
ernor Whitman said he did not know
that il would DC wise to make the
change at present. He believes that
this matter and other questions, slch
as tho consolidation Of the Highway
Public Works and State Engineers
departments, should be left to the con
sideration Of the Constitutional Con
vcntion.
Committees of Constitutional dele
gates have already taken up these sub
iects. az we'll as that of transferring
some of the Governors duties to other
officials.
MIR. Whitman admitted that he haC
found the task of being Governor moro
grduous than he had anticipated. lie
said he was on more boards than ne
could count, and that he had found one
of the most exacting Of duties TO bt
that of handling pardon cases. For
/ long time there has been an agitation
TO create a state board of pardons Il
/ relieve the Governor of this task. L
! has also been suggested that the Lieu
tenant Governor perform some of the
/ gubernatoiia duties.