The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1894-12-01
NEW YeRK's CONSTITUTION

the Republican principle of protection
over the Democratic principle of free
trade, and in New York city of honest
government over the Tammany Doodle
system, says an exchange, that all
else was overshadowed, but as
a matter of fact the adoption of
the new constitution of the state of
New York was long and highly i'm
portant step toward reform in consti-
tutional law Twenty four years ago
Illinois made no less important step
of the same general character, albeit
the system of cumulative voting for
members of the assembly was grew
Gus mistake, one which each successive
general assembly, prior to the one
just elected, has concurred in demon
strating to have been a mistake. Very
likely the new constitution of the en-
pire state will prove to be imperfect,
but il is none the less landmark of
progress.
In the submission of the constitu.
tion to a vote of the people the conven-
tion called for an expression on three
separate propositions. First, the main
body of the document; second, the new
apportionment; third, the provision on
canal improvement. All were adopted.
There was practically no contest over
the last, for in 1t there was no politi-
cal or ethical questions involved, only
the best utilization of the Erie canal
1t is matter of congratulation to the
west, quite as much as to that state,
that this feature of the constitution
was adopted. Whatever tends to en-
large the usefulness of that great fac
tor in cheap transportation for grain
is clearly in the interest of the grain
growing western states.
The apportionment was district
ing of ths state from a Republican
point of view, aud in way to correct
with sharp turn the Democratic ap-
portionment of three years ago. 1t
was fought against strongly by the
party, as was natural, but it carried
by good round majority. 1t divided
the state into fifty senatorial districts,
each entitled to one senator. The
state is also divided into $50 assembly
districts, each entitled to one member.
Each county has at least one member
of the house, except that Hamilton
county is CO mblned with Fulton. New
York county has thirty-6ve members.
The division ef counties having more
than one mem Der of the house is to be
made under general Legislation to be
enacted this winter by the several
county boards, except that the consti-
tuition provides safeguards against
gerrymandering.
The ethical feature is the prohibi-
ton of pool selling at races and all
other forms of gambling. This was
fought most bitterly by the sporting
fraternity and all the race-track in
terests. A great deal of money, it is
said, was raised for the purpose of de-
feating the constitution as whole
with special eye to this prohibition.
Some horse men insist that New York
has sounded the death knell of the turf.
Others, again, maintain that speeding
can and will adjus. itself to the new
condition and ultimately be the better
for the elimination of the gambling
feature
Radical changes were made in the
judicial department, and Is thought
that these changes will prove of incal-
culable advantage to justice as admin
istered in the courts. The admirable
civil service provision reads thus:
Section 8. Appointments aud promo
tions in the civil service Of the state, and
Of all the civil divisions thereof. includ-
ing cities and villages, shall be made
accordIpgto merit andl fitness, to be as
SO far as practicable, by
which, SO far as practicable,
shall be competitive; provided, however,
That honorably discharged soldiers and
sailors from the army and navy of the
United States in the lste civil war, who
are citizens and residents of this state,
shall be entitled to preference in appoint
ment and promotion, without regard to
their standing on the list from which
'uch appointment or promotion may be
made. Laws shall be made to provide
or the enforcement of this section.
The state of New York is to be I
upon the wisdom shown
~ the trainers of this constitution, II
md upon the good sense of the people
n adopting the whole of it.
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