New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-14
TO AMEND THE CoNSTI7 UTION.

Senator Laughn has proposed amendments
to the State Constitution providing that local
and general elections shall not after specified
date, be held in the same year that the officers
of cities towns and villages shall be chosen for
two years or a multiple of two years; that all
the State officers shall be chosen for four years
that the term of Senators shall be four years
and of Assembymen two years. To these
amendments the City Reform Club adds an
other providing for biennial sessions of the
Legislature, and upon the programme thus made
up asks for general expression of opinion. We
cordially approve of careful consideration OF
these changes in the fundamental law, and
should be glad, as first step in testing public
sentiment on the subject to have the present
Legislature accept them. Experience shows
that until constitutional amendment has passed
the first stage toward enactment it does not
take hold of the popular mind. There is no
danger of precipitatc action in such a case, for
the process is necessarily slow. A succeeding
Legislature must give its approval, and then
comes the popular votc that between the
first proposal and the final decree ample time
and opportunity are afforded for a deliberate
expression Of the popular will.
The variOu, propositions contained in this
programme have all been subjects of dcsultory
discussion in years past, but the fact remains
that the people Of New-Yori have never been
onrro,scd in their consideration and debate.
In other states similar amendments have pre-
vailed. and in q great majority biennial sessions
Of the Legislatures are now the settled order.
So far rs we know there is no tendency in the
other direction. The people are not oppressed,
-. fan
the period Of TWO years and they do not suffer
in any way from lack Of legislation. We do
not imagine that popular rights or individual
interests would suffer in this great Common
wealth if the Capitol were deserted every other
wear II is rather from multiplicity OF laws
than a deficiency that we arc in danger. Sudden
emergencies can be provided for by extra SEES
sionS.
The advantages Of separating local and gen
cra elections have been expOundcd from time
10 time without convincing politicians Of the
practical value to Themselves of such change.
We suppose that there is general acq'iescenco
in the simple proposition that it would be
good thing if there were less parSanshlp and
moro public spirit in the administration OF local
affairs. IL i, perhaps safe To- assume, more
over that a majority OF the people even now
would chcelluily acknowledge that separate cleo
tons would tend 10 promote that desirable end
but yet. if an amendment TO that effect were
10 be voted on to-day we should not hesitate
TO predict its defeat, for the minority who would
fear such "a change would 90 to the polls and
the majority. for the most part, would stay al
home. If our supposition is correct, II IS owl
dent that there is ample justification for such
a popular debate on this subject ~ the City
Reform Club desires Ia bring ON, a We'll a.
good reason to believe that such process Of
ed lc.tion would end with the adoption of the
proposed amendment.
Al all events, we commend the motives and
the spirit which are back of this appeal for
general discussion of the subject, and We repeat
that we should he glad to see the Legislature
lead the way.