New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-05
MP. ALVORD FOR PRESIDENT.
THE VETERAN LEGISLATOR IN ALBANY.
URGED TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDING
OFFICER OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL con-
yENTIoN-ToPICs TO BE DISCUSSED.

URGED TO BE CANDIDATE ~" rnH'iD'
OFFICER OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL con-
vENTIoN-ToPIcs TO BE DISCUSSED.
Jpy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBusr1
Albany MAY 4-Another OF the leading delegates
to the Constitutional Convention arrived here to-
day-Thomas G. Alvord, of Syracuse. former Lieu
tenant Governor OF the State and Speaker OF the
Assembly In 1853. 1854 and 1870 Mr.. Alvord denied
that he was a candidate for president OF the Con-
ventlon IT do not state" he said. that am a
candidate for president OF the Convention. but my
friends say that / am. have not canvassed for
the office. and / do not Intend to- However. II the
delegates should choose to make me their presiuihs
officer think that 1t will be as possible Tor me 10
fill the position behind the desk as 1t would TO ac' as
chairman OF some important committee WORK. II
the office is rendered to me. will without doubt
accept"
Mr. AIvords eye Is bright, his fund OF good humor
Is everlasting and he tells just good a story OF
old legislative days he did years ago lie Is IN
town looking up old friends, whose names ne re-
calls as easily II he not over threescore ana
ten. IT do not think the Convention viii take a
radical step in any direction. he said. FOR II VIII
be composed Of conservative men, l have received
the most letters about suffrage and the judi
clal article Doubtless some changes VIII be pro-
posed in the character OF the Court OF Appeals
Many of the delegates also favor a reconstruction
Of the legislative apportionment.'
The two most prominent candidates LOT the ohiee
OF sergeant-at-arms OF the convention are w. w.
Bennett OF Syracuse and Joseph Bauer who was
assistant sergeant-at-arms Of the Assembly. MI
Bennett has an excellent war record. and Is sup
ported for the place by the Grand Army OF the Re-
public
The occupations of the members Of the convention
are as follows: Lawyers. 1871; journalists. I; manu-
facturers c. trade workers. g. bankers. a. merchants
A. Insurance agents. q real estate dealers. q electr-
. hOtpl-llepDer |. farmer, i,
and physician, l.
Among the many important questions TO be con-
sidered are the following: Providing for Court OF
Appeals of nine Judges and allowing only one court
of original jurisdiction; providing FOR seVenty-ilVe
Judges for the Supreme Court In the State and CIV
ing the General Term the highest appellate juris-
diction in certain cases; providing for a Court OF
Appeals to consist OF fifteen members and power to
sit in three separate parts or all together as they
may provide; providing for Court OF Appeals OF
seven members, but limiting their jurisdiction by
allowing appeals In only a limited number OF cases,
giving the Court of Appeals the right OF Judgment
instead Of granting new trials in cases IN wnlch al,
error has been committed; establishing a Doaru OF
except those TO compute ana sell IN Iorecos
ure cases providing that case involving matter
peas; for biennial sessions OF the Legislature; for
"A reapportionment of the State; striking OUT the
Limitation of expenditure of more than aVo,VW Tor
any one purpose prohibiting the creating or perIni-
nent commissions by making such proposed ornces
elective; divorcing munlclpl elections roin tose Va
the State and Nation and that OF the state from
the National election; redisricting the State INTO
new judicial and Legislative districts; placing all the
election machinery In charge OF non-partisan
board the members OF which shall be elected for
long terms irremovable except by impeachment ana
with power compel the correction OF results wnere
a fraud is apparent providing that the National and
State elections may occur together, but that city
and county officers shall in be elected at the
same time: annulllng all criminal statutes and dis
franchlsng every man who is or has been convicted
OF selling his vote for any consideration whatever:
Other proposed amendments will relate TO the
woman-sufrage question. granting UNIFORM charters
to cities vesting increased authority with the RAIL
road Commission. giving the Erie Canal to the
United States condition that 1t be maintained as
a free waterway, substituting life Imprisonment for
capital punishment. changing the laws or taxation,
and allowing secular schools to receive pubic
moneys.