New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-06-22
New. York Constitutional Convention.
SEVENTEENTH DAY.


County Legislatures state -uh-Treas-
u-y-Corporu.ion Inauiry-Equnl Rights
New Counties-EStra Payments 10 Contract
ors- Murphy on AIbnny-Neii- on Evidence
Tallmadge on the Duties of Committees.
ALBANY June leih, 1916.
TO tie Editor Of Tie Tribune:
SIR After a short session the Convention adjourned,
aud wentup stairs into the Senate Chamber to listen
to the discussions in The Committee arranging the
Courts distributing Judges aud nqu.ng into the best
mode Of appointing State Judiciary. Judge Ruggles
occupied the Lieu, Governors chair. Mt Wordeu was
speaking; ard while remained, Messrs. Patterson,
Brown Simmons and Looms slso spoke. They appear
ed to have severa expressed their sentiments as TO the
most suitable plan Of State Judiciary, and were care
fully providing for making careful inquiry into the
merits Of the plans and referred TO them
by the Convention and By individuals Their task is
noble consider how mans justice may be most
equitably distributed among three millions OF Gods
If Is possible for society to impose duty
more than any other calculated elevate the mind above
all selfish feelings has imposed that duty on this Com
mit,ee now in tia: Senate Chamber
In Convention, it proposed 10 adjourn on Sat.
urday. Mr.. Cheiiad opposed ths-sald they bad
been about three weeks in sson, and that but one
solitary proposition bad been brought forward by
Standing Committee while not even one had been
acted on. The motion was Withdrawn.
MIR White had so much OF bis resolution as pro-
poses to make the laws Ineligible 10 the CITIZENS
by means Of a brief, plain, and wellarranged code
which every body could buy, read and understand
in place of the antiquated ponderous system now
in use. referred TO q special Committee OF Mem
bers mot yet named
Iexpected discussion on Mr.. Morris's report on
the Executive when he proposed this morning 10
take il into Committee of the w hole In order that
some alteration might be made In the phraseoogy
but he did not persist.
fWhen the executive article of the pre,ent Constitu
ton reported. i, created the Governor ADMIRAL
of the Navy but Chief Justice Spencer then member
for Albany, moved to strike out and General Root
talked of stripping the Governor Of his title OF Lord
High Admiral of the Navy 1t was struck out on Sep
TENDER H. Mr. jag proposed cali him Commander
n.Chiefo of the Militia and Navy which, on suggestion
of Dir Tompkins or Mr.. King, he altered TO Com
nander.in Chief of the Naval and Military forces and
in that form it was carried Again appears to have
been changed as first that we have literally had
Admirals Clinton. Yates, Van Buren,, Throop Marcy
Seward and Bouck and now have Admiral Wright Most
people had only heard OF Admiral Hoffman
The Committee in 1921 did not report as MIR Morris
has done that the people should not be permitted to
vote for any Governor not nave-they only made the
wise provision that be should have been IA years citi
zen as is required for the United States Senate Mr.
Child moved 10 dsiranchse adopted citizens in thai
respect and it was agreed to- must say like 70 see
Americans preferring their beautiful maple, cherry
oak snd black walnut 10 the foreign mahogany
but would doubt the expediency oil prohibiting It's I'M
portation When other States are striking out clauses
from their Constitutions which uselessly remind adopted
citizens of native prejudice Mr. Morris, thrice elected
Mayor of NewYork By the accamations OF the adopted
hastens to proclaim them comparatively inferior race
or to express jealousy toward the Warnlest renus VI
TamrnaDy Hsll Democracy.
With reference TO the discussion ofthe powers to
be given 10 the Executive, Mr.. Shepard moved for
n return of the pardons granted by the Governor IN
i5iJ, which was ordered.
rThe exercise Of this pardonng power is called Is
analogous 10 the offences for which Charles OF England
was brought by sturdy Republicans 10 the block-name
w. setting his will above the ordinary operation OF The
laws And as far as have observed, it is power exer-
cised too party purposes and personal iee
ngs Governor Porter of Pennsylvania, In several we'll
known cases. recently rardoned beers and others when
about 10 to tried Just as the Irish Lords Leutenants did
10 the cruel Of the sodlery after the revots Oh ''s
and 1909 when amnestee were granted to the mags
tracy as protection vindcve done in defiance OF
ali law In 1920 there 354 pardons granted in this
staie--3ll in lS2l-2s5 in ls266O in lS33-l5s in 1895
I'D in 1872 in 1910. Gov. Seward in his Message
January s4 gave his reasons the pardons he granted
and they powerful hut he admitted that to Keep Jn
,es irving and Judges coademung persons after
ward 70 be freed by frequent exercise OF the par
donlnC power would impair the efficacy OF the admins
rson of Justice So long, however, rs The State con-
sens 10 he governed by 1900 volumes of the laws OF Mon
archies Colonies, and Republics, whole Incompetent
sIbe TO all somebody ought 20 have the power 10 mitigate
the Injustice of the system. Ore way Of favoring par
sans IL not to bring forward the witnesses Who could secure
an MISUNDERSTANDING is not 10 act on the indctmen-a
third TO pardon-and other modesby which
Justice is shown not impartial close observer Of
YOUR own columns will find abundant testimony.
The Oldest Member of this Convention Mr. Stephen Al
len read Mr. Van Buren, long lecture when Governor,
upon the improperly of granting pardons upon the re-
concentrations Of jurors and judges who worried into
the signing Of petitions by pardonbokers and pardon-so-
utors and the Argus declared that these practices were
a source Of great embarrassment. The main difficulty
however is in the themselves and not only the Pc
nal laws their Inconsistency but also the of their
administration The Constitution does not now provide
that the Governor may pardon on nus own responsibility
bat the Revised Statutes do
Mr.. FORSYTH is fond of selfgovernment He pro-
noses greatly TO increase the local powers of the
county boards Of Supervisors. His resolution was
adopted as follows:
RtsoreG That II be referred TO the 18th committee to
inOure the expectancy OF
Of Supervisors OF the several counties of this State the
poyer of legislation with respect 10 the location erection
and maintenance of pusc buildings Bridges and hshwaSs
rho erection and division towns the election, number,
term of office and compensation of all town officers police
courts and special sessions the power OF RAISING
money by upon real and personal property and gen.
orally with respect all others OF purely local nature
Mr. Mann proposes State Sub-Treasury Al his
reques, ii was
Re,olred That be referred committee No to take
r consideration the expedIency OF requiring all receiving
and doursine officers of the state TO reee!re
keen and disburse the the State without the inter-
en,nn or agency OF banking institutions, moneyec cor
noratons and separating The State finances from the power
control and agency OF all Inoneyed corporations.
Judge Ruggles who appears 10 ind no pracucat
node Of relief in the gigantic powers of the Court OF
Chanceryl moved reference to the committees
on banking and other corporations. OF an inquiry
ir the expediency Of some power or auinoF
tv by which the stockholders creditors OF banking ana
other private corporations may. by summary examination
pnder OATH Of all officers and OF such corporations
noure into discover and publish the situation and eoha
ZION of their affairs all respects. and the particulars u