The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1894-08-30
MINORITY MEANS ANARCHY
Holcomb's Objection to Clause for
Proportionate Representation.
Choate's Motion to Reconsider Causes
Lively Discussion.
(By Associated Press. }

ALBANY, N. Y, Aug. 30.-When the
morning session of the Constitutional
Convention opened to-day, Mr.. Choate
detailed the Committee on Rules to put
the Cities Committee amendment to
vote at 12.45 o'clock to-day.
Mr.. c. B. Mclaughlin wanted to pre-
sent an amendment to the article, and
II this decision of the Committee was
sustained he saw no opportunity to do
So
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 1t clause allowing minority repre-
sentation in the common councils of all
cities over 10000 In population, was
taken up.
Mr.. Holcomb DemocraD, of New
York, was the first speaker, and said
that the proposi tion for minority repre-
sentation was simply to provide buffer
between the will Of the people, the ma
jority and the minority. SO as to keep
resent Anarchy OF. Populism' or Coxey-
ism.
This amendment would certainly let in
minority and What harm lee eoaid these
people not do II they wished to show
hight In body and assimilate with an
argued that they might turn to be ma
jority, and SO overturn the wishes of the
people themselves.
Mr.; G. b; Mclaughlin Republican, Of
| fered substitute for the whole bill as
| follows:
Section There shall be in the several cities
OF the State Common Council or Board Of AL
dermen. to be composed OF such members and
| 10 be elected, and In such manner as is may
be provided by law.
Sec. THE Legislature shall by general laws
confer upon the Common Council Board OF Al.
dermen OF the several cities OF this State, incud-
Ing those that may be hereafter Incorporated, such
further power OF local legislation and admins.
tration as the Legislature may from time to time
deem expedient
MIR. Blake, OF New York, speaking OF
Mr.. Choate's amendment, said that to
In every way un-American, and in every
way an insult to people that hao
always decided to abide by the rule oil
the majority.
Mr.. Root, in heated argument, de,
MED the statement that 1t was an un
American scheme. 1t was time that tn,
great city of the State should have d
!, government that represented all tho
He intimated that II any other party
than the Democratic. party had thu
patronage IN tndt great CITY, IL would Di
able to hold a majority.
The Common Council of New York
representing majority, had been one o
} the worst travesties on justice or pur,
legislation that he had ever seen,
disgrace to the country as well as tn,
; state; He hoped that the amendmen
OF Mr. Choate would prevail, for 1
would be a solution OF the entire ques
ton of good government for large cities
Mr.. Bush said that when the Judi
ciary article was under discussion tn,
President had protested against allow
ing voters to cast vote for only on,
additional Judge of the Court OF APP
' peals. He could see no difference.
II this minority representation was ,
: good thing why did not they extend /
i so that the Republicans OF the cities o
0 Syracuse or Rochester could give tn,
i Democrats representation in the Com
ton?
He believed that this was simply
scheme to make the Democrats Yot
against the whole article of the Con
stitutlon and then the Republicans cal
60 to the people and say. we tried t
give you home rule, but the Democrat
would not let u.s."