New-York tribune., 1873-01-08
the nosptas IN the interior OF the State for the support
OF sick and disabled persons engaged IN nsVlgsuon'
THK CONSTITUTIONAL COhMssToF.


THE CONSTITUTIONAL COMMISSION
Tho Constitutional Commission to be reeODvened to-
morrow will be charged with the grsvest OF all duties In
reporting amendments 70 the Constitution OF the STATE
TO be submitted 20 the people for their CONSIDERATION
Not the least important VI these Is 10 provide for reev
ing the legislative department OF fthe government from
state at large Is interested acts passed at the
last session Iessature only l2o we're OF general
character. The other 76l were private or loeaI. AZ
would greatly diminish the labor OF ieg1siauon
II in all cases, where general law could W
made applicable, special laws should De prOhlDiteu
and certainly as q rule special privileges or mmunites
should not DC granted 70 any class OF ctzehs WHICH
upon the same terms, should not equally belong 70 All
others. trust suitable provision may be made to give
20 the members Of the Legislature remuneration ade
quae to their responsible duties. The present compen
sation fixed more than half "a century ago and In
the meantime the expenses Of living are more thah
doubled. 10 neither just credabie 20 the tae
that IT. legislators should be kept distance from
their homes TO labor for the welfare Of the people and
TO protect the interests OF their constituents. ana De
compelled 10 have their private means TO
meet their personal expenses supernous Offices should
give their me and talents the State should receive
compensation for Their services proporo1ed TO the @
they must necessarily incur In performing them.
ALIENS.
In more than half the States Of the Union aliens are
allowed TO take hold, and convey real estate. In New
Jersey privilege has accorded TO them with the
natural result attracting foreign capital for invest
ment In this State the ancient disability is continued
and with the opposite effect Of excluding such invest
III foreigners are willing 10 come among us WIN
their capital TO improve our real estate stimulate our
productive industry, and aid Us I'm bearing our burdens
Of taxation IL unwise To repel them The spirit
the age adverse to the continuance OF all nneera
and unneghbOry restrictions; aud IL Is respectfully
submit for your consideration whether these dsabi
ties should not be removed In England France, ana
other European countries citizens placed In this
respect the footing their own citizens and
SUBJECTS and apart from the injurious infuenee OF these
hardly in consonance with the liberal spirit OF inst
adhere to ancient prendces which have been
her
less advanced than our own.
THE UsURY LAWS.
suggest for your consideration whether the time has
not arrived repeal the usy laws leaving the estab
shed Of interest to apply TO cases IN which no con-
tract agreement has been made 1t is believed that
their continuance at the present advanced stage OF
civilization and in State highly commercial ours
cannot De defended any logical grounds II has been
feared tnat thelr repea might IN aRcuura qstIcls,
but this apprehension has, in other communities proved
unfounded. In ruder conditions of society. when the
laOoring classes were, 70 great eXtent' ue-
pendent capitalists, their a plausible argu-
ofmiting the rate OF interest But at the
present day when the eagerness to lend quite as prev
the desire to borrow, aud when labor has be-
independent and powerful it needs no protection
direct or indirect against capital In competing with II
for the profits OF production In most or the nelgnD0r
ing States restrictions traffic in money have been re-
moved and believe there IL GOOD authority LOT SAYING
that practical inconvenience has ensued. IL is quite
clear the City OF SewY0rk but for scruples
the hand and fears on the other by which conscen
tous and timid capitalists restrained from lend
at prOnlDlJeu rates, the enormous Interest
paid, under the pressure OF extraordinary de-
mands, for the OF money could not De main
tanned Ior single daS IL u only oy hn sb an
value will. spite OF all legal limitations, CONFORM 70
he fluctuations OF commerce. that borrowers are made
suffer through the necessity OF paying unscrupnlOus
lenders premium for violating the Law. should you
setts Rhode Island Connecticut and other states by an
absolute repeal Of the usury laws can conceive no pos
the OF interest 20 be fixed by agreement OF the
parties commercial paper, and on loans secured by
the mortgage or hypothecaton Of personal property
TAXATION.
respectfully call your attention to the reports Of the
Commissioners appointed the laws for the
sessment Of taxes heretofore made 70 Legislature
and 70 draft OF bill submitted by them in the per
Of their duty 1t is not denied that sthe exist
ing laws valuation OF property aud the
b en a or az rea1 estt fais far below ts actual
that much tine iarger portion OF the personal
property Of the STATE taxation and that the tax
mortgages Of not only prevents the intro
ductiOn OF capital Fl abroad. but Is rapidly expein
heretofore laned such security and transfer
IL states in which such tax is imposed The
objection to this tax does not come from lenders but
from borrowers and from the owners OF real estate who
ind il difficult 10 procure money for improving It, In
the City Of New York where there Is deficiency OF
dwellings especially for the industrious classes and
where the population for that reason crowded into
narrow spaces, such an imposition not only serious
obstacle the OF the city, but is In the nature
OF excise on the health and comfort or ITS nhabt
While real estate is known 10 be valued at one
third One-halt what 1t is worth, mortgages, where
they do escape the scrutiny Of altogether
are appraised their full value. thus constituting
most unjust and oppressive distinction between two
classes OF property holders.
While New-York has been cnging with q tenacity for
which IL difficult to account TO antl-cOmmercial re-
strictiOns, Pennsylvania and Nev-Jersey have been
gradually removing them for the purpose OF attracting
labor and capital The result of our lnactOn and their
progress in this respect is Illustrated in manner which
should give for grave reflection. During the
las ten years the population OF NeW-Jersey has in
creased at the Of 80 per cent and that or PennsY
vana the of while has increased only at
the rate l3 The natural advantages or NewIOrk
pecialy for commerce, Tar exceed those OF other
states but they are not great enough to
enable Us 10 contend successfully with the
rivalry OF neighbors quite ~ enterprsing as our
selves, unless labor and capital are encouraged by
laws liberal theirs. IL yltay concerns US there
fore, 20 consider whether maintain our ascend
in retaining the title 0f preeminence which we have
with the consent or contemporaries for haIf
century ana whether preserve our reputation
as an enlightened administrator Of our own affairs
we the wisdom and courage TO on the anti
quated clogs and badges OF an obsolete CIVILIZATION
In conclusion, cannot fOrbear 10 express my great
anxiety cooperate with Zealousy and in perfect
harmony in such measures IN your superior wisdom
you may deem necessary 70 accomplish the objects or
reform so impefiOusy demanded by constituents
We come together sustained and hOnOred by larger
majority than the people OF the state have ever before
given their representatives. IL is my sincere desire
and II must be yours, 10 respond 10 their con
hdence by maintaining the pubic credit Dy reforming
abuses OF administration by ecOnomiztng the means
placed disposal for the general good, by tighten
and establishments which minister 10 the wants OF
the people aud by dcvotng best abilities W the ad
vancement OF the prosperity OF the state
JOHN A. DIX.
GENERAL NOTES.