New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-01-04
THE SENATE GETS TO WORK.
Mr. sUEEHAN's GOOD ADvICE-A LIVELY DE-
BATE OVER TIE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION.

Mr. suEEHAN'S GOOD ADvICE-A LIVELY DE
BATE OVER TIE CONSTITUTIONAL
CONVENTION.
Albany Jan. 3 (SpeciaD.-Thc State Senate met TO-
day with little formality. There were hand slakfngs
by the Senators they greeted another upon enter
ing the Senate Chamber, and inquiries aholt each
others health Senator Van GOrdcr. Of Wyoming
County. for some unexplained absent.
Then Lieutenant Governor Sheehan called the Senate
TO order and the Rev. DR.. Batcrsha OF st. Peters
Church. offered prayer. Li@utenantGovernor sheeL an
followed with brief address TO the senate He said
Senators: An alLwise Providence has permitted the
Senators who vacated this chamber in April lat to return
10 their post duty to-day, with physical powers und'
mnlshcd aud with fearlessness of duty well performed as
their record While extend mutual concentrations upon
this happy event should not be unmndul OF the 3ct
that where much is given much is expected Inc proud
record Of Senate Of 1892 should be beacon light 10
guide this body to courageous, faithful and ncoFrnpuoie
discharge OF Official obligations.
The Senate devoted an hour to debate upon
bill introduced by Senator Cantor the Democratic
leader, posponng the election Of delegates 10 the
Constitutional Convention from February IA to the
regular November election and postponing the con-
yenton itself from May, 1893. 10 May, 1894. The
Republican Senators had considerable fun with their
Democratic colleagues, pointing out the various In
consistent positions assumed 10y the Democratic
party since the Constitutional Convention was sum-
noned in 1856 Senator Erwin. the Republican
is general desire upon the part OF the taxpayers OF
the State that this Constitutional Convention cleo
ton should be postponed from February to NOvem-
Der. for d special election would cost the people $780,
OOO You have come up TO the Republican party's
position. Last spring We Republican Senators argued
that the delegates toGhc Constitutional Convention
should be elected in November. Now you accept
our idea. But BY your action you have pushed Off
the holding Of the constitutional amendment until
. 1894. The people call'd that convention In 1886,
and In 1887 the Republican Legislature passed bill
providing for the election OF delegates TO the con
vention, and Governor Ii vetoed II. We thus
obeycd the mandate OF the people. In consequence
OF Governor Hills veto and the action Of tho Demo
cratic party since. the convention is postponed I'M
til 1904. or eight years after it called Is this
obedience to the command OF the people,
." i presume this bill is all right, but in view Of the
biunder you made last year think we ought to ex-
anime this carefully. ! notice that you have
remedied one OF your bIunders, giving the Governor
the power 10 appoint members Of the Constitutional
Convention, but perhaps you have not others
Can you not postpone the consideration OF this bill
week and permit us to examine Il critically! ?"
Senator Cantor replied: ave must pass ihis bill
at ONCE; otherwise the county clerks who are
making preparations for this 81 ectIOa Will rot know
what TO do. ! think IT good measure. for We pro-
vide for minority representation Tie smaller political
parties Will thus representation in the convcn
ton. We provide for the election Of thirty eight
delegates-at-large.7
Awhy do You postpone this election from Fcbru-
airy 10 November p inquired senator Erwin
"Are you opposed to posponement'' replied Mr..
Cantor.
"Oh, no. answered Senator Erwin. IL only wanted
TO know the secret which actuated YOU"
Senator SaXton then said 81 am glad that the Con
venton is TO be postponed l don't believe the peo-
pie hungerlng and thiIs;ng for "a Constitutions!
call OF the people issued in 1895. The Republican
party IN 1857 passed n Constitutional Convention hll
providing for the election OF 1913 Assembly delegates
and thirty-two delegates at1hrge. Governor Hill
vetoed it on the ground chiefly that It postponed the
meeting Of the Convention for another year. In 1892
the Democratic Legislature again postponed tsf Con.
vention until 1883. Now II postpones II until 1874
Senator Mcmahon said II am opposed - min ry
representation. 1t will cause confusion. IT Is In
tended to give representation TO the Prohlbtonlsts
the Populiss and the Socialists. II gives 10 very
small number OF voters 100 many rights They can
vote for q certain number OF Democrats Republicans
and vote for their candidates also: and they
win have n disproportienate number OF delegates to
their numbers .
senator Mcmahon. Democrat, having. opposed
the bill the Democratic leaders thought II best to
$50 SLOW and accordingly the bill was laid aside
for more critical examination. and the senate M
j0urned until tomorrow.