New-York tribune., 1886-08-02
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION.

The Constitution of this State provides lhal
cat the general election to be held III the year
1856 and in each twentieth year thereafter, and
also at such times as the Legislature may by
law provide, the question, Shall there be
convention to revise the Constitution and amend
the same p shall be decided by the electors.
II follows that at the coming election the Impor-
tant question of revising and amending the Con
sttution will have to be passed upon
The Constitution of 1sl6. under which we
are now living has been amended IN snany
salient particulars during the forty yoals ol
its existence In 1867 Il convention was hcd
which prepared n new Constitution. But with
the exception of the judiciary article this Con
sttution was rejected by the people, although
1t contained many excellent features. 1t au-
tholiZed the Legislature to submit particular
laws and questions To a direct popular vote. |;
abolished all clauses in the existing Constitution
making a distinction Oh account of color, either
as to voting, representation, otliccholding or tax
alton. 1t left the Senate To consist of tnity-two
members. but heightened the term from two TO
four yeaIs. 1t provided that the Assembly
should consist of 139 instead of rs members
to be elected by counties instead of Districts
each comfy To be entitled to at least one repre-
sentative and as many more as It's ratio OF pop
ulation called for. 1t abolished thr Office "i
Canal Commissioner and provided for Supcrln-
tcndcnt of Public Works. 1t placed the prisons
in charge Of five managers to take the place oi
the inspectors. 1t forbade the Legislature t.
audit private claims. These wclc It's leading
provisions.
But although this Constitution of 1867 failed,
with the exception of the single article noted,
its most important mandates subsequently be
came and stll are part OF the organic law.
In lS72-'73 a Constitutional " commission, 80
called, was held which prepared a large rumbcr
OF amendments, most of which were approved
by the people. The tenn Of the Governor was
extended from two to three yeas and his Sllm!
was increased from $1,000 to $1,000 ycal,
and he w,s given the night of vot"ng oblocii"h-
able items in an appropriation bill without kl.I-
ing the entire bill. The oiicc Of Canal Com
missioner and Prison Inspector was abolished,
and the Offices of Superintendent OF Pubhc
Works and of Prisons weie created. lhc llghl
Of the Legislature To pass private or local plllN
was greatly curtailcd. Safeguards were pro
yided for savings banks. The power of conn
ties, cities, towns and villages To contract deb
wiLs limited. The pay Of members OF the Lcg1s-
latule was raised from $500 Ia ) 800 "A session.
Since 1876, when such OF the amendments ol
the commission aS were not approved ol III lS'l
were agreed to by the people, the only amend
mcnt OF general Importance that hLs been made
i, the one providing for free canals
1t remains to DC seen whether the people VIII
vote this iall for another Constitutional Convcn-
ton. A. yet the question has not been much
agitated there is no public sentiment enlisted on
either side. The Constitution, Gas 1t -" /,
working pretty wei and still, if convention l.
held, it Will doubtless find enough to DO. Gov
crnor Hoffman in one Of hi> messages expressed
the opinion that the head, of the administrative
departments the Secretary of state, Controller,
Attorney General. etc, should be appointed by
the Governor and Senate, and that District
Attorneys should bc appointed by the Attorney
General. The Constitutional Commission were
in favor of having the State Treasurer elected
by the Legislature. There are electors who be
lieve that biennial sessions of the Senate and
Assembly would work well. Other electors
hold that if Senators were given much longer
terms and if the size OF the Senate was decreased
there would be a gain 10 the State in the chaIac
ter and influence Of the Upper House Add to
these subjects for the con, liberation of a con-
vcntiOn the great question, Of the organization
and government OF cities, the equalization Ol
taxation the supervision of corporations, and 1t
is evident that if Il convention is ordcIc cd it can
be piolitably employed