New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-03
POLITICS AND THE PEOPLE.

AN IMPROVED STATE CONSTITUTION.
THE AMENDMENTS PROTECTION FROM CORRUPTION
-PuRuIcArIoN OF THE LEGISLATURE ASSURED
BIZ THEIR APPROVAL
70 the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The present Constitution of this State,
in existence for nearly thirty years. has in many re-
spects become Inadequate and at the coming election
the people 10 take action adopting or rejecting
various proposed amendments to the same. These
amendments have been devised by men OF all parties.
80 as TO afford the stringent means OF projection
against political and official corruption The Consttu
ton is the voice Of the people directed to the ONCE
holder and legislator to tho extent Of their rights aud
duties and surely 1t Is wiser not to rely on the good
will OF the incumbent rather deprive him OF the
power OF doing evil Hence the determination OF the
question, allow shah vote on these amendments
which may last centuresp is OF far greater Importance
to the citizen than the choice Of this that candidate
as Mayor or Governor.
Tue proposed amendments contain, among others, the
folio wing sensible provisions: Every official and eecor
SHALL when required. declare under oath whether or
not he has given received any remuneration or
promse to influence OF restrain his action Bribery WILL
II this is passed, become most dangerous undertaking.
since by another amendment the accuser. who handed
over the brbe cannot be punished In he himself
shall testify to the giving Offering OF such BRIDE Inc
enticer might easily enemy should it be necessary
to screen himself after his purposes have been served
Again, IL Is pTOfIucu pcTsou NO w
the Legislature who during 100 days prior to the cleo
ton, has held any office under the National or City
Government shall any at the same time serve
In the Legislature and hold Office under the United
States any municipality This provision WIN make ~
difficult public servants" to their patronage
toward securing the OF local statutes for their
individual benefit or for eectoncerine purposes AND
this brings at to the sore spot OF our Legisa
ture TO be removed by One-pr0baby the best-of the
proposed amendmentsthat prohibiting the enactment
OF laws In variety OF instances. As things are nj pres
ent, time remains for O proper c0nsperation
Of the numerous special matters presented presented az a,
this massing OF business laws concerning particular
aSins Of the endsSp Of Few influential Members on
whom the Legislature then relies for guidance ana IN
frendness bestowed It, Is the province OF the lobby
usually called the Third House, which Is the medium
adoption of the amendment in question: however will Tor
the future prevent the passage OF private Ds wnlcn
merely as cloak, under whose ample olds Pecu
lation on unhndered No such chance ior bribery
and making ought to be offered IL would prove
to the peoples welfare II the OF cor
quaiicatiOns-tO be prescribed by general laws-and
the OF the affairs OF our cities ana h,e
II the prosperity thereof and can more readily
be watched.
Agaip, provided that neither the Legislature nor
Common Council, Board OF Supervisors shall grant
any extra compensation to contractors or audit any
claims which In of law would be barred by lapse
OF time. No MORE after the adoption OF his amen men
will political fayorite as In the times OF Tweed, be
and then by the proper influence secure an outrageous
increase Of his paw Will demands De
unearthed and passed period when the opposition
thereto has died One Of the most lucrative pur-
suits OF the lobbyist will then be gone
Again, there is another improvement OF incalcuable
benefit proffered by these amendments 1t has here
tofore been customary TO smuggle dubious and even
corrupt apprO praions into tho annual Tax Levy and
other laws providing These statutes, generally
he Id back the end Of the session, then sud
denly through thus compelling the Governor To
approve both the good and bad matters therein or
have the whole machinery OF the State come to stand
still: for at present measure cannot be adopted by
him in part and disagreed to the other portions
The Governor must either veto the whole bill
sign it, But by these proposed amendments he Will be
eppowed to reject one or more OF several appro-
prlatiops OF and still sanction the
mainder OF the bill, and only the items Oh
iected to arc returned to the Legislature which is
Obliged TO reconsider the slngly. This procedure
will force member TO show his colors. and should
he be supporter OF corruption then he stands branded
before the people, For such the names OF those
voting either yea nay are entered on the journals
senar,tely there to remain undying record.
iet ALL therefore, deem 1t their duty to vote affirm
atyely on the proposed Constitutional Amendments.
and help Inaugurate era OF honesty and real re-
form Vote for entire ballot as t will take many
before another such occasion viii be offered to our
CITIZENS TO beat back political and official corruption.
Es,, YORK Oct 81 1874 w. F. PITsHKE.