New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-17
TIE coxsTTTU77oxAE CONTENTION


OovEGvoR HILLS PROBABLE SUGGESTION -sPEAk-
Err HUsTED's ASSEMBLY DISTRICT PLAN
Albany. Dec. 16--0overnor Hill Informed O VISITOR
~ pass week that he sdoad give his views about the
constitutional convention in his annual to the
Legislature IN January. AZ it IL notorious that the
Governor never permits his political Opinions to color
his Official utterances and also that his judgments on
matters Affecting the State are never swayed by any
Thought Of party advantage people here antcpat
Eng highly cdifying discourse.
II IL believed that the Governor will favor the up
ponen Of the members of the convention by himself
and the Legislature. aud VIII argue that the election
Of the members by tho people is needless and would
delay the meet ne of the convention, which should
conclude it's abors in time to submit it's work to the
vote of the people In November next The point is
strongly made by the Governors friends that any
Constitution should not be submitted to the people
the day Of a Presidential election when voters
naturally thinking solely about National affairs. They
would therefore avoid election day. 1885, If possible
end have the document submitted to the opinion OF
pontment of the convention by the Governor and the
Legislature because they think that thereby
tisan body could he secured. II the convention is
elected they saw political reasons will govern the
the delegates it, there will be political
msjoryof party the other in the convention and
then there is danger OF Constitution being framed
with political bias in every line They point 20 the AL
legged superior work done by the Constitutional Com
mission OF 1872 in comparison with that done by the
Constitutional Convention OF 1867 and say that this
instance shows that small non-partsan convention
does better work than large partisan one.
All this Is very smooth in the opinion OF the Repao-
Gcans; perhaps little too smooth. Still from the
drift OF sentiment among the Republican members OF
the Legislature at present it is apparent that they
favor having the convention eected by the people.
soSSsston Of as members BY ASSEMBLY Districts has
been spoken Of approvngly by every member OF the
Assembly that has thus far been in the city. AS
semblymau Hamilton, OF Newfork said that he earn
estly approved OF it, The only improvement that he
could thrk of for the bill would be to baye it provide
for the election OF small number OF members-at-large
by the entire State, half of them from the Republican
and half from the Democratic party, which course
would enable voters TO send to the convention men of
State reputation. The only thing that could be said
against the Assembly District plan OF election was
that OF small caibre might be selected as the
DELEGATES This objection would be lcssencd in force
by the election Of delegates at large. The Assembly
District plan would give an opportunity to The Henry
George men in New-lork City and to tue Prohibition
OF the convention. There coud be better method
OF getting down TO the people and securing represent
alive delegates TO the convention.
The rejection OF the constitution prepared by the
convention Of 1867, which had 100 members, is
pointed at by the Democrats as evidence that large
bodies do not do good work. 1t is declared that the
convention abored slowly in consequence OF the large
amount OF talk In which ii ndulged To this the Re-
pubioans reply that Speaker Husteds plan only pro-
vides for the election Of 12S members They also say
that much good work was done by the Convention
Of 1867 which was used BY the Constitutional Com
mission of 1872. The chief measures proposed by the
commission the creation OF one head for the
canal department OF the State, and one head
Tor the PRISON department.. Dotn thtse mcas-
ures originated in the Constitutional Convention
OF 1867 and were embedded IN the CoDsttu-
ton which the delegates OF that convention pro-
posed aud which was rejec,ed by the people
But they rejected by the people then only TO be
adopted by them in 1870. 1t is interesting TO note
that the Constitutional Convention OF 1863 debated
at great length proposed amendment to the Con.
stiiuiiun prohibiting the sale and manufacture OF
liquor. The proposed amendment was rejected In the
convention itself and therefore never reached the
people. The of personal property also prom
Uses be leading subject of consideration in the con-
vention Governor Hill, in his speeches at the county
fairs this fall complained OF the escape OF personal
property In the rejected Constitution
of 1863 there was this provision Real and personal
property shall be subject TO uniform rule OF assess
inent and taxation"