The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-08-14

Debate - the Report 81 the CoDUlssee on
Tswn asd Csunty Omcsrs.
ALBANY, August Is, 1857
The Convention met al ten O'Clock. sundry rsnon-
srancss presented against sscsarian donations
Mr. GouID moved that the Committee on Industrial
Interests DO directed to inquire and report whether any
legislation Is necessary to promote the irrigation Of
agricultural lands. Referred.
CONFEDERATION raE REPORT or TEE COMMITTEES on Iows
And COUNTY OFFICERS.
The report Of the Committee on Town and County
Onces other than judicial their election, tenure Of
odice, compensation, &C. taken up In Committee Of
the Whole, Mr.. Bell, OF Jefferson, in the chair
Mr.. GREnHr trep.) OF wsstchester, moved to strike
out the clause providing for the election OF one county
supervisor at large In each county He believed there
WAS an earnest desire on the part Of inc people 70 a.
quarered on the public. This officer would be orna-
mental rahor than useful and indeed his chief labor Il
would seem, would be 20 draw bis salary.
Mr. Sxua tsp Of Fulton, said that so far as the SEN
tment OF the people and Of this Convention could be
,cs y INC commes when made ,n's
local legislation from the Legislature TO Boards OF gu
pervsora II Is believed that thus much OF the log rolling
schemes have been prolific Of log rolling In the LegisIa
tnre. ana besides 10 IL easy to imagine that the
the wants . than sne State
would DO much more direct, and IL the Convention
from the capital then Il follows that there should be
some check placed upon the Boards Of Supervisors
proposition Tor County Supervisor who shall be elected
by the county at large and be Chairman Of the Board
and possess the veto power.
given by the gentleman from Fulton should be satisac
tory TO the Convention for creation OF this oce but
he thought at least ten days should be given him for the
should be required TO ps act against his approval The
veto power. as proposed by the committee is now pos
hv tho ~ Ma husit a. fua0
and time must be given the chairman and two-third
vote must be required to make such power effective
little more than figure head An once OF large salary,
II is likely to be Of but small performance Tho veto
power proposed BY the committee or that suggested
next 70 nothing The effective check, in his Judgment,
would bs publicity II horse railroad is protected, for
instance, should be required that the PROFESSORS shall
publish their proposition their expense ia the
leading journal of each party for four weeks Thus the
people would be fully informed Of what legislation q IN
contemplation and time and opportunity will DO secured
TO all to make known TO their representatives, their
wishes and interests in connection Herewith.
Mr., Bickford, Mr. Conger and others supported the
Mr.. WIcKxAH, (dem) of Suffolk, spoke In opposition
to that part OF the report which proposes 70 increase the
powers OF the Board Of Supervisors in regard 70 local
legislation. II Is said that the possession Of this power
by the Legislature has been prolific OF logrclIng and
ment by scattering that power over all the counties Of
the State He thought not The great disparity OF
population IN the various towns he regarded as another
SHJsSss". s..SSs "
Mr. vEEDER, (dem.l OF Kings moved 70 substitute for
the section, section Of article ten OF the present con-
because it takes from the people the right elect dis
trct attorneys and gives the appointment Of district
IL ps
vacancies without providing that the people shall elect
successor at the next general election and because II
fails 10 provide for registers In New York aud Kings
counties.
Mr. PARKER, dem Of Albany, could not approve the
report in this that takes from the people the right 10
hoir
the Governor without consulting with the Senate
He opposed to centralzing such power in the Exec
MI. HALE, (repl Of Essex, spoke in opposisIon 70
making the district Attorney, elective ofaces he
temptations i 70 shirk their duties ''- 80
Nj. LAWRENCE (dem) Of New York, said that the dis
trct attorney 10 as much representative Of the people
the lawyer IL the representative OF his CLIENT TO
say that hs win not perform his duty fully in pros
ecuting criminals because Of the fear Of jecpardz
people sympathizs With crime He could not subscribe
to such sentiment for he believed that the more vigo
rously such an officer prosscues offenders against the
laws Of society the more popular he becomeA
Mr. GRzxLEY favored the report q the COMMITTEES. In
New York and Kings county there 4. probable pan.
illegal liquor selling, in gambling and such vices 70 vote
for the district attorneys and they viii openly defy all
the gentleman from westminster believed that district
attorneys appointed would be any better morally thar
district attornsys elected?
their ocial conduct will directly with the Governor
and therefore, the Senate would have nothing to DE-
me- scausAkra ldem;) Of Kings said his knowIodse q
the district attorneys OF New York and Kings county
Of any profitable pandsrnc to popular wee the part
Of those officers save in one instance and that individual
great reformer and vas appointed not s elected.
he shall be appointed instead Of being elected OF ali
the last place from which district attorney should
ceve his appointments 10 the Executive. What arc the
s He could no: speak q the s but he had
weekly visits were made to New York and Kings county,
sometimes by the private secretary, sometimes by sx
Of notorious criminals insnuatIng that they have been
punished sufficiently, and soliciting from the district
,esr 70 Inc .nc snrs
sourcss How the Governor 10 select these officers
of his own knowledge That will not be pretended
the recommendation OF partisan general committees and
similar political cliques.
MT. snvrsrIs, Tsp Of Columbia, argued in favor o.
Mr.. GERRY tdsm.) OF New York, quoted statistics L
show that there are three times as many Indictment
tried In New York In any other county, and double
the number Of convctons contending that these fact
amply prove that there basis for the Of the
gentleman from weschester that there Is prontabl.
pandering 10 popular views He argued favor OF the
elective system and spoke in praise Of the present
district attorney Of New York.
trct attorney shall be elected and also register FOL
New York and register for Kings Mr.. veeder caIlet
attention OF the convention TACT that
ernor possesses the power 10 district ator
neys for cause. II mono have been removed for the
past twenty years. argues that the Governor has beer
derelict Of his duty that the argument that district
attorneys have been grossly negectful Of their duties
IL not well grounded else Is clear that TO give
the Governor the power to appoint well 70 remove
win not any better administration Of our crmna
laws,
Mr.. HurcHSs, lrep) Of New York, said that the gen
tleman who now holds the position Of district attorney
OF New York would, were he to-day speak for himself
advocate the appointment Of the district attorney fol
that city and county rather than for his election BY the
people. In 1857 Mr. Hall was the earnest and success
ful advocate for the establishment Of the Metropolitan
Police district ~ II Vas established, and he wa
confident that nothing could induce that gentle
man 10 ask for change In the old police
systcm He Orr Hutchlns) was not prepared 70 say
for other counties but he felt clear that for New
York the best interests Of the people demanded that
prosecuting criminal ofccr should not depend for his
ONCE upon an election He ought 70 be appointed. and
sible duties without fear or favor
The motion Of Mr. veeder that the district attorney
sha b elected was carried by vote OF so TO 90 The
motion Of Mr. veedcr providing for register and clerk
In New York and Kings county respectively was by
a IL ~ IN " " =