New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-11
THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONTENTION.
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED SINCE THE HOLIDAY
ADJoURNMENT-THE LABoRS or TIE con-
VENTION ALMOST CLOSED.
From Oar Special Correspondent

THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED SINCE THE HOLIDAY
WORCESTERSHIRE LABoRS or TIE con-
vENTION ALMOST CLOSED.
From Oar Special Correspondent -
Since the reassembling of the Convention on
the 1h Of the past month Its members have been busy
at work with little or no ntcrmssiOn of their labors
Another week, fortnight at the extreme limit, will
enable them TO complete the revision of
the Constitution, and present the result OF their
deliberations the people Of the State. Since their
mova to their andcomfortabo quarters in the CITY
Hail. there has average attendance OF something
less than quorum, except when the vote was taken
upon the questions OF cities and the liquor interest when
the NewYoTk City delegation put in appearance for
day or two Those who have given the most time TO the
work land the number includes IS 20 OF the ables OF the
Democratic delegates express the utmost satisfaction
with the progress OF the work and assert their belief that
il the attention OF the people can be properly aud fully
directed 10 the beneficial changes made IN the organic
law Of the state, the adoption OF the new Constitution
Tho consideration Of the article the Judiciary
finished January 10 after protraced discussion at the
venton The proposed life tenure OF the judiciary
defeated after one of the most brilliant debates the
State has witnessed As il stands now the term OF
Office for the judges OF the Court Of Appeals the
rythreo Justices of the supreme Court the six Judges
BaaO. the Judges Of the Court OF Common Pleas Of
and hs Judges 81 '1e cy Uooft OF @
not beyond the age OF TO- AL these judges are also 10 De
The Convention then resumed and finished Jan ~ the
article Oh the powers and duties OF the Legislature The
features of this admirable article that 1t
vides Court Of Claims to Of three Judges to DO
appointed by che Governor who are TO adudicate upon
All claims against the State with Solicitor OF Claims 10
represent the state and compes the Legislature
pass general laws upon al subjects that can properly
be thus classified These provisions viii have tendency
to remove chief Of temptation from the path
Of weak Legislators The final section, in relation TO gem
SEC o. The Lssiurs pass local special laws either
o. s 1o.s , s n,oS Or os psH m
disability changing ts ums Of persgns ior laying out working or
dydus the sh lay down railroad tsels
sroy nv best or Forfeiture y reason Of ensg.; irving effect TO
Informal invalid deeds wills for which proyoa
exist or sbs heIt.nsr be made W any genera. law As zoe ~
i1 shall pas Ep.I, . s, gSs,s C S ' m . .pp
The article upon Future Amendments and Revlslons Of
the Constitution is substantially the same that IN the
present Constitution. IL provides FOR Convention In
1852 decided by the people at the general election 10
Tie Convention turned a cold shoulder to Ma. Erastus
Brooks aud his proposed article Charities and
Charitable Institutions, which created State Board Of
Charities. The majority leaned to the opinion that the
the contemplated change, and decided. Tho debate
ventiOu was determined and had It's own way.
Mr. George VIM Curtiss new article On Education, and
the Funds pertaining therto met with no better fate than
many of IFS predecessors being sueeed TO overhaul
ing by the Committee that eliminated ITS progressive fea
lures IL will be noticed by reading the following article
adopted, that the Common School Fund Is preserved
involate for the use for which 1t was originally desig
mated and is placed at the disposal OF institutions Of
higher grade that should be mainly setsupportng.
SECTION The capital Of the common school fand The capital the
tai Of the college Pdc,P aa3 End we e.g's q tho os s,Gos
rd ayolate The revenues OF SAID common school isn ,ha be APP
pie, 70 hs ssFTo tGa9a sloG % 'S, .s d %
the United deposit ind shall each year be
1s rsosss Of the College isliscT yor .rf
sud purposes defined tie act Congress donating public lands
egeTsl States snd Territories approved July 2 lZ 20 long as
sd University shall iay comply With AID perform the eosaon Of NE
Legislature establishing sd UlNery and he Ieyenues Of
ss c Cornell ts1er. o ' and benefit i' " ~
RThe CHIEF interest Of the present session has cenered in
fla( grfffi
Chairman OF the Standing Committee on that article made
minority report which practically made the cities indie
pendent and the Mayor on autOcrat. Mayor Opdyke
presented compromise, allowing the taxpayers to elect
the Beard OF Aldermen. VINE tns people az dse eiee'ea
able minority report advocated the present system OF com
missions The Hon. Henry Murphy Of Kings submitted
plan intended as a compromise between the extreme
views both parties, which formed the groundwork OF
The debates brought mp by this exciting topic were
able and brilliant Senator Harris was supported by
Gov Avord and other prominent RepnDeans IA bis at
ton to leave NewYork to take Of herself But Mar
tin l. Townsend, Waldo HuchiDs Norman stratton,
George VIM. Curtis and other strong from the Re
publican side succeeded IN convincing the Convention
history some care from beyond her own city limits The
general welfare of the State the question upon which
the whole argument hinged.
The complete article as adopted is as follows:
Mror who shs be III. CHIEF executive oao thereof and whose du
shall also be that the duies Of the various city officers faithfully
70 all books and documents IN Their respective Offices and to CANINE
eng shall used against them in criminal proceedings
ns s .,s ROS s .H1 'ss Se ee 70 Sp FOR %
tor neglect Of duty 70 Be peeled ia the order Of la.paSon o. re-
The parry complained Of a0d an opportunity Afforded him to be heard in
All city and village encers whose election appoint
nnt provided for by this Constitution shall he elected BY The cleo
appointed By such authorize. thereof as the Legislature shah Shais
Vod o BY this cosaon and a. ocsT. Who's, dces ma, here
Be 1,ssd y sr be elected y s people iPP' EdS
orcs ID. city and Oesr sh, hold the Leg
The legislature It's srs, session after the adoption Of this
Constitution 'os pass ueh laws may be necessary give effect 70
provisions Of this article General laws shall he o the
except where judgment OF the Legislature the Of
: cannot be attained under general laws
or he teres. Of The STATE The sb under within ur
eoB OF Of city Or regulate the ~harVes piers
tbis Constitution shall apply to Common cOuh
ds o. cities and Boards Of Supervisors Of counties
The Convention made some important alterations IN
the article Oh State Prisons as adopted February The
old cumbrous Board OF Inspectors IL done away WITH and
Board Of Managers created who are 10 give Their SER
vices TO the state Any reduction like this, In the
Der Of officials who draw their pay AZ Albany, VIII be
welcomed by the people and VIII commend The Work of
the Convention te their votes.
The proposed article reads as follows:
shall be board OF Managers prisons TO consist
Of peo, 10 appointed and with The advice
who shall bod Office for ter esrs except that
s Eve t liz tenn Of one person 20 appointed hs eI
pe At The during the ten years. sn
ssr ss SAs s: H. eAs aS s ' u he s
Ss. s'd 'i s sS A Rs"f . ard @ p siS ass:
other penal reonaO ntaions within the State 40 the Legs
s. ' s r Sbo % BE- removable ' Al their pleasure who
perform such duties the Leair, the Board prescribe
members II the shall compensation other than
abe travelling aHd ee expenses he engaged The pe,olS1ls Of
Of this Constitution shall limit the amount Of such expenses which limit
SIC such Board shs appoint the cef
chaplain Of each Suie Prison and shall trve power TO
shss 0 sssh 9ase OT cause only a'es OPpo1nY be