New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-07-07

\ WESTERN OPINION UNAVOIDABLE TO THE
MINORITY REPRESENTATION PLAN-A NEW
REFERENDUM AMENDMENT.
,Yno: THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF .HE TRIBUNE
Albany July Cone Of the problems which the
Constitutional Convention Is considering is that
Of the separation Of State and city elections.
This project is especially pushed by the City Re-
form Clubs. The representatives. Of these or
PLANTATIONS recently suggested amendment
providing for the election OF the Board Of Alder
men OF Ncw-Yor and Brooklyn by a system Of
minority representation.
Commodore i. Vedder to-day received a letter
from c. II. Crawford. a member Of the Illinois
Legislature, declaring that the minority system
had worked harmfully in his state. Mr.. Vedder
showed his letter to his fellow delegates. and 1t
had depressing effect upon the Reform clubs.
Extracts from the letter are given follows:
II has often happened that by reason OF plump
ing" TO help a weak candidate. the most deserving
eentod ~. tao noombors ~ tho unorit, Marty In
1872 this happened in the district | represented in
the Senate; one Republican candidate 5or the
while the other Republican was 1900 behind the
lowest Democrat. This cost the Republican party
a United States Senator You see there were
enough Republicans to have elected two members.
had they voted one and one-half votes for each
one and his friends ali threw their three votes to
him The same thing has happened twice in my
own district since l have represented IT, / prefer
the old way.
The Committee on Cities will probably act on
the home rule amendment next week
Mr.. Moore. OF Plattsburg. called up his resolu-
ton requiring the convention to hold sessions six
days In the week. Most OF the delegates attend
10 their private business at home on Saturdays.
and therefore the resolution was defeated.
John 7. McDonough, Of Albany offered an
amendment providing for a referendum on any
measure passed by the Legislature. The amend
ment reads as follows:
Tho Legislature may at any popular election sub
nit the Of the electors TO be affected by any
act In question whether such act shall or shall not
become a law: and in case a majority OF all the
votes shall be cast against an act so submitted,
then 1t shall bepull and void: but in case ma
ioritv of eli the' votes shall be cast for such an
/ act II shall become a law at SUCH time as the
Legislature shall designate.
with the view Of expediting the work Of the
convention the Committee on Rules presented a
rule to-day providing that after July ID no dele
gate shall receive pay for any day upon which ne
is absent without leave This rule has reference
to several members who are not attending the
sessions. Judge Koch. OF New-York, for instance
has not yet been present The Convention adopt
eli the rule and also another providing that after
July Is all new amendments to the constitution
snail De ftlrTTeu WlNlOut piiHNlHS ~ AN'i'i
committee OF five who shall pass upon them and
decide whether they shall be sent to committee
or not; AMI that after August the call for new
amendments shall be omitted and thereafter nc
now amendments shall be INTRODUCED except on
the report OF a committee
The Committee on Suffrage reported favorably
Mr. HIlrs proposed amendment authorizing the
use Of the Myers voting machine
Mr. Tucker introduced an amendment provid'
ING for a Constitutional Convention in 1904. witt
one delegate from each Senate and each Assembly
! district .
The Committee on Charities will give hna
hearing on Wednesday upon the proposed amend
! lncut prohibiting sectarian appropriations fol
/ charitable institutions.
/ The Committee on Suffrage Will take vo''
/ ON the woman suffrage amendment On July IL.
| The Committee on Preamble VIII give hearlnt
/ on wednesday afternoon on Mr. IekuIsky
| amendment abolishing the Ives Pool Tax law.
The Committee on the judiciary TO-DAY ap
/ pointed subcommittee consisting OF tracy =
! Reckor Delaney Nicoll and j. Rider Cady I.
/ draw up a new jury system amendment proVd
ing for the appoin tment OF commissioners o.
I Jurors bv Judges OF courts OF record