New-York tribune., 1894-10-31
WEDNESDAY,
OCTOBER 81, 1894.


hoped that il may. But We are too busy peo-
ple too intensely devoted each to his own az
fairs, to keep our political concerns out OF the
hands of the politicians for long. And let US
suppose the entire legislative power or the state
dominated and in fact monopoized, by the fu-
ture city of New-York. and that city IN con-
troll Of the Tammany Hall Of the future.
Is 1t not certain that the corruption, the
fraud. the ineifciency. which have involved our
municipal affairs in such disaster ana proush.
them to the brink of ruin. would then prevaii
through all the great affairs Of the state! The
varied interests OF its people. Its manufactures.
its railroads. its canals, it's power OF taxation
and OF legislation would all be controlled by
one local political power for partisan purposes
and that power would be directed In the future.
as 1t has been in the past. by the VIII OF a SIN
gle man to whom all must bow for once, for
position. for contracts. for influence. In pubic
affairs Are the people of the State or New
York ready to contemplate such possibility
with equanimity? If they are. let them reject
this apportionment IL they are not, they must
adopt it; in case of It's adoption II VIII De I'm.
possible in any event that the city; WIN mar
the Senate and the casting vote or the Lieu
tenant Governor. shall ever fail OF passing any
bill unless its provisions are 80 bad as TO snock
the common sense Of justice" II the people OF
the State then know what Is good Tor tnem,
without regard to party they Will vote Tor the
adoption of this amendment. 1t is really their
last chance to save themselves and their great
and varied interests and affatrs, from the pos
sble domination OF the Tammany OF the future
with all its consequences l cannot Dut tHlhk
that every honest and intelligent citizen VINO
will read for himself the apportionnent amend
ment and consider it's provisions and the prob
able results of their operation' VIII give IL MS
support at the polls
THE NO-LEGISLATURE SCARE.
At the last moment. mares nest has been
started against the Apportionment Article pro-
posed by the convention by one claiming 10 De
a lawyer. who suggests that if it should be
adopted we should have no Legislature for the
wear 1895 The proposition is upon its face alb
a1
effect until we enter upon the year 1895. In
the mean time the 12s Assembymen to con-
sttute with the thrty-two Senator's elected
last year the Legislature Of 1895 will have
been constitutonally elected and IN them Will
be vested by the Express language OF The Con-
stitution the legislative power of the State. No
power on earth can prevent their assembling ac-
cording to their constitutional duty. and exer-
cising the usual legislative functions, and no
court would question their existence and COM
plete capacity 1t is true that the amendment,
If adopted. will create for the future Legisla'
lures new Senate districts. and will provide fol
the creation in the future of new Assembly dis
tricts of larger numbers. but the amendment by
its terms expressly provides that the new AS
sembly districts. which are not marked out by
the Constitution itself, shall be laid out by the
local boards Of supervisors and common coun'
ellis on the second Tuesday in June 1895. ana
filed in the office OF the Secretary of state.
against it in order to beat the general aneho-
ments If he disapprOved Of them
The first question which was TO be decided oy
the convention whether it should attempt
to make Constt Ition or simply to repair
the ravages which time had made In the exist
ing structure of gove, ,nment. and devise sucn
additions as the progress of the last ffty years
had shown to be necessary. They wisely con,
cluded that. as the present Constitution hau
substantially satisfied the wants OF the people
DpriOi q
customs OF the people ana the decisions OF ths
courts had become adapted to Its PROVISIONS
Il did not come within their commission 10
cut in pieces to lay aside altogether the time.
honored instrument. but that they should conteht
themselves with considering the demands tnat
were made upon them for amendment, sNln1
to each such consideration as its merits ana the
force with which il was presented snouid com:
mand; and 1t tells volumes for the prudent ana
conservative character of the convention ana
for the majority that was intrusted with the
responsibility Of It's action that out OF over ~
amendments which were proposed only thiry.
three were adopted There were certain definite
subjects which had. for onger or shorter pen"
DDS agtated the public mind, in respect %
which reforms by amendment were demanded.
and these the delegates deemed II their duty 70
consider and dispose Of
JUDICIAL REFORM.
First in Importance was the reform OF our
judicial system. The truth was that the people
had outgrown the courts The ca endars were
wholly unreasonable time was necessary for
case TO be reached and disposed OF after II was
once begun and delay OF justice has always been
considered a radical public grievance since the
DAYS Of Magma Charti. hy the provisions OF
which it was yubiecteu to the same considera-
ton the buying or selling OF justice ms
therefore. was the first and the most important
subject that called for definite action upon 'he
part of the convention. and JUDICIARY a'''
has been prepared by n committee cons""e u
members OF both parsies appo'"'eu al
proportion to their respective NUMBERS III '''e
convention which il IS believed will give salts
faction 10 thu, bar and the people OF the STATE
II is the result of the joint action OF all tho
r,orbors of the committee who with single
axcention concurred emphatically in approving
II II maintains the present constitution OF the
court of Appeals restricting II 10 seven Judges
in the belief which general In me coh'eh-
tion that the court has ciLsfactorliy dscharseu
its duties and that tha' number Is best adapted
TO the hearing of final appeals II mas created
powerful intermediate tribunals OF appeal IN the
place Of the present General Term, which " -
believed will be adequate 10 furnish nnai ue-
cision for ordinary tisations without iur'ner
appeal The appellate division in four )udiciai
departments is to consist of five judges IN each,
who are to have nothing 10 do with the uiai Oh
cases and will be wholly removed from any pos-
s!b;lity OF interest in the Ntigations that ars
., como before them for decision. and in whose
Judgment the people expected to have sucn
confidence as to render an appeal to the Court
of Appeals unnecessary and undesirable IN many
cases We have restricted the jurisdiction oi M .ne
Court OF Appeals 10 the conslderati9h anu ~
decision OF pure questions OF law. and nave pro-
hibited the Legislature from enaci!ns tnat cues.
tons OF fact shall be deemed TO be questions OK
tayr ard so forced within its jurisdiction, az
sometimes has been done heretofore -
We have abolished superfuous courts, cIerHs
and officers and many obsolete designations OK
,rhunals which had become unintelligible to the
community and to the profession .
We have put stop 10 the furtner pay'nen'
;,1,ciaI nansions believ wing II to be inccnsist.