New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-02-28
OgR NEW STATE CONSTITUTION

The revised Constitution for the State of
New-YOrk, which we publish elsewhere. fol-
| lows closely the language Of our present Con-
sttutiOn, except in those respects wherein
| amendment or change was deemed necessary.
! Among the important amendments we note
| the following: The new Constitution author
ICES the Legislature TO submit particular laws
and questions TO the direct vote Of the pe0-
pie, and leads the way by specially providing
for a vote by the people on the question
whether the Judiciary Of the State shall be
appointed 10y the Governor and Senate. or
elected by the people. In the meantime they
remain elective. This popular and democratic
mode OF disposing of vexed questions was some
time ago decided to be unconstitutional under
our present Constitution, and has therefore
been discontinued
All clauses making a distinction on acCOun.
Of color, either az to voting. representation.
! ofice-bOlding, or taxation, are struck out and
on the adoption Of tile new Constitution any
electOr who has the requisite qualifications "a
! TO age and residence may be elected or ap-
pointed to any Office in the State. But all who
| give or receive brides, or pay or promise brides
! 70 be given or received by others for voting
at any election. are excluded from voting at
such election, and the Legislature may pass
laws permanently excluding from The suffrage all
persons convicted Of giving OF receiving brides or
abetting bribery Provision is made for voting
by soldiers when in service and absent from
the State. The registration OF voters is also
provided for and is required 10 be uniform in
all cities.
The number Of Senators remains thrty-twO,
but their term IS changed from two TO four
years The greater increase Of population in
some portions of The State than in others las
rendered necessary some changes in the Sena-
tOrial Districts. Kings County. therefore, emit
tied to one Senator. acquires two. New-YOrk
advances from four TO FIVE. Albany, heretofore
| joined with Schenectady, becomes alone Sena-
| tOrial District Rensselaer,, heretofore dis
trict by itself, now, with Washington County
| forms the Twelfth District. 0nOndaga, for
mery alone, has Cortland added to form the
Twenty second District. Chenango is added
TO Delaware and SChOharie for the Twenty
third District. and so on. The Senators first
elected, representing districts having odd num-
bers, will serve for two years and those repre-
| senting n-numbered districts will serve tho
! full term of four years.
! The Assembly will consist of $50 members, in
stead Of 1913 as now, and its members will be
| elected not by districts as now, but by cOun-
ties, but each county shall be entitled to at
least one member Except that Hamilton shall
vote with Fulton, and as many moro as its
ratio Of population shall enttle it to. Each
member of the Legislature shall receive an an
nual salary of 81 900, and ten cents per milo
for going and returning once; and the Speaker
of the Assembly shall receive $500 additional
but the Legislature shall provide by law for
| deducting from the salaries of absent members.
Any member OF either house may be expelled
! by the vote of the majority Of all the mem
bers elected TO that house, but no member shall
be twice expelled for the same offense. No law
can be amended or repealed by mentioning it
only by its title and section, but the words
amended OF repealed must be printed
in full in the amendatory act. The Legs
lature shall not audit or allow any pri-
vate claims against the State, but may make
appropriations TO pay any claims which
may be allowed by the Court Of Claims, which
is authorized to be created by this Constitu-
ton. The Legislature shall grant no extra or
| special compensation, nor increase nor diminish
the compensation of any public officer, except
that of judges during their term of service.
! No local or private bill shall be passed unless
notice of the intention TO apply therefor shall
first be published in the manner TO be provided
by law, nor where general laws are provided
TO meet the case. And no law authorizing q
street railroad shall DO passed with
out the consent of the local or city
authorities, and One-third in value Of
the owners Of The property fronting
thereon, or Of the general term Of the Su-
preme Court of the District. No laws are TO
be enacted at special sessions Of the Legisla-
ture except relative to the subjects named in
the Governors proclamation converting the
session. The Lieutenant is to receive
a salary TO be fixed by law u shall require
to enact law over The Governors veto the
vote Of two thirds Of all the members elected in
each house, instead of two-thrds of the mem
| hera nreaent "a now No bill shall become a