New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-09-17
coysrJTUTJOsAL REFORM.


If a knowledge of the important ana saiu-
tary reforms embodied in the Amenoeu 'on'.
tuition of our State could be brought hoiho "
every voter we should confidently eApece
ratification of that instrument by Overwhelming
moiorities. Let us adduce few reasons auu'-
tionsl to those already presented
Claims have hitherto proved a fruitful source
of Legislative decentralization. The fact that
only the claimants side of the case Is presented
or heard precludes the hope OF justice u 'he
State 1t does no good TO defeat oahai Vi
other claim against the State; 1t returns next
Winter, and the next until put through
and paid; and it is pretty sure 10 gro"
while it waits But the Amended Con-
stitution takes Claims entirely away from
the Legislature, and refers them to Court OF
three Judges. with limitation of the time IN
which claims may be presented and Solicitor
to defend the interest OF the state. In other
words, both sides are to DO fairly represented
and fairly heard before any money can DC
taken from the Treasury to satisfy clainl
Had this been the rule since 1921, Millions
would have been saved to the People that have
been taxed out of them to pay UNJUST claims
The Veto Power confded to the Governor
by every Constitution has hitherto presented
this strange anomaly-G bill may De passed oter
Veto by te,ger uoteS than rere required 10
pass IL before a Veto. Our present Constltu-
ton requires a majority Of all the members
elected to either House to pass bill orlgi-
nally-17 Senators and 6j Assemblymen. Being
vetoed, bill is returned to the House which
first passed it; and now, if quorum be
I..Ja a. fIa an
pass it over the veto-tlat is to say, two-thirds
as many votes as were required 10 pass II
before the veto The Amended Constitution
requires "two-thirds of all the members elected
"ton each House, to vote for a bill in order TO
pass it over veto. That is so say: II being
a quorum of the Senate IL Yeas may now pass
a bill over veto but, under the Amended
Constitution, % will be required, with ike
proportion of the Assembly. We presume no
one will contend that this change is undesirable.
Our present Constitution ailixes no limit to
the time which a Governor may take before
deciding to veto or approve bill lett on MS
hands by the adjournment of the Legislature.
In some cases. weeks have elapsed before he
took action in the premises. The Amended
Constitution prescribes that
ono bill shall become law by the approval OF ths
Governor after the end OF the session at which ihe Oh
was passed unless IL shall be sent III him 10 the ONCE o.
the Secretary OF State within ton days (eNcudhS sun
days after the end OF the session.
Instead of our present Canal Commission
ers, Canal Board, Canal Contracting Board
and Canal superintendent, the Amended Con
stitution provides for one Superintendent o.
Public Works, appointed by the Governor anc
Senate, and removable at discretion by th,
former, with four Assistants, likewise appoint
ed but directed and removable by the super
intendent, who appoints all the lock-tenders
collectors, &c. We thus have complete re
sponsbity to one head responsible TO the peo'
pie instead of the anarchy and chaos of au'
thority now prevailing. Unless the Governo'
who appoints is corrupt (Which will be the peo
Piles fault, this change will save the State al
least Half Million Dollars per annum.
So we might proceed from section TO sec
ton. nointing out abuses guarded against ana
oyersights corrected from the beginning to the
end. IL only needs that the People should
compare the two instruments and vote with
clear comprehension of the points wherein they
differ. to secure the ratification of the Amended
Constitutions Do not vote blindly, but com
pare and Judge