New-York tribune., 1874-10-21
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
! ACTION OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OF
THE IMPORTERS AND GRoCERs' BOARD OF TRADE
IN FAVOR OF THEM.
The Chamber of Commerce held special
meeting yesterday to consider the subject of the COnst
tutiOnal Amendments TO be baioted for at the ap-
preaching election. William z. Dodge presided, and 10
announcing the object Of the meeting said that Its I'm.
portance could not Overrated. Two Of the members
present. George Opdyke and Erasus Brooks, were
especially familiar with the subject and he called upon
them for remarks. Mr.. Opdyke said that some resou-
tions had been prepared by John F. Henry, who then
| offered the following:
W.reo proposed Constitutional Amendments, which have been
eisea chosen without dson party
coming election and Of the utmost importance to all our con-
Waea Tse change. Of the past years
pending Of necessity all business maogfae
%tsti
people where there neither political power
That our use our influence to induce other,
to pat forth their best efforts to insure their adoption
The resolutions supported by Mr. Opdyke who said
that he regretted the press OF this city, although Ia favor
OF the amendments had not taken greater pains TO in
form citizens of their character They had been adopted
without a dissenting voice by commission composed
equally Of Republicans and Democrats and he wished
to say that all the subjects brought before
that body there was division by party lines All the
proposed amendments designed weed out abuses
and to elevate and purify the character OF the State
Government. The leading feature OF the amendment
which had been introduced by Mr. Brooks was intended
to prevent special legislation Its adoption would do
away with twohrds Of the business brought before the
Legislature.
Mr.. Opdyke then referred to the proposed article
increasing powers OF the mayors Of cities, and
yiding for board elected by the taxpayers to have
absolute control over the levy and disbursement OF
taxes. His experience Mayor Of the city had con-
ylnced him that this the only TO prevent nius
tce and extravaganza iu municipal taxation and expen-
diture He then spoke OF the proposition for the sale Of
State canals which 81 year than their
receipts 1t was natural that there should be local
objection this by the dweers upon the banks OF those
canals but any one having the general good Of the
State at heart must acknowledge the wisdom of the
action proposed. Another objection made TO the
article prohibiting State from granting aid to any
private associations through the adoption of which the
State would cease to be dispenser OF charities. He
thought however that it would be far better to leave
such acts Of bene violence private citizens, expert
ence had shown that their performance BY the State
| likely 10 lead to serious abuses.
Erastus Brooks was next invited TO address the
ing After speaking Of the character OF the
amendments he dwet upon the effect which the adop
ton OF the amendments would have toward the abridg
ment OF legislation. The Senate and Assembly annually
pa,sed from 100 to 800 laws and sometimes more.
was manifestly impossible for tho embers to cOmpre
bend or even to than few OF this mass
of documents He had served Chairman Of the Senate
Committee on Cities, and he knew that that Committee
could begin understand the number OF local laws
which they asked to report upon Referring TO the
question OF specal legislation Mr.. Brooks urged the
wisdom OF combining The decision Of purely local matters
W local boards other officers How could Senator