New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-08

is that oflths partial vsto which permits the Governor
in OF bills cOntsining number OF items sppro-
prstug money TO approve such IA be secs n anu veto
such a. he di-apprOves, tbus virtually making OF rach
item distinct proposition Standing on Its own merls
The effect OF this cannot fail 70 be sautary, ana tne
result so far ns tbs Legislature IL concerned, VIII I've 70
prevent the forcing Of dubious Items into better eO
pauy the Supply BILL g. IN the hope tnat tney ea
TINS be- passed ana with certainty that AZ inc GOV
ernOr must sign the bills whole or seriously neon
venieuce important interests the obnoxious Items VIII
thus DO approved
VALIDITY OF TIE AMENDMENTS.
At the close OF his statement regard to the probable
effect OF the amendments the course OF leUsalion
MIR. Prince referred to the validity OF the amendhrn's
and the effect or the opinion OF Mr. OConor puDlsheu
in THE TRIBUNE a short time ago. Tbs opinion OF MI
OConor be said has had tine effect OF setting st rest
most ~ the suggested doubts proper adoption
OF the amendmentS aud IN that las been or great
value. His those SUBSTANTIALLY arrived
at bg the persons having charge Of tina matter Ia the
last Legislature where no step was taken on tho suect
without much care and under the best attanabe aG-
Yon would be amazed at the various Arguments
That have been used by derent persons w prove te
amendments TO b. Invalid. In nearly every case the
been father the tbOught." When man
was Interested In some matter prOnlOltcu " the
amendments his vision 10 flaws In their ATOP
ton has become asiOnishingly keen anu critical.
The first idea started Cht the whole were Invalid Oe
cause the Legislature altered work OF ne COmmis
arc all SYSTEM aud the Legislature has no power
to divide th9m up ana alter them, and adOOt or rJicl
separate artic after IL divided them" ruis
based the entirely erroneous idea thar the Com
mission ike Constitutional Convention ana thas
the L.glsidture acted the amendments Officially ~
work Of the Commission. Nothing OF the sort was
true. The mmIssiOn was simply 30 propose ainenN
ments 1t performed Its work, aud adjourned Inc
Legislature only act ON proposed amehdinenS ny
OF concurrent resolution I" Drng tine work Oh tne
Commission before IL tangible and proper form, me
proposed amendments had to be introduced IA concur
rent resolutions by some member, just as any Otner
amendment woUli DE Introduced This / I'D myself,
and the original bills rs they were printed on
the files. You there Is Of them beng Assembly
bills IG9 to I,C5I inclusive and 1912. Each
one Is headed, /" May 6, l573-intrOduced by MI
Prince Ordered printed Immediately and referred 10 te
Joint Committee Amendments To the Constitution
They separate as any Oher olls OF r5sOdtions
are, ana technically are IN no way connected WIN se
Commission, Although really cmOOdyIng It's work So
again, the second year. the only way TO brug up inc
matter for action Is by concurrent RESOLUTIONS again
and introduced them IN proper form early ia the SEES
sion. They in numOer (sOme OF those INTRO
duced IN 1873 mad noe passed. ana others hau nee con
sodaIed). ana YOU Will ind them printed Is Assembly
bills Nos. 20 IL inclusive Eacn was always perfectly
independent the remainder, and they were passed
various times, at beginning and some near
close OF the session. and yet II required good deal
exp NATION 90 silence the assertion Lhat they "ere
all unit, and must stand Oh fall entirely a. they came
from me Commission.
Another very odd idea was quite rife after the elec-
ton nut before maiOrities known IL said
10 have originated with prominent canal contractor
who dreaded the effect OF Tue new PROVISIONS anu
found really Intelligent men IN Albany during NOyen-
Der giving J credeGce and support ms idea was that
adoption OF an anenIhenL requheu not SinpB shc
affirmative vote Of "A majority Of those voting upon IT,
the Affirmative vote OI majority of al the persons
ia the Stale who voted Tor members Oh Assembly, Al
other words. that ascertain whether an amendment
was adopted, you mad TO add together all the vote,
for the various candidates Tor Assembly ~ me
different districts OF the STATE ana II more tGan hai OF
obtained voted FOR the amendment IL was
adopted IL not. 1t LOST. This l4eA was
founded on certain language in Article Kill
Of the Constitution, which really referred 10
an entirely different matter; and IL was started
nc time when believed that the total vote gu
the amendments light. aud would not nearly reach
the number thus suggested 10 DO necessary Nothing
could really be absurd. especially wnen the con-
tngency OF votes being cast on Amendments than
AssembiYmen Is considered; OuL tHl5 dld not pre-
the prOnu cation vi the idea ny persons op
posed 10 the ameudments. a.
The only two points regarding which there was really
any legal dOuUt those relative 70 section OF ARD
q c III aud the Black Rvar Canal ia Article VII.
These were very deliberately and carefully considered
last spring before action aiken the best legal ad
vice available OBJ aimed, and the judiciary Commit
tees the Houses, acting entirely Independently
came CONCLUSION. which was substantially
thar so ably presented ny Mr.. OCOnOr His name pos
.esses such weight that To be hoped hs opinion VIII
be acquesced by all without any uGIgluOn aud 5ucA
[ LLluA Will DC the