The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-24
What Our Future COnsti-
tuition Is To Be.
fhs Senatorial Districts Of New York and
Kings Counties Safe at Last.
A Dull Session, but Plenty Of
Jobs Ahead.

cOach way In which both houses so far have seen
mt to carry on their daily work. that the short ses-
SION so many people have been talking about
VIII not be short after all. Speaker
Hustled has already begun to complain,
and good many people from New York
and elsewhere who are now here and
who had hoped that we were to have really re-
form Legislature, without making any talk about
IL, have decided to leave town and do all they can
by postal order for five months or SO, to help the
country members to get along without starving.
IL may be that the absence OF the LOBBY has done
great deal up TO the present time to make
things disagreeabe to the new members
who have come here on commercial bargains In
tent but whe Their this is really the special cause
Tor the general dulness or not IL may be said that
Albany never before saw such dull fortnight
during a legislative session as we have had since
New Years. IL only goes to show that legislation
TO New York city has heretofore been the magnet
which drew crowds this city, and which rem
uered the lobby and the two houses themselves a
general rendezvous for place seekers and place
payers. Without New York county occasionally
getting attended to in either one house or the
other, in small or great way, 1t is not to be
pected that the great men or either party win do
much to show what they really amount to.
The Senate again to-day had stormy time OF it
over the constitutional amendments, section Of
article being, as intimated week ago that it
would be,
BONE OF CONTENTION
with both parties As the section interests New
York and Kings counties more than any other coun-
ties IN the State, i herewith append a careful
resume OF the discussion had upon 1t. The dis
cussion was begun by Senator Robertson. He
thought that the section should be stricken out for
TWO reasons. IN the first place IL was calculated
TO do great injustice to the counties OF Kings and
New York, and in the second place it against
poli.y
the article it is pretty certain to defeat the whole
OF II. Many provisions OF it were of great impor-
lance. He thought the Legislature had the power
to strike out this article without eopardizing the
rest OF the section.
Mr.. LOwRRY said tina. if in the opinion of the
lawyers OF the Senate the section could be
stricken out without endangering the whole of the
article he would vote Tor striking 1t out.
Mr.. ROBERTSON replied that he was OF the
opinion that the section could be stricken out
without endangering the rest OF the sections.
Mr.. GANsoN was in favor OF striking out the
section. Its practical eject was TO disenfran-
II would be obviously unjust to keep any
section IN the constitution that would pro-
there could De no debate on the question as to the
night OF the Senate to strike out the section. In
these amendments they would not commit them
selves TO any policy they would simply indicate
that the amendments subject matter
right TO be submitted TO the people. The approval
Law with the people and not with their representa-
NTH article 90 TO the people The subject matfer Of
the article was proper to go to the people Tor their
republican blood politics did not enter into 1t
At all. At the polls the senators vote, as citi-
zens as they choose, unembarrassed by any action
which they may take as representatives. In
regard to the judiciary article he would say,
In passing. that he was opposed to it TO one OF
a population OF not less than 1000, certain
judicial officers were to be appointed by the
Governor. The article might as well contain a
provision that the cities OF New York and Brook
lyn should not have
THE SAME RIGHTS AS THE OTHER CITIES OF THE
That, IN his opinion was not correct subject
matter to be submitted TO the people. The prin-
ciple was fundamentally wrong, ana he should op-
pose 1t.
Mr.. LORD said he could not understand the argu.
meDt OF the senator rom the Thirty first (Mr.
GaDsonl. He stated he was willing to let the artt-
no responsibility in the matter, and yet he was in
favor OF striking out the section under considera-
ton. The senator said, besides, that 1t
democratic or republican blood, proposition
to which he Mr. Lordl could not agree. The
speaker then referred TO the last Constitutional
Commission, and said that at the time Governor
Holman had framed the Commission men had
York and wanted 10 control the whole State. The
Governor had been in favor of his own renomina-
killed him and he did not Come '' up again. nar
The republican party said the responsibility
door, and so said the Ecentng Journal. But he
held otherwise. II the republican party passes
bity.
The Commission named BY the Governor to
amend the constitution was an unexceptional
one, but it had been appointed TO carry out the
Governors recommendations The Governor
favored the appointment OF the Secretary of
state and Comptroller, but the Commission
dld not go 30 lar. The election Of State officers
ought TO have been left TO the people. The Senator
then spoke OF the make up OF the last Constitu-
Lonal Commission as compared with OF It's
Dreu S ,S In former constitutional commits
sions Tue farmers OIL the State had large repre-
sentaoon' but in the last there not single
THE PARNvps urpp .yorrn or 80 ..a-,-
and the farmers in return told the Governor that
they dot want him any longer The trouble was
or bad advisers, some OF whom were now absent IN
Europe, and some were-elsewhere.
MI GANsoN, In reply, said that he did not pro-
pose TO discuss party politics in the con.
sderaton Of the amendments. The field OF
him. and judging from the tattered and torn
appearance Of some Of those who had passed
correctly described il when he spoke Of a field
''ul OF brambles and thorns, and the JOY or wild
mems and SAID na II the senator h rom sSs
Twentyeighth Mr. Lord could not take his mean
ing it was not his tAlr Ganson'sl iault. He was
not possessed OF superbuman power
Mr.. WooDIN said that he thought there was
grave doubt as TO the integrity Of article 3 If the
fourth section was stricken out; Some OF the Sen
ators had intimated that they thought other
wise, but had not given tue reasons on
tion for the senate TO decide was as
70 whether they agreed 70 the amendments,
and the people would hold them responsible for
Their decision. He thought the section under con-
hideration might be submitted to the people as a
frouble be avoided
Mr. kNe Desired to say that, in his opinion, poll
slcs nau no place IN the discussion OF the amend
Een.s' Inc commission that framed the amend
ments was non partisan, aud was Composed OF
Capable and honest men < ~
Mr.. OOk SAID That he considered the question OF
.ne aneuuments hon-partisan. The section under |
consideration was not lust and in the article |
passed without striking II out il womb lo,d the \
article so heavily that It's defeat was certain He
desired TO call the attention OF the Senata RI the
TACT that II this article lost the third r,,ce ~,
the constitution OF 1s46 would be in fore and
Senator. s'0u W ohe
Mr.. PARaENrER spoke briefly in favor OF s,r,s,r, !
out the section. He considered that the Sann nn
could do so without affecting the remainder or Ine
article, and the Justice OF doing so was moi L.