The New York herald., 1874-09-26
AN AMENDED CONSTITUTION.
The Address OF l.. ID. Prince Before the
Liberal Club,

Prlnce, CHAIRMAN or the judiciary COMMITTEE
In the New York Assembly whose subject was
"The Pending Amendments to the Constitution OF
the State of New York;
The speaker began by referring to the impor-
tance OF the coming election. He declared that II
tine proposed amendments to the state constltu-
ton are carried this fall they WIN continue in
effect Tor maay years. 1t s not the work OF a day,
but OF three years, to change the constitution OF
this State. These amendments are directed against
corruption in the Legislature, in puollc ONCE and
At the polls. There are thirteen separate items
to be voted for at the coming election.
They will be all printed on one slip
OF paper and each vote will be expected
to vote "yes" or 'no' to each one OF them.
That some amendments are needed IS evident.
Our present constitution was framed in ls4S.
True, that is not thirty years ago; but that Is
equal to more than 300 years in the history of
rapidly growing country The constitution OF
Pennsylvania Is probably the best in the country.
II puts the great mOnOpolies entirely under the
control OF the State. This is what We need in
this State.
The speaker then took up and discussed the
proposed amendments separately, dwelling at
some length upon the most important sections.
SALARY, But NO ''BAcK PAY"
After passing over several trihing emendattOns,
Mr. Prince said that the amendment which Will
probably meet with most opposition is the increase
OF legislative salary. AS you know now, the ac-
tua pay Of $500 per session only equals ab ut 81 so
per day. The amendment proposes to increase
the salary to ST. 800 per session. The present SAL
airy was fixed neariy thirty years ago, when the
purchasing power OF money was much greater
Inan at present, and the cost of living, conse'
although smaller than 1t had been years beore,
and lar % from proper remuneration u,n ITO TO
met so mss, e mo
crate living in Albany, and allow small
sum to be saved as compensation Tor the tune
taken from the ordinary a1airs OF lie. But the
lapse of years has entirely changed all this. The
cost OF living at the capital during the session has
greatly Increased, while no corresponding advance
has been made In the pay In all saiaries, except
those OF onicers named IN the constitution, re-
time. The clerks in the State departments, and
onicers and employees OF the Legislature now re-
what they were in 1885, while the compensation
or those who employ them-the state
Unaer Under. the ' constitution @ has remained % un-
changed. In consequence of this we
nave presented the singular anomaly OF
heads OF departments, prominent men IN the
state elected BY the people, receiving from 81, 500
10 $4,000 per year, while their deputies, who are
comparatively unknown, receive $500 each; and
OF senators and Assembly men, VINO are the law
makers OF 100000 OF people, receiving tar less
mttees, nor even the amount paid TO messengers
who are to run their crrands The fact that vaiues
have greatly altered since 1916 Is too wen known
10 need argument. The change came gradually
and was as gradually coniormed to by the word In
general but these few CONSTITUTIONAL salaries have
remained as monuments OF the old time value OF
money
HASTE IN LEGISLATION.
The act to which wish to call your attention IL
the relief to be gwen TO the Legislature by toe
throwing out of all local bills. Ihls Is ncces-
sary IN order to give the time Tor thorough discus
! sion OF important bills There are introduced in
the Assembly each session aoout i,soo b!Ils; OF
which over 800 are reported lavorably and then
placed on the files. This Is irrespective o Senate
niis OF which over 500 are printed From LOO to
raSDs es in eac a suse o tue s,o wAos
sion, OF which about 1000 pass both
houses and are sent to the Governor for approval
These bills average three pages OF the usual style
oT Dill printing, aud require for their reading six
minutes each. II the law which requires that
every bill snail be read three times were literally
compiled with the time actually occupied in that
way alone would therefore average eighteen MN
utes. We find that the time actually required Tor
tne passage OF bl through all Its stages IN the
House. If the letter OF the law were complied with,
would average thirty-nln minutes. The number OF
days for which members are entitled to be paid is
100, which Includes sundays and recess days. In
practice, deducting days on wn,ch no session Is
held, and counting Mondays, when only an evening
meeting Is held as hall days. the number o; days
actually employed IN legislation ranges from N.Y.
short during the first part OF the year and when
the committees are most busy-whi not average
over Lour hours. Nv a liberal calculation. tuen,
the annual session duriag the prescribed
100 days includes about $50 hours OF
actual work ia the House. The iact is
even II every moment were devoted 10 bill pass
ing, not allowing any time whatever loi motions
resolutions, or points OF order or the many MIS-
ccllaneous matters before Legislature, n LOCO
bills are TO go through the routine oi icgisiaton,
but fifteen minutes can be devoted TO each; that
time to include every stage OF proprcss~their in
PRODUCTION, first ana second readings. reference,
report consideration In Committee OF the Whole.
report from thence third reading and roll call on
dual passage Either toe time must be extended,
tne amount or legislation decreased or short
cuts'' provided wAieh VIII enable the work 70 be
tnTOuQnf within the prescribed Limits
THIS DEATH kSxLL of THE LOBBY.
Now II the control OF All local matters Is re.
Supervisors-all these dllilcuties are al once OBJ
waited. rhe members OF that Board would gen.
orally have personal knowledge OF the acts IN.
VOWED IN each particular ease they would be
familiar with the locations Affected aud could not
'aii TO act undersiandin9iy. All persons inter-
ested could with ease appear before them. and
from their acquaintance WIN the character OF
those thus Presenting themselves there would
be no posslhiiiy OF deception. Again, they
would have every inducement 10 do what
is righ. and Jush because tbey are directly
in the local measure in question whereas IN the
Legislature, incudMg both branches. I5s out OF
100 members have no direct interest Whatever IN
care little. personally, for their good will or NJ
VIII. One other point worthy OF note IL that the
passage OF this amendment will be the death
knell OF the "lobbyn The bills that '.havc money
In tnemn are not the general acts for the govern.
ment OF the state, but the special charters and tue
are 20 be OF corporate or individual benei:. De-
stroy special legislation and you take away the &C.
cason OF corruption AMI at one blow relieve the
Legislature from the improper Influences which
have gathered around IL.
LONGER TERM FOR THE GOVERNOR.
Article 4 provides for the extension OF the
term OF ONCE OF the Governor and Lieutenant
Governor 70 three years, and tae Increase OF their
salaries to $4,000 ana $4,000 per annuin respect
'lycy.
FRAUDS IN THE CANAL SYSTEM.
The present constitution prohio,ts she Ierisia-
ture from selling the useless canals They an nave
TO be maintained, although worse than useless.
the Erie, Champiain and oswego canals must 90
kept up, and tno hfst pays more than
a million into the treasury annually; but
the small lateral canals are great cncumOrances
as VIII be SHOWN Nv the following ngures Cay ug