New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-07
THEY WILL PRoBABLY AMEND rHELAW
BELIEF THAT THE DEMOCRATIC ACT TOR \
CONSTITUTIONAL CoNvENTfoS
WAS IfI.TGAI

One o. the hrst measures likely 20 be introduced
IN tie Legislature at the opening Of the coming
session will be I'LL amending u. law passed Of
n. last session Of the Legislature providing for n
Constitutional Convention 10 be held In Albany next
May. Tbs bill passed In such a shap, ;Aat IL
const!tutlonality seriously questioned. AS 1t was
originally introduced It provided for III delegates
~ this number 100 are 20 be elected So far u"
III IS oil right. but IN providing for tho additional
eleven members Of the convention the Democratic
Legislature committed an unconstitutional act The
Constitution declares that the members Of the Con
siltullonal Convention shall be elected bat for
various reasons the Democrats who controlled II"
,ast Legislature decided TINT they would give u"
Governor power 10 appoint number Of the dclegntes
OF the 100 delegates who elected 10 the convention
1913 come rom many Assembly districts and thirty
two are elected OF large, each Of the TWO large
parties elcctlng sixteen Of tlas number.
O! the extra eleven who we're to be appointed bl
the Governor five were 10 be representatives Of q
labor party, time Of the Prohibition party and thrrc
Of The Woman Suffrage party. At the last hour
the inexperienced young man who had charge Of The
bill made up his mind that women could not serve
in the convention and he amended II by striking
out the Woman sufraglsn. In doing 30, however
he forgot 70 reduce the number OF csegates from
III 70 100, and 50 the iii. as II now stands, calls
for a convention Of III delegates but provides io
ONLY lGs members. Tbs Is one reason why Ill
amending tho law is 10 be introduced al an e1.ly dn'
IN the next session II IL believed by many lawyer
that the Governor Las no power 10 appoint mcnbsit
Of the convention and that the Court OF Appeaf
might hold against ;hs Democratic claim that election
and appointment are synonomOus terms ana decla''
tho law uncOn ttutcnal. Such q dc is.on might max
L rather awkward for iomc Of the Democratic plans.
Before the argument on the law could get through
he Court Of Appeals tkc umo for holding the oectOh
Of delegates would be passed, and aLother law would
Lave 70 BE- p,ss.d Tint might result In me deioi'
Of Democratic delegates in number OF districts H.
which they now expect 70 elect them. On account
u politics alone provisions we're put In the bil.
iuf honzla. the Governor 20 appoint the eleven
Mace the Democrats we've then seeking 10 curry favor
with tho leaders OF Tie minor parties by throwing 70
tlicm the Insignificant cop OF being made delegates
TO A Constitutional Convention. ON the other hand
mere was uncertainty as b, how the gerry asnl"f
OF The state by the DrnecIats Ia 50 far rs the ~
senbly districts were concerned, would turn OUT
Tie Eepubucsns might gain as much IN the cities oi
New. York and BgOOKlyn as they would lose IA 'he
,ouutry IN that case Governor Flower could appoint
eleven delegates 90 The convention, who could b" d'
prudcd upon 20 vote with the Democrats on all question:
on wlic their votes we're particularly wanted.
Nuv that H. has been seen that the Legislature !.
naturally Democratic. and no Republican, have not
much show OF cutting into tbe SOLID Democratic dele
Gallon 10 Albany, from this city, the extra eleven
cni,, will not be needed II Is said. Therefore, on
rood authority that the plan Of the Democrats j. 10
T0nvcniion with go delegates, who lie elected
by the OF the p~Op!e. The date Of the e.ectcl
T. not TO be changed, and there Will be no change
In the umc when the convention will meet.