New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-30
THE RIGHTS OF M1NORIT1ES
Mr. cHoArE WISHES THEM RECOGNIZED
IN COMMON COUNCILS.

ACTION UPON HIS AMENDMENT-A RULE
TO LIMIT DEBATE. ..
v,ov rur prcurAn CORRESPONDENT OF ruB rHIDUxK
Albany Auu 29.-It looks as II the Committee on
(,,ies of the Constitutional Convention wouid not
recognize its own especial handlwork, the City
Article so entirely has II been recohsruc'eu ~
the other members OF the convention. rHs'' VI.
State Board Of Elections was dropped' inc" NV
proylslon that the Governor might appoint 'u
cessors to such Police Commissioners OF ciues as "e
should remove; and this afternoon, on the MOTION
OF George H. Bush, the convention struck OUT 'ne
nroysion that the common councils OF cities shouiu
'be elected with or without proportional or minority
representation
Mr. Bush said that the only function OF minor
ity was to educate enough OF majority 10 De-
come a majority Itself. 1t was un-Republicah 10
allow a minority any representation ""d'e'..'
William d. Dlckey. Republican expressed HIS
agreement with what Mr.. Bush had said
Mr. Hall spoke earnestly in favor OF the minority
system. saying II was the most valuable 'hins III
the City Article. The proposition that the parry
having three -hftts OF the vote In the city s"a.'
have three-nfths of the representation was enii.
nenty fair and proper. The provision In the CHy
Article however merely permssiVe, not man
da.orv There was no wel-governed great city III
the world that did not have minority representa-
ton
Mr.. Jacobs. Republican OF Brooklyn. opposed the
minority system. He said he had been m'i'o''',
member OF the Brooklyn Board OF Aldermen anu
he thought the Republican party as Represented ~
that minority represented the virtue ana intern
oence Of the community but the Democratic MA
ior,tv had the votes and did what 1t pleased a
minority was Of slight value in n common council
Mr. Bush's motion was adopted by an almost uha"'-
nous vote. .
President Choate. who favors the minority rep'e
sentatlon scheme was astonshed at the decision OF
oil
ing "to strike out the whole Of Section T. inasmuch
az there IL nothing In II that is not recognlzei law
Jesse Johnson the chairman OF the Commi'tee Oh
cities must have misunderstood MT Choate att'-
tule toward the amendment. because, addressing
the Convention he said:
The Kaleidoscope changes presented IN reIer
ence ~ The civ Article came so suddenly and
xth, such brilllancy that confess Una. va :
spok; before accepting the amendment thihk
that the motion to strike out that seG.o 40 10
proposition submitted by the Committee on Cities
W f. Lewis. of Rochester. another Republican
delegate also misunderstood Mr.. Choates ATTITUDE
for ne angry said:
Committee on cities said about this resolution as
presented by the president OF the Convention De s
Republican party In this Convention and the people
OF the state Of NcwYork Interested in home ro.e
carefully the man who aimed the gun.
Mr. Choate's motion received only twenty votes
and had about 100 against IT, At the AFTERNOON
sessksn Mr. Choate attempted to obtain the moor
10 Rove n reconsideration OF the vote by when
the minority representation system was Killed
but was unable to do owing to point OF ORDER
raised by George II. Bush.
At the evening session Mr.. Choate moved 10
amend Section by restoring the clause giving
cities authority to have proportional or minority
Of the city OF New-York amounted TO AO.Wo0O an
| nually II Mr.. Mu.lueen thought the Convention
| proposed To confer upon the New-York city egis-
| iattre the power to expend this vast sum inde-
| pendent OF legislative control he was reckoning
| without his host ,, ~.
| Mr. Jacobs again attacked the proposition. The
| greatest frauds In New-York, he said. took place
| under a minority plan. ak Aldermen from each
| party and II they left anything overnight II was
| by inadvertence. . 800.
Chairman johnson said that even those favorahle
! 70 Tammany agreed that the character or the com
| mon councils must be improved before their powers
At this point the discussion interrupted by
the regular order OF adjournment. and the Conven-
| ton rose. Mr. Choate's amendment VIII be the
first one considered tomorrow.
The Committee on Rules following the directions
of the Republican caucus, Will bring In rules to-
morrow TO limit debate. The discussion Of the City
Article will probably be terminated at 245 O'Clock
/ tomorrow afternoon. The order In which the lecd
Ing proposed amendments will be taken up. Il Is
said will be follows City Article. education and
charities reapportlonment forestry. Niagara River
canals. registration citizenship, corrupt practices
civil service reform future amendments employers
| liability. taxation, compulsory voting and pool
selling.