New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-29
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.

/
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
/ The Constitutional Convention has finished ~
! worl, and submits the result to the judgment Oh
| the peoplc We have followed the proceedings
with constant care and with general approoa
tion and are convinced that the amendments
nronosel for adoption though not in every par
,icular entirely satisfactory. will prove highly
useful to the State If they become paris Oh I'S
organic law. 1t is not probable that the Con
vcntion will be historically famous eitbcr d!
reason Of the quality of its membership or the
magnitude of its achievements CONTAINING
large number of intelligent and excellent dele
gates II did not contain a remarkable proportion
of eminent men, Confronted with long anu
complicated task. il had no problems OF superb
five inheritance to deal with. Yet on the whole.
II has been diligent and faithful Coh'eluon'
and in the aggregate ii has accomplished large
amount OF work which is honorable ana prom
ises to be salutary.
The Convention has been loudly accused by
the Democratic party. through It's represent
ativcs on the floor in the press ana i'll It's state
Convention of rank partisanship. But TINS Is
mere defamation An extraordinary number OF
amendments have been adopted without dl-
vision on party lines. and three or four nave
supplied all the material for Democratic dc-
nunciaton. The people in reality have had more
reason 70 complain because the majority intrust-
cd nv them with the task Of amending the Con-
stItution have not always exercised their just
authority with proper firmneSs. Inc schene Oh
legislative appOrtlonmcnt has naturally enouS"
aroused the opposition OF Democrats, VINO see
that their own notorious gerrymahdcr mas p'''
largely nullifcd; but the new plan, lat'Iy rec''
fed az some points in spirit OF harness. 'hey
themselves know AT heart TO he undcser'lhe Oh
their angry criticism. The city article III ls
original form contained one provision when
Democrats strcnrously opposed namely mat
which empowered the Governor 10 remove h'auS
OF police departments and appoint their success
sors That amendment, we are sorry 10 say. has
been withdrawn and no longer troubles them.
The city article also contained one provision
which gave Democrats great satisfaction, ne
cause 1t gave TO Mayors an absolute power OF
veto over the Legislature. Fortunately, mat
amendment has been radically changed. IL now
requires The Legislature 10 pass again ny Il
ma iorIty vote local measures 10 which city an-
thoritjcs have not consented. thus allowing far
expression to public and official opinion ana an
is doubtless far less than Democrats desired. but
we believe that it Is all which the public wei
fare nj present can afford 10 conccde. Demo
Gratis have also aniagonzcd with considcraDlc
bitterness and for obvious reasons the amend
mpnt which recognizes the value of American
citizenship by recurring aliens to be naturalizcd
ninety days before voting and they have shown
some scattering opposition to two three salu-
hon
orderly and intelligent But the amendments
which we have thus indicated are the only ones,
we believe. in the whole list on which the
strongest prejudice could possibly base charge
Of offensive partsanship. There - no reason
why they should excite popular apprehension
and complaint, and We have no idea that they
will.
In another category are many amendments
which. though earnestly opposed for various red
sons by individuals and In some cases by a
large minority, are not In respect 10 thelr char-
acter or the vote upon them party measures
The judiciary article Is one OF these, and the
firm conviction of nearly AL the reputable ana
competent authorities in the State Is that II
will not only symmetrize judicial procedure. but
stand the ultimate test Of utility by making
Justice more prompt and sure. Likewise III the
class Of absolutely non-partisan and generally
welcome amendments are those requiring an
equal party division Of election officers, provid-
Ing for separate municipal elections forbidding
the sale Of any part Of the forest preserve or
of any timber upon il, abolshing the Office ~
Coroner as a constitutional officer. removing the
limit Of damages for the loss Of life, forbldding
the Use or acceptance for himself or another by
any nubiic servant OF railroad BASS or tclp-
graph frank, prohibiting pools lotteries. book
making and every form Of gambling, and the
articles on education, charities and the canals.
Without eXhausting the record. this enumera-
ton discloses It's scope and character. We be-
lieve that the people will approve 1t and the
future make clear its substantial merits.