The evening world., 1894-08-30
Stormy Scene at the Constitutional
Convention Session.
Rule Adopted Requiring twenty-five
Votes for a RoII-CaIl.
Report of Committee on Rules to BE
Voted On To-day.
(By Associated Press.)

Convention opened to-day, Mr.. Choate
detailed the Committee on Rules to put
the Cities Committee amendment to
vote at 12.i5 o'clock to-day.
Mr.. G. Is. Mclaughlin wanted to pre-
sent an amendment to the article, and
If this decision of the Committee was
sustained. he saw no opportunity to do
80.
Mr.. Root said that he did not know of
any proposition to amend the article ex-
cept that coming from the minority. He
was willing to have the matter go back
to the Committee on Rules for further
discussion, and that was agreed to.
The discussion of Mr.. Choate's motion
to reconsider the cities article and insert
in IT clause allowing minority repre-
sentation in the common councils of all
cities over $4,000 in population. was
MIR. Holcomb DemocraD, of New
York, was the first speaker, and said
that the proposition for minority repre-
sentation was simply to provide a buffer
jority and the minority, SO as to keep
some of the minority in position to rep
resent Anarchy or Populism or Coxey-
ism.
This amendment would certainly let in
any class of people who represented a
minority, and what harm could these
people not do If they wished to show
other small body Of indictments. He
argued that they might turn to be ma
jority, and SO overturn the wishes of the
Mr.. c. b. Mclaughlin Republican) Of
fered substitute for the whole bill as
follows:
Section There shall be in the several cities
dermen to be composed OF such members. and
70 be elected, and In such manner as is or may
Sec. THE Legislature shall by general laws
confer upon the Common Council or Board OF AL
dermen OF the several cities of this State. includ-
Ing those that may be hereafter Incorporated, such
further power OF local legislation and adminis-
traton as the Legislature may from time to time
deem expedient
MIR. Blake, of New York, speaking Of
Mr.. Choate's amendment, said that to
his mind 1t proposed scheme that was
In every way un-American. and in every
wav an insult to a people that had
the majority.
Mr. Root. in heated argument de-
MED the statement that 1t was an I'M
great city of the State should have a
government that represented all the
people and not a purchasable majority.
than the Democratic party had the
patronage il that great city. 1t would be
able to hold n majority.
The Common Council of New York.
representing majority. had been one of
the worst travesties on justice or pure
legislation that ne had ever seen, a
disgrace to the country as well as the
State: He hoped that the amendment
would be solution Of the entire Dues
ton Of good government for large cities.
Mr.: Bush said that when the Judi
President had protested against allow
ing voters 70 cast vote for only one
additional It J Judge %. Of the Court Of APP
II this minority representation was q
good thing why did not they extend 1t
SO that the Republicans of the cities Of
| Syracuse or Rochester could give the
Democrats representation in the Com
mon Councils? Why didn't the City Of
/ Philadelphia give minority representa-
ton?
He believed that this was simply a
scheme TO make the Democrats vote
against the whole article of the Con-
stitutior and then the Republicans can
give you home rule. but the Democrats
would not let US
Mr.. Brown, of Jefferson Republican,.
said that he was astonished that the
minority should take such an attitude
on the question. 1t was not n new
matter, Other States in the Union
had adoped this plan and had found 1t
MIR Holcomb-Is not the State to
which you refer Illinois?
Mr.. Brown-It Is.
Mr. Holcomb-And is not the Governor
of that State an Anarchist?
Mr. Brownies, he is an Anarchist
and a Democrat.
Mr. Veeder OF Kings. offered an
OF Mr., Choate's amendment to the
whole state. If 1t was good for one
city to have It, 1t was good, for all
the good faith Of Mr.. Choate and his
HI this juneture Mr.. Root. with Z, a
hand, asked that the, Committee rise
and report progress, asking for leave to
sit again.
ton was quickly put, and the Commit
Mr. Root presented the report that
provides for thirty minutes for the
pending amendments, thirty minutes for
| substitutes and one and half hours
Cor debate, forty-tiye minutes for each
side. This was on the cities amend
ments.
Mr.. Speer, OF New York arose to de-
mand a roll cali The Chair recognizing
| Mr.. Root, the two men started to talk
against each other. Mr.. Speer talked
the gavel. The members were all on
their feet, and the scene was stormier
than many witness in the Assembly
FnaTy d the Chair SAID 1f s Ms speer
does not take his seat the Sergeant-at-
Arms will remove him.;
Cries OF Good! Good" from the Re-
publican side. and Gag law" from the
| Democrats.
Mr.. Blake asked that the matter lay
| over until tomorrow under rule &c.
| The Chair ruled the motion out OF order.
| MIR. Cochran called for the yeas and
nays, and many Democrats voted for
the Committee on Rules report so as
! to hasten the proceedings, but in ex-
planning their votes deprecated Mr..
| Choate's disposition to not recognize
! Democrats. The report was adopted,
and the vote will be taken this after
! noon.
Before the body had entirely Gained
I down Mr.. Nedder arose and offered a
resolution calling for at least twenty-five
| votes to obtain IA roll call instead Of NJ
| teen, as now constituted. The Demo
! Gratis protested, MIR. Mulqueen and Mr.,
| Platzek both saying that 1t was gag
| law CT the worst kind and intended for
the minority only.
The rule was changed by a vote Of
! yeas, so; nays, AZ, Mr.. Veeder the In
/ troducer saying that II was time that
/ gag-law was interfered with no longer,
where fighting minority was obstruct-
I ing legislation by the body, and he
wanted 1t known that he was imposing
sag-law on men who needed to be
Mr.. Bowers held that the people would
| resent this infraction OF minority rights.
Mr., Cady-Well, you have been argu-
/ Ing against minority representation all
day and now we are going to accommo-
date you.
The rule as amended by the Republic
I cans compels twenty-five members 10
ask for roll-call before II need be had.
/ Fifteen was the former number II