New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-13
TAMMANY AND HOME RULE
MIR. SPEER SAYS THE ORGANIZATION
BACKS HIS AMENDMENT
A PROPOSITION TO ESTABLISH COMPULSORY AR
EXTRAORDINARY OTHER AMEND

Albany. July l2.-The Democratic amendment TO the
Constitution giving nome rule TO cities and maxi
ing them Independent of control In any manner by
the Legislature introduced in the constitutional
Convention a few days ago by William McMurtrie
Speer Tammany Hall delegate and the Editor OF
The Albany Argus" the personal organ OF Gov
ernor Flower and the newspaper mouthplece of the
Hill Murphy Croker organization Of the Democratic
party In this State. The amendment attracted little
attention at the time because IT was not then known
to be supported by the State Democratic organiza-
ton. Mr. Speer himself made declaration TO that
effect to-day Yesterday in the Committee on Cities
he made an unsuccessful effort to obtain favorable
report upon the amendment. Every Democrat pres
ent the committee meeting voted FOR 1t. Ii was
also stated by Mr.. Speer that all the Democratic
members of the committee were In FAVOR OF the
amendment.
The Republican members OF the committee voted
soidiy In opposition to reporting the amehumeh'
favoraby The amendment is given below:
Sections 49, % and q Of Article Of the Constttu
tlon OF the State Of New-York are hereby amended
Sec IS The Legislature shall not pass private
or local bill in any of the following cases:
In regard the affairs Of cities
Sec p There shall be In the several counne a
the county Board OF Supervisors. and in the sew,
eral cities a Board Of Aldermen. to be composed OF
such period as Is or may be provided by law In
any city the duties and powers Of board OF super
visors may be deyoved upon the Board OF Alder
Sec %. The Legislature shall by general laws
confer upon the boards of supervisors OF the sew
erai counties OF the State. and upon the boards OF
aldermen of the several cities OF the state, suen
powers Of local legislation and administration as
| the Legislature may, from time 70 time, deem eX,
pedient. and such powers shall be the same IN all
! the counties and the cities of the State.
II will be observed that this amendment makes
the cities OF the State little principaties within
the State Of New-York. entirely independent Of
the control OF its Legislature. The design OF the
amendment Is apparently to create little legslat-
1ft,t. ,trpl ~. 10
charters and government. The Board Of Aldermen
OF New-York would thus be substituted for the
| present LEGISLATURE of the entire State meeting at
| Albany This, IN the opinion OF many Republican
delegates. would be a singular retrogresson in the
method of governing the State; since or late years
the tendency has been TO strip boards OF aldermen
| OF their powers owing to the fact that they APP
peared to be controlled by bribery and other forms
OF corruption.
Mr. Spcer moved in the convention to-day that
| the Committee on Cities be discharged from fur
Their consideration Of his amendment He said
the committee refused to submit the adverse report
| to the convention.
President Choate asked If any one desired to de-
| bate Mr. Specr's motion. Jesse johnson tEep)'
chairman o. Committee Cities. said he did.
and the motion therefore went over for consdera-
| ton until tomorrow.
| John l. Gilbert of Malone. Franklin County, SUBJ
| mittel an amendment providing for compulsory
| arbitration II says:
The Legislature shall, by general laws. provide
for the establishment Of boards of arbitration with
rr,,,t'rs Of controversy between employers and
| EMPLOYEES as affect public interests. 49,
M ber fad u 5 sgpe eop oil ols
| smch cases as that OF railroad strikes. The public
| road employees When the public interests are con-
| ccr7.cd there should be compulsory arbitratlon,
Tho Committee on Suffrage reported favoraby TO-
| day the proposed amendment to the Constitution
suggested by the Republican club and submitted 20
| -.
non partisan boards OF election inspectors ior all
Thc Committee on Suffrage also reported favorably
| Mr. Holls's amendment to bring about compulsory
John T. Plat, Editor OF The Poughkeepsie
| Eagle" appeared before the Committee on Legsla,;
hv veas and NAYS on all bills passed by the Legis-
| iature should be- abolished He said tina. Congress
at,rtv Of the bills before them by unanimous CON
| sent The dime OF the Legislature was wasted FOR
SolIn9lls on petty bis Debate on the importan,
bills thus prevented The ron snoua Us "a oS tsa
| Senators and Assembymeu. The committee listened
| fayorably to Mr. Patts suggestion, ana instructed
| him 10 draw up the proposed amendment. . 80,
! In uuusull.y larg. number Of amendments 70 tne
Constitution were introduced to-day rug "a ,,:S
been adopted that none shall be accepted d''e' 'u'S
| l. without luminous consent. 49,, c,,r,,i,.ao on
| Jesse Johnson, chairman OF he oo"''''ee '
| Ci,le. offered this amendment:
| For me purpose 81 securing fair elections equal
majority ana minority represenlt9M sma', pc c,iies
! and ~ law should De passed mparins sucn eauaL ,
90 or m pr5vi@i by law For the purpose Of So
curing such equality. laws may De- pAsei pro' ..e
i9r 10" rommssioners equal in number, by a
| vote of the members ot the two D Dramas ,cb
the Legislature conysnea IN Jo" s,rSwei 10 vote
! H,r but one-htlt 81 such commissioners; ana thc
emhr Of Se Leg ,b 1i 0 ha OF such COM
| mtssion.r. The Legislature may devOve on suCh
| n"yyar n appoint city e.ectlon commissioning or
| n,h.r election officers OF any city provided now
| ever that such majority and minority S,I I -
| si,rsrs shall appoint an equa. number. ana tne
persons appointed by the majority an" "'''''''
| Shall have IN all respects equal power
| The following proposed amendments were a'so
| submitted:
By Mr. Observation-Disclosures to home rule for cites.
ami prohibiting the Legislature from passing DIS
scs-incnt- collection OF taxes. salaries OF cho'ce %
'' Ry Mr Tatksr~ requiring the weekly payment Of
WAGES OF employees Of CORPORATIONS, =, declare
Mo gE.ns ~ me boys shW constitute lawful
DAYS work in all except agricultural occupI, Is
M n s sae sbaf Be SAs 81 E'5P'sSGaf
avs regarding their reai;on to , the~ seci5n
| giving the Assembly the power OF Impeachment by
a majority vote Of AZ member. e;,cI,ed5 ssc.,,,
renlring the LEGISLATURE to provide FOR the resua-
lion OF conventions ana primary mensy and pre-
Vent corrup, practices AT such meetings and cleo
,,rynlos I second division Of the Court Of Appeal:
.,rslsf.n, OF three judges OF the court OF |Ppe'S
| and four adlitiona, Judges TO be selected by !ot
| By Mr. Durfce-Providing that me Governor an
and places OF choosing members Of Assembly s 49,
aiding new section to Article 2 providing maj
,sr,ors may vote in concert wiki others IN approval
| md for the promotion OF pubic policies -
| Rv ~ Fl Seet-Provlding that no private OF
| lorIl bin shall be passed by the Legisature en-
hr,clng more than subject. which snail De con-
| ~ AIR Recker-Ameniing Article 10: Section u
| ., 1revent removals by the Governor or publc on
| GERS except for good cause
| TO ELIMINATE THE IILlTERATE NOIE.
| REPORT IN FAVOR OF AN EDUCATIONAL
| QUALIFICATIONS no ACTION on wo-
| MAN SUFFRAGE.
Albany. July Y (SpecaD.-The Committee on
| chic 10