New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-09-26
THE PENDING AMENDMENTS.
,,rcrrRE BY 1, BRADFORD PRINCE.

,vnrsI ATuRK--IoCAL AND SPECIAL LEGISLATION
lecture of unusual importance to the many
thousand voters this state in view OF the
elections was that delivered last evening peIore INC
Liberal Club by the Hon. L. Bradford Prince OF Quee'
Chairman Of the Judiciary Committee OF the Hesia-
tpra ,She subject was 1.-THE Proposed Amendments W
she Constitution Of the State" the speaker giving CON
densed sketch OF their history, nature anu au'"e'
and thus anording considerable enlightenment upo"
uestIons which he himself remarked were 700 oiVen us
posed Of in elections without proper knowledge anu "
TOO many instances without any Information az all On
the part Of those VINO oS tnel WIVES "
laws they should live.
In few Introductory remarks MT Prince caheu aV'ou
t,on 10 the approaching election only SIX weeks away
and ephasized superior Importance OF the duty 10
he performed by the people in voting on the penang
amendments to the Constitution, since the Governor
only continued in Office two years and the members OF
Assembly only one, while these amendments wouio
have their influence upon destiny of the State for
kcore-perbaps for a centry-o years 10 CONC ihese
peers again, were under the Constitution, the hita
tions Of their power being in It, The proposed smenu
meuts contained all Of the great reforms 10 state doV
ernment which had been suggested for the last ~ years
II they we're defeated the result would DC
M less lasting, because it would be as
nouraeement 70 those who have endeavOred
for years to place these reforms In the 1unuahenta
law and would prevent repetition OF the attemptIor
many years TO come. These amendments were not tne
men could be found willing to give that amount OF
time 10 carrying into effect their views and
opuions upon what should be the fundamental law OF
the State The speaker spoke regretfuiy OF the apathy
and ignorance existing in regard to these points,
were amazing extent, among those In POSITIONS
where IL would supposed they were best informed
In this apathy lay great danger to these amend
ments for they were directed against corrup-
,ion at the polls, in administration, and IN
the tLeglsature, and this would, OF COURSE
call out opposition which must be overcome
At the present day there was more excitement
and larger vote IN any town In the "noo
country when a constable was TO be elected than
when the peope were 20 vote on abstract ques-
ton of poca science 1t seemed TO be necessary that
There should be O personal fight between two candl-
dates In order bring out vote The lecturer reered
10 the efforts had been made toward the perfection
of constitutional law, and said that Pennsylvania had
to-day the best Constitution Of any of the States In
Ohio they voted only month ago on the Consttu-
tion and suffered defeat-defeat owing not to great
vote against it, but the apathy OF the people; ana
che speaker again warned his hearers Of the danger
ahead which consisted in this very apathy.
Coming down to the amendments and remarking Incl
entay that the law Of 1874 the submission OF the
amendments 20 the decision Of the people, provided
that they should be voted thirteen distinct PROPOSE
tions MI Prince briefly considered them in the order
IN which they were arranged. He began with Article
H. relating TO suffrage and bribery, and said;
The Fifteenth Amendment TO the Onlteu states OOu-
.ttuton adopted March 80 1901 made it proper that
the portion Of this Article the present Constitution
which required a property qualification for colored
voters should be expunged This is the amendment pro-
posed in Section q There are also three shght ana
comparatively unimportant verbal alterations, and
q new provision that O voter shaH nave
been for 80 DAYS resident the district in which he
offers his vote-;he latter change being intended to act
rs a preventive to repeating. The most important
amendment proposed this article, however is IN Sec
tion g. the provisions OF which effort 10 prevent
from voting any person who shall receive, expect
offer 20 receive pay, Oher or promise 10 pay, CON
tribute offer promise TO contribute to another TO he
paid or used any money other valuable thing as
compensation reward for the giving or withholding
vote at an election, shall make any promise TO
influence the giving or withholding any sucn vote"
sce Which provides in addition to the present
FORM very stringent oath or animation TO oe taken
Office to effect that he has not directly or indirectly
paid contributed or promised 70 pay OF c. q"
ward for the giving Withholding vote az the elec
zion &c. II seems almost superfuous TO adduee any
reasons i'm support Of these amendments Their justice
and necessity almost universally recognized. Inc
fcan government. Indeed without it, the government
be republican because me n99rity ceases 70
rule II the deeprooted respect for the expressed
WIN of the majority among the American people which
tons and forms the broad distinction between our ma
ton and the turbulent and eyerehangng south Amerl
The next amendment is to Article ILL., in regard to
the Legislature aud It's organization and forms OF Iegis
laflO
can he elected TO the Legislature, and member can
receive any city office until the time for which he was
one should make laws TO department or bureau
from which he TeGyng b salary n as9T nOeG a
bias the Judgment Of members OF the LEGISLATURE.
sepato tore ana Assem6lyman from New-York
CITY held municipal office and number were journalists
while senator. was also Supervisor and Deputy Street
Commissioner, aud afterward superintendent OF Public
works; Mr.. Field Corporation Attorney; Messrs.
Bradley, Norton, Frear, Hitchman, Blair, Herman,
Burns &c. held positions as Commissioners or otherwise
The amendment In Section 6, is that which changes
the salary OF Senators and Assembymen from s. per
day Cmited TO 100 days 1900 aunum. This sal
airy should not be so large as to cause the Office TO be
sought simply for the sake Of It's enOluments but it
should be sufficient 70 the expense and partially
for the loss consequent on attendance at the
t@TSbop arising from the necessities Of the
bers. We have presented the singular anomoly OF
Heads lOf Departments, prominent men In the State,
elected by the people, receiving from $5Oo 10 1880 per
year while their deputies VINO are are, eoppaLsyey
and Assemb ymen who the law makers OF 100000 of
and clerks halfso much clerks OF committees
even the amount paid TO messengers The fact that
values have altered greatly 1876 is to well known
10 need Augment but these constitutional salaries
remained monuments of the oldtme value of money.
People apt to get the class OF goods that they pay
in this world, and while 1t woud not be wise for the
State TO attempt to pay the price such talent might
reasonable amount should be given to expenses.
No with the slightest OF Albany VIII hest
tate say that the present inadequate salary Is the
cause Of vast amount OF injury and expense TO the
There be little DOUBT tbat IN tue majority or
cases the necessity for money TO actual expenses is
the entering wedge in bringing about corruption
Tie most important amendments, however, are those
in Sections Is % Article ILL., relative TO local and
special legislation The vast benefits TO be derived from
the prohibition Of special legislation, and the reegaton
of local government to the County Boards Will scarcely
be appreciated at first by those unfamiliar with the
many evils OF the present system. All may realize
that gross inequality OF rights must exist where special
aes are passed for the benefit Of individuals or cOrp0
ratons; that local affairs be most properly and
intellgeniy administered by the local authorities
familiar with the place and the circumstances but the
demOrazing effect ali Of legislation caused by
bulk multiplicity OF the business OF this kind