The morning call., 1894-03-25
CONSTITUTION MAKING.

The New York constitution of 1916 pro-
vided that every twenty years the ques-
tion, Should there be a convention to
amend and evlse the constitution? should
be submitted to the people. In 1856 the
question was so submitted, and by large
majority It was resolved that such a con-
vention should be held. Party divisions
prevented its being summoned for seven
years. But last year bill was passed by
the Legislature calling a constitutional
convention to meet at Albany on May s,
1894. and preparations are already being
made for its assemblage. 1t is expected
hat its labors will result in the adoption
of the very latest Improvements in the
science of consultation making.
During the decade 1S70-1SS0 Colorado
and California tried their hand at framing
new constitutions and several of the older
States amended their organic instruments.
With some exceptions the constitutions of
this period were monuments of sound po-
litical science. The constitution of Penn
sylvania was as perfect a work of the kind
as the world had seen up to that time.
During the following decade the two
Dakotas, Montana, Washington, Idaho
and Wyoming adopted constitutions which
only vary in non-essential particulars from
the models upon which they worked. In
South Dakota novelties were proposed.
notably a return to the single-chambe T
system; but they failed to command the
assent of the convention. Now New York
is going to show whatimprovements In the
system of self-goyernment the foremost
State In the Union thinks worthy of
adoption.
The chief bone of contention in the on
vention will probably be found in the re-
cent law for the creation of ''the Greater
New York" That law divides the State
| into two halves. each with a population of
about 100000. The two halves differ in
political opinion, and also to a large de-
gree in the nativity of their population.
The "Greater New York" is largely
| populated by foreigners who, by voting
| solidly by race, hold the balance of power
at elections. The Greater New York"
may always be relied upon for a liberal
Democratic majority. The rest of the
! State, comprisl e the rural counties and
the interior towns, was Democratic in an
average of years before the war. Since
| the organ iZation of the Republican party,
it has been uniformly Republican, unless
there was a revolt against the Republican
machine. Ii goes without saying thai in a
State constitutional convention which is
designed to be On-partisan these polit-
cal d fer ences will lead to a division on
sectional lines. which will bear fruit in
the apportlonment. The Greater New
York" will insist on RECOGNITION which
the interior will the more vigorously deny
as it will claim Americans ought to rule
in the State.
An effort will be made to return to early
practices in the matter of filling State
offices. Under the old colonial regime all
offices were made appointive, and after the
revolution timid Americans shrank from
de parting from precedent Then there
came a revolution in feeling, and ali, or
nearly all Offices. in most of the States,
were made elec live.
| Some OF the most prominent men in
| New York politics now propose to make
all Offices appointive except the Governor.
| the Lieuteuant-GOverDor and the Control
/ ler. With these three exceptions every
official in New York, including the judges.
would be appointed by the Governor by
and with the consent Of the Senate. The
advocates of this system bold that beti pr
class of men would thus be Sc ured for the
| public service, as the Governor would be
responsible for his appontees and his
party would be responsible for him.
AS to judicial office the New Yorkers
have usually obtained good material bv
| tacity ignoring party in the nomination
of jndges; when a judge does his duty
| he is apt to be renominated by his ow n
party, and the opposite party nominate NO
! one against him,
or the proposed plan for making all but
three officers appointive, it may be said
that if pure and wise men could always
be elected for Governors and Mayors the
! appointment of minor officers might be
better than their election. But when New
York elects Tammany politician fol
Governor what becomes of any guarantee
Tor good appointments? The cities of New
York and Brooklyn may elect good and
every way trustworthy Mayors once out Of
three times. What would be the character