New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-25
NO RAILROADING" OF BILLS
TO PREVENT HASTY ACTION BY THE
LEGISLATURES
AN AMENDMENT LOOKING TO THAT END SENT
TO TIE THIRD READING BY TIE CON
sTITUTIONAL CONVENTION OTHER
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.
'BY TELEGRAPH To TIE TRIBrxp.J

ny TELEGRAPH THE TRIBrxP)
Albany, July 24-Ex- Senator Commodore r. We'd
der an experienced legislator has submitted TO the
constitutional Convention of the best plans for
giving the people good laws that have yet been pub
/ lished 1t is an amendment providing that no bill
shall be passed 10y the Legislature until il has been
at least three days printed and upon the desks OF
| members
The constitutional Convention debated this amend
ineAt to-day, the debate being opened by Mr.. We'd
der himself The ex-senator In support OF his
measure stated that under the present Constitution
bills were sometimes passed in half hour through
both branches of the Legislature: and sometimes
also. were at signed by the Governor This
method OF procedure gave opportunity for a
cilucal examination Of proposed laws by persons
affected. Bills laws before they could utter a
protest Mr. Nedder might have called the atten-
ton of the convention the passage 10y the Demo-
cratic Legislature of 1892 OF the act rubbing the
Mayor Of Buffalo of hts authority to appoint the
Police Commissioners OF that city. and the
icTrihg or the authority TO appoint the Police Com
ihiSsioners upon minor official Of Buffalo.
follower of William F. Sheehan. This act was
passed at O'Clock in the morning. and was signed
by Governor Flower Immediately without hearing
being granted TO the authorities of Buffalo
Ex-senator Mcmillan. of Buffalo. suggested
amendment that the presiding officers Of the Senate
and Assembly be required to certify that bills have
been three days before their Houses before being
passed
Il am opposed TO such amendment" said Mr..
Nedder. because fear that some presiding officers
would have the hardihood TO refuse to certify the
passage of bills and thus defeat them"
"One such presiding officer is retrig pri-
vate nfe." said Mr. Mcmillan. but even he did not
have the hardihood TO refuse to certify the passage
of bills"
The convention. however. rejected Mr. McMillans
suggestion, and then listened to an amendment
offered by Mr.. Durfee. providing that the bill
should be at least three days upon the desks Of
members of the Legislature. in its final form" he
fore being acted upon This amendment was
adopted and then the convention ordered the amend
nent to third reading in the form given below:
Section 10 Of Article III is hereby amended to
80 bill shall be- passed become Il law unless
il shall have been printed and upon the desks OF
the members in its hnal form at least three calen-
dar legislative days prior to its mnal passage. IN
less the Governor or the acting tovrFn2r SnaIl
have certified 20 the necessity OF ITS immediate pas
sage under his hand and the seal of the state nor
snail any Di!' be passed or 9'Gonc law 'NCfm
To each branch OF the Legislature. and upon the
shall be taken Immediately thertafter and the yeas
and nays entered on the journal.
The Convention then debated Mr liihs proposed
amendment to the Constitution permitting the Use
OF voting machines. The proposed Amendment
reads as follows
Section : q Article II 4 III. Constitution IL
All elections by the citizens. except f1r such town
officers may by law be directed 20 Doe otherwisc
chosen. shall De- by ballot or 10y slch o,h"i m''h'i
as may be- prescribed by law provided mat SECRECY
IN voting he preserved
MI Hill said In support OF this amendment that
b. had 20 drawn Il that any Kind % vStins machine
Nigh; Doe used. FOR be- al not wish ~ liHit tAr
permission to The Myers machine.
Nj Lincoln Of CattaraugI- County. caii'l at
tention go The fact hat C'nsrrssmen must ne
elected by ballot under law q Congress This.
In A.s Judgment. made Il impossible - nse the VOTE
ing machines every Two t't-. . ,,.,.
The Convention decided 20 consider Nf. III
amendment again. IN view - this strong oo' ciion
o. Nh Lincoln and Therefore dIl "'t "f''' " 80
thlrl reading.
The Committee on Charities listened 10 argu-
ments this afternoon In favor 81 an Amendment TO
the Constitution. proposed by the state Charities
Ala Society. creating 4 State Commission 81 Irs-
ons. "a state Commission In Lunacy and State
Board OF Charities The Amendment gives the
following duties TO the three commissions
The state Commission OF Prisons shall h"f" 81
perylson and inspection OF all State prisons pcni.
ieutarlcs. jails and all other institutions "A,"p'
reformatoriesl used for The detention ,9i "lnHh
charged with or convicted Of crime. The STATE
Commission in Lunacy shah have SUPERVISION ahI
inspection OF All state hospitals iof 'h' Snr' go
OF all hospitals. asyluns. h9m.s am i"i'a,s.
treatment Of the insane ana prItons OF ui'Spnl
mind Tho State Board Of Char.teS shall nave
institutions Tor the deaf. the blind poor houses,
almshouses. orphan asyluns; ana an asyIun.s nos
nlcipal incorporated, privai" or other, when are
OF charitable. eleemoSynary, corIecu4nai or
rofOrmatory character. excepting only such lnst-
tutions by this section are subject 70 ~" ~
urrvision and inspection Of the state commission
Of Prisons or Of the State Commission In bunacY.
Homer Folks secretary OF the state ChhtIt'S
Ail Society. In support Of this amendment. SAID
The necessity for the supervision and inspeciioi,
by State authorities OF charitable and corr"clohiu
has been recognized by IN" I"gltldlnie
OF the state OF New YORK since the year s,1. Inc
state Charities AID Association ~ convinced that
supervision by Official boards. which has been eH-
erciecd for the last twenty years, ana "h"s"
field has been extended. its usefulness has been
demonstrated, should now be fiVrn "a. Ilsniy
and pcrInancncy OF recognition In the state con
stitutiOn.
Or Mcdonald. president OF the State Comms-
sion I'm Iunacy. made able speech in favor OF
the anne ndment He said II had not been drawn
up with his knowledge. ana he had attended the
Charities AID Society. Yet. having examined the
amendment ~ fully approved H. l,r McDonhll
made IN. remarkable declaration that II New
York civ should take advantage Of the state
care act and surrender the support OF her insane
asylum 10 the State, the institution could be sup
scs( fpi lcs