New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-02-13
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUN

SIOfkHOiutGS Oh lH6 IOdu, WIO no bdl'l, Htd nPNhe
their time and money in originating the enterprise,
but who had lost everything by tho failure OF tho
original company. He asked that the bill be 80
amended as to require the Commissioners to be ap-
pointed to locate the route to recompense them ac-
cording to their equitable rights. further hearing
on the bill is set down for Thursday next.
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT QUESTION.
DEBATE IN TIE ASSEMBLY ON THE ARTICLE FRO
yIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF STATE
OFFICERS BY TILE GOvERNOR-ITs REJECTION
PROBABLE.
prom THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or THE IRIBUEEI
ALBANY, Feb. 1.-the Vth Article of the proposed
amendments to the Constitution came up IN the
order OF third readings in tho Assembly this morn
ing and gave rise to warm discussion, which par
took more or less of partisan character. This is
the article that proposes to restrict the powers exer-
cised by the people under the present Constitution,
by giving to tho Governor the appointment OF
nearly three-quarters of the State officers now
elective. Mr.. Badger Qiep) opposed the adoption
Of the article by the Legislature, as did Messrs.
Weed and Beebe DEM and Col. Spencer (Rep) ;
while Messrs. Prince, Bostwck, and Batcheller
Rep.) and Alyord undl advocated it.
The attempt on the part of some of the Demo-
cratic speakers to make party capital by represent
ing the Republicans as always opposed to trusting
power in the hands of the people, was pretty eff
fectually answered by Mr.. Prince who called atten-
ton TO the fact that Democratic Governor (lioh-
mani appointed the Commission that framed these
amendments, that the Commission was one-half
composed of Democrats, and that Article V. re-
cciyed the assent of the entire Commission. While
he and other Republicans on the floor might dIiier
in opinion as to the merits OF the article, there
could certainly be no harm in submitting 1T TO the
people, who could approve 1t or vote 1t down. as
they saw fit Mr. Alvord, however, defended the
article ON its merits and claimed that the only way
to secure an harmonious aud efficient Government
was to have the heads of the State Departments ap
pointed by the Governor like the Cabinet of the
President of the United States. This was the only
correct theory for republican any other gov
ernment. and was held by the best statesmen OF
both parties for the last 80 years. He said that the
Whg party and its leading organs opposed the Con-
situton of 1916 because of it's Innovations IN this
respect and experience had shown that they were
right :,
Col. Spencer questioned the accuracy OF Alyords
potical history and said that The TRIBUNE sup
ported the Constitution of 1916. Mr.. Greeley was
man he said who always championed the rlghts Oh
tho people. and while he may have had his faults,
the transcendent glory of his life blinded the eyes OF
his countrymen to any minor defects. He was OPP
posed to this article for various reasons In the hrst
place it was wrong. and anti-republican IN prin-
cpe. 1t put power in the hands OF the Commits
sioner of Public Works, which, under man like
Tweed would enable him to perpetuate his own
term and elect Governor at pleasure. In the
second place the Eprincipe involved in the article
had lust been voted down by popular ma
ioritv of 100000, and it was impertnent
In
question ON their attention again. Members Of
the Legislature could not shir their duty by turn
ing it over to the people, they required either
to reject OF approve" this article, and notwith-
standing the Constitutional Commission a nom
partisan body, the Republican party, which has a
majority In this Legislature would be held respon-
sible if they approved such article as this He
was therefore opposed to it on party grounds. The
marty could not afford to carry such load as this
these were times when they were called upon to
unload instead of loading up" lLaughter.J
AT the close of Col Spencers remarks the further
discussion of the article was postponed until to-
morrow. The general opinion Is that it will be re
iected.
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE STATE CAPITAL
The sEcTARIAS APPROPRIATION QUESTION - THE
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE ABOLISHED - ALBANY
NOTES.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
ALBANY, Feb. 12--The Annual Appropriation bill
was the special order in the Assembly this evening
The item appropriatng Sl2j,OOO to academies gave
rise to long wrange. as usual between the friends
and opponents of the appropriation. which had not
Terminated when the COMMITTEES rose and the House
adjourned. The aggregate of the appropriations
this year. as reported from the Ways and Means
Committee, is about $225 900 less than last year,
$4,000 being taken of the militia Appropriation.
The publication in The TRIBUNE Of the names OF
the men composing tho Commission appointed IN
1871 TO the State in the Centennial Exhibi
ton has led to immediate action by the Legislature
70 revise the Commission. Mr. Weed to-day offered
a concurrent resolution, which was UNANIMOUSLY
adopted. resembling the concurrent resolution OF
1871 Amounting thesCommlssion, with Wm NJ
Tweed at the head, and leaving 1t to the future
action of the LIE slature whether the State shall be
represented in the Centennial 10y any Commission
at all.
Among the bills passed by the Assembly to-day
was the one repeating the act OF last year for the
erection OF new City Prison, and another repeating
the act creating "A Board OF Charitable Correction"
The hin fixing the status of tho Police Court IN the
nenly-annexed territory Of Wostchcstor County
and authorizing the appointment oil an additional
clerk. was also passed
xrbere WAS another long wrange to-day over the
question of special legislation.' arising on Mr.
Deebe,s bill for the dissolution oi local corporation
In Sullivan County, winch ~ was claimed souid %
inst a. well effected under geuoral law bpeeis
.,A..,eJ ie .Ay ~ usI.AA aptss 81 n