New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-06
LENGTHENING THE TERMS OF OFFICE.
THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE OFFICERS
TO SERVE FOUR YEARS-FEATURES
OF PROPOSED BILL.

Albany, April 5.-This present week Of the most
important propositions before the Legislature will be
submitted to the judgment Of the State Senate. IL Is
that the terms of Office of the Governor LeuenantGov
efnOr Secretary of state State Treasurer Controller
Attorney and State Engineer shall be extended
to four years each thus adding year to the terms
of the Governor and Lieutcnant-Governor, and two
years each to the terms of the other State officers
Still another branch Of the same proposition Is that
the terms Of Office of the Asscmblymen shall be ex-
tended from year. at present. to two years. and
that the terms OF Office of the State Senators be ex
tended from two years. now provided by the State
Constitution, to four years.
These radical propositions; radical that 1t is
to be regretted that they have not been debated
by the leading citizens Of the State before the Senate
was called upon to give its vote concerning them
Senator Laug1ln, Of Buffalo, introduced them as
amendments to the State Constitution and earnestly
favors them; but 1t is well known that they were
originally drawn up by the members of certain city
political clubs The main aim of the members OF these
clubs in thus amending the Constitution, according to
their own declaration, is to separate city from state
and National elections. They argue that, whenever
these elections take place the same day. poit-
cal "deals" made, and thus frequently munich
pal officers of unsuitable nature are elect
ed, and city government suffers. If elections
at which city officers are to be elected were held
upon a separate day from the upon which State
elections or National elections were held it is argued
that the voter would concentrate his attention upon
municipal affairs and elect better city officers Re
specng the lengthenng of the terms Of Office OF the
State officers the argument is made that the State
already has two many elections and that reduction
of them by lengthening the terms of the officers,
would thus be benefit; and that, moreover with
longer term, better men would be obtained.
If the amendments are adopted, however, for time
there will be great deal of legislation In reiatoh
TO city elections There thrty-two cities in the
State and they hold their elections for city officers
at different times. Some have their elections in the
spring Others in the fall, after the general elections
To concentrate all the local city elections in the
odd years viii be great problem. Every city charter
in the State will be disturbed by such an amendment
to the Constitution. Some city Officers VIII nave
short terms while these changes are in progress, and
Others will have extra long ones. Whatever be the
ultimate effect of the separation of state and city
elections the first effect will be to excite great
political agitation in the cities in relation TO the terms
The term Of office of the Governor of the State up
to 1921 was three years Then 1t was reduced 70
when it was again made three years Now 1t is
proposed 70 Increase It to four years; Inc me
s so@e fifteen years has been to increase
the powers of the Governor and reduce that
power of vetoing separate items in the appropriation
bills This has enormously increased the power of the
ruthessy used to buldoze the members Of the Legs
ature The lengthening Of the term of the Governor
wears,
of the Legislature, has also had the effect OF increas
ing the powers of the Governor and diminishing tnaI
Of the legislature still further increase Of the
length of the Governors term of office will make him
an officer of extraordinary powers. When ex-senator
Warner Miller running for Governor he Sald "
would rather be Governor of NewGork than PRESIDENT
of the United States Governor has more power :,
he is LEGISLATURE and Governor, practically; Whlle
President merely registers the acts of Congress- some
members of the Legislature express doubt as 10 the
wisdom of having such long terms as four years Tor
the financial officers of the State the State Treasurer
and the Controller These men, they say, handie mil
IONS of money! their accounts ought to be audited al
such frequent intervals as two years, at least
MEANWHILE the Constitutional Convention, callcd Dy
the neople i'm 1886 which would have dealt carefully
with lust such important questions as these OF Ile
len rthenpg of the terms Of Office OF the state Ocer
and of the Legislature, has not yet been hed OWhs
70 Governor HIPS veto Of the act passed by the ne
nbI,can Legislature of 1887 for holding the cOnVS-
non Nor will vote be taken upon April 10 OF tle
oor unon the Prohibition Amendment. as directed by
}be LEGISLATURES Of 1889 and 1890. Mr. Hill has gwen
orSers IN a Democratic Assembly, and IL declines 10
DaeS the necessary act enabling the county CLERKS 10
nav the expenses OF the election 49,, ,,o-. s,,,
P "a now comes along another highly important suB-
ostod amendment to the Constitution, that OF senator
fpSon nroyiding for Court Of Appeals OF fifteen mem
hars This was matter also which should nave Deen
ot+ended 10 by Constitutional Convention. Nor Was
q Census taken in 1885, as provided by the COESulu
a. Mr. TU vetoing the act providing for census.
rfn' ,onstitution will be in finely muddled STATE
III Doyd r. Hill resigns his Office as Governor IN
nnoanbor next and goes to Washington. III VIII Idhc
~ Cnyernor next elected three years TO stralgnIen
Ine e ~ enarl Mr. Hill has created. 1t is fortunate
1 the state that Mr.. Hill hasn't four years Uerih'