The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-31

also have to adopt the amendments now Just
adopted: but IL ~ claimed by good constitutional
lawyers OF both houses that the next Legislature
cannot alter or amend the amendments, simply
having the power to accept or reject them as .
whole. The tenor OF the constitutional article GER
taily seems to imply as much, and we may take 1t
TOT granted that the amendments as they now
stand are the ones which Will be submitted to the
vote OF the people in 1874 II any at all are submit
ted. In that view OF the case it is Of importance TO
KNOW just what the amendments propose.
MONUMENT or ANCIENT WISDOM.
~ Is hlghly ielictous instance OF the substan-
Ial WISDOM OF the Originat0rs or our constitution
that, through all the changes OF polity, the wars
and revolutions that have visited the State, and
even surviving the desecrating spirit OF universal
progress toward what doctrnares term higher
freedom, the first article OF the constitution rela-
tive to the rights OF persons trial by Jury and free
dom OF conscience and OF speech. has never been
substantially altered or amended by word or a
letter since the days when George Clinton first
wore the gubernatoral ermine of the sovereign
state. IL remains now as the almost inspired wis
dom OF the early statesmen framed it, and the hand
OF the constitution amenders OF 1S73-the era OF
aggressive doctrines, of advanced femininism, OF
universal equality, of Internationasm and OF Com
munism-has found nothing to strike out or add in
OF 1887.
The tirst amendment proposed in the present In
stance IL TO article 2, relative to
THE QUALIFICATIONS or ELECTORS.
IL prescribes, in addition to the present length
OF residence thirty days in the election district.
for coored men. a qualification which has been
nun IN erect since the war OF the rebellion ceased.
Section Of the present constitution reads as
foows:-
sns Laws may be passed excluding from the right
sc,ed o. bribery larceny, or Of any infamous crime;
come directly or Indirectly in imam any bet OF wa
ger depending upon the result of any election ON the
right to vote at such election.
As proposed to be amended it reads as folows:-
src mo person shall receive, expect or offer to
dr or as @ e to @ oe
any money or other valuable thing as compensation
aRsf wns'S roass vote at an
sSnf make any a ssss s
% s, s such ssf
sns his ss
saers w a o Re hn no, Sr ss other
. to seey has not @
money q. SsseE valuable Sins y
ton and has not made promise to influence The Civ
cs or 10 nSr bet or %ar DE
pending upon the result Of such election.
adoption OF this section shall and from time 70 time
suffrage all persons convicted of bribery Of any inf
The proposed section aiming to prevent bribery
is spread out more than the original and is in con-
sequence much thinner To dIsfranchIse person
for expecting" bride smacks OF impracticabilty.
THE STATUS or THE SENATE.
The sections and OF article 3, relative to
the formation and election of the Senate, re-
to change It. the Constitutional Commits.
sion presenting section dividing the State into
eight districts each to elect four Senators to hold
for four years, and Mr. James Wood, chairman OF
the Senate Judiciary Committee, presenting a
section naming the eight Judicial districts as
Senate districts, each to send four Senators, and
the State at large to elect three more, making
Senate OF thirty-five. All OF these rejected,
ana the section as It stands IN the present con-
stitution was retained.
THE ASSEMBLY.
Section s. as amended, prescrlbes an Assembly
ana further arranges for an superintendent on that
basis whenever needed by the Legislature.
each a wbcn an ae
ar $1,000 on the present pay. Senator'S in ex-
traordinary session and members. when serving as
managers OF impeachment, are to receive SO day
additional Other sections disqualify all members
from appointment by the Governor or any city
government to any other office during their term,
and render ineligible to the Legislature any one
who at the time or within one hundred days pre-
vlously has been member Of Csngresssa military
under any city government.
The remaining amendments to article pre-
| THE CONDUCT or THE LEGISLATURE.
| The following Is section 10 as proposed to be
| amended
sEc. lathe Legislature shall not pass private or
| local bill in any OF the following cases'-
Changing the names OF persons.
roads, highways, streets alleys, for draining
Locating or changing county seats
Providing for changes of venue in civil or criminal
Providing Tor the election of members of Boards Of su
Selecting, awins, summoning empanelng grand
Regulating The rate q interest on money
The opening and conducting OF elections or designating
Renting fines penalties or lorfeitures.
Creating increasing decreasing fees percentage or
Of ssS Ss the term Tor which
romtinr 10 any corpoqatd association or individual
the right 70 lay down railroad tracks 80 go
Granting 10 private corporation association
dvdua any exclusive privilege immunity or franchise
Providing for building bridges, and charerinG compa.
mic. for such purpose except the Hudson RIVER below
| forming part of the boundaries OF the State.
IN % ssco snd T All
which in its Judgment may BIO provided for by
law shall grant she right to construct and
Stsd village without the consent Of The local authorities
having the control and Of he street Or high
owners Of at least nehaf in value Of the property
bounded that portion Of each street highway
Which pose to construct such road IL
then without the consent OF board OF three
hss Il Z
| construct the railroad
| THE EXECUTIVE POWER.
Article relates to the Executive power, and,
| as proposed to be amended, prescribes the terms
| OF the Governor and Lieutenant Governor at three
| SIC, 900 and $4,000, the Governor to be supplied
| with furnished house.
/ THE STATE OFFICERS
| Article 8, as proposed to be amended, pro.
vides that the Comptroller and Secretary OF State
shall be elected at the same time and for the same
| term as the Governor but that the Attorney Gen.
| eral, State Engineer and Surveyor and Superin-
tendent OF State Prisons shall be appointed by the
| Governor and Senate, and q Treasurer shall be
chosen by Senate and Assembly in joint session.
| The clause allowing the Governor to remove the
State officials thus appointed Is stricken out. The
Office OF Canal Commissioner is abolished, Super
/ intendent OF Public Works Is to be elected instead,
/ and the Lieutenant Governor Is made one of the
Land Commissioners.
/ THE JUDICIARY.
| Article l. relative 70 the Judiciary, Is amended in
| only particular Section is Is to be changed by
L fhni naa 0Il0WinQ n hndv