New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-04-03
THE MAYOR KEPT 1T TOO LONG
A BILL ACCEPTED BY MR.. STRONG
PASSED AGAIN.

PASSED AGAIN.
THE SENATORS HAD LONG DISCUSSION AS TO
ITS STATUS, AND RAISED y QUESTION ABOUT
THE NEW CONSTITUTION WHICH MAY
BE TAKEN INTO THE COURTS
Albany April (SpecaD.-Beau,ies OF the new
Constitution disclosed every day to the Legs
iature. That body. however. to-day rather
dazed view OF the Constitution projected upon
its vision which 1t had not perceived before Poll
ticians like lake" Worth and William Barnes. jr..
who are hanging about the Legislature trying to pick
up crumbs of patronage for the Plat machine were
greatly disturbed by what they What demon
allied them that the Constitution. in the
View of many of the leading members OF the Leg
islature. gives an absolute power of veto to the
Mayors OF cities upon city bills after the adjourn
ment OF the Legislature. Moreover. in the opinion
of the men. II gives a great power OF veto to
Mayors OF cities while the Legislature Is in
session Thus general bills the Mayors have
authority to checkmate each other for the Constitu
ton declares that such bil II it relates to more
than city, shall be transmitted TO tho Mayor Of
each city 10 which IL relates and shall not be
deemed accepted unless accepted by every such
city" When this part OF the new Constitution
had been inspected by the state Senators to-day.
they were debating what should be done with bill
of Senator Ahearns that had been kept by Mayor
Strong beyond the period OF time allotted by tho
Constitution, the remark was made TO Senator
OConnor by Senator OSuilivan: You ought
have made the New-York Removal bill a general
measure and then put UP job with Mayor Jewett.
OF Buffalo TO veto IT, In that case. Strong would
not have gained the power to slug you Platt men
In the neck"
The bill which caused this general examination
OF the Constitution one introduced by Senator
Ahearn OF NewYork. II amends the hremen's
pension in a manner absolutely satisfactory to
fb. a.,f No -Xo- md. no
Constitution. had fifteen days in which to consider
the bill. He took nineteen days and then sent tho
bill back TO Clerk Kenyon. of the Senate. informing
him that he accepted the measure in behalf OF the
city. But when Clerk Kenyon transmitted the bill
to Governor Morton, the Governor that Mayor
Strong had kept the bill beyond the allotted time
lie therefore doubted If the measure was still alive.
and ne sent 1t back to the Senate. There Icuten-
ant-Covernor SaXtOn ruled that vitality would bo
restored to the measure. II it had lost any in a
legal sense IL the Senate ana Assembly again
passed it. The Senate thereupon plunged into
informal discussion Of the meaning OF the new
Constitution. The Democratic Senators argued
that Mayors did not have power az veto over
bills and tina: it not necessary TO pass a hn
again which may be vetoed by them. The reference
OF bills 10 Mayors. they reasoned was merely 20
get Mayors formal opinion OF bill This would
guide Governor IN acting upon n bill.
Senator Raines said he differed with his Demo-
cratic colleagues. In his opinion the new Consii-
tuition made the Mayors OF cities hold equal powers
with the Legislature. They could hold UP leglsa-
ton. and the Constitution also gave them tho alb
soute power Of bills passed within fifteen
DAYS Of the Legislatures adjournment. They could
hold them until after the Legislature adjourned
and thus Kill them; for there would b" no body IN
existence to which TO send Information Of their ap-
prevail disapproval Of bills. Moreover. the
Mayors of cities under the new Constitution could
veto general acts. whose enactment into law was
Ito f.,,4b a Of cfh sift
Senator OSullivan Ocm.). in reply. said that he
did read the Constitution In that way. He then
read the following section OF the Constitution In re-
gard 10 general city laws.
Whenever. during the session at which = was
passed, any such bin IL returned without tho &C
ceptance Of the city cities TO which 1t relates or
within such fifteen days Is not returned II may
nevertheless again be passed by both branches Of
the Legislature and II shall then De subject as arc
other bills 10 the action Of the Governor"
Senator O'Sullivdn then argued that the word
'rnay" in the above section was pcrmissive. and
that the Legislature was not compelled 20 pass again
"A bill vetoed BY Mayor in order that II might
be transmitted to the Governor. He also argued
that Jake Worths bill, providing that the Brook
lyn Board of Aldermen shall be elected by Senate
districts which signed accidentally by Governor
Morton yesterday. without his being aware mat
Mayor Schieren had vetoed T.. law.
'Ir were Mr.. Worth" declared Senator OSulli-
van Il would have the constitutionality OF that law
tested at In the Court OF Appeals bc'''V" IL
constitutional for do not believe tho Mayors are
given an absolute power OF veto ] do not believe
that the Constitutional Convention Intended 10 give
the Mayors or cities Veto po"'I o'ei IA" ~"
making power . -. . IT,,
senator Cantor said he must hold with tn" Lieu
tenant-I;overnor that where bill was Vctoe. by a
Mayor OF a city IL must be passed once more y
Legislature. 49, s...o, ,,,,.r,,s I'm
and again pas II. II is doubtful II the senate
acted legally IN taking this action When edriler
in N. winter a bill detailed by Mayor Jcwett,
- nuNalo accidentally beyond the ntc"n days
Granted him by the Constitution, the Governor th"n
beld that alt hough IL approved by MI JcWctt
II must again introduced IN the Legislature
and 20 through all the stages OF pvanceih"h' Just
as though 1t were new bill. rms course was not
taken with Senator Ahcarn's BIZ to-day. IL was
trea ed az though II had been vetoed when IN act
i, was accepted by Mayor Strong. Tho Constitution
savs that the Legislature may pass such measures
again when they have been disapproVcI bN q
Mavor but II says nothing about the I'e&islatures
ortion when n bin has been approved by Il Mayor
Tho only defect the standing OF Senator Aheafns
bJI is thn, It was kept beyond the fifteen days
Thus there IL blot upon itS record ,'he SPiih-
Ter in the course Of the debate on the Ahcarn bll
said that 1t his opinion that II a Mayor hsH.
lected act upon blll Wthin the Ht"cH-uhE
granted that be dsapproved OF H. ana once more
The best lawyers of the Senate intend 10 make a
thorough examination Of the constitution upon
Assembly and the Senate. Probably the Court or
Appeals In the end, xiii have 10 interpret 10 mo
pcop.e OF the state what was IN" intention OF me
members OF the Committee on cities OF IN" consul
tutionai Convention when 1t prepared ms amend
ment.
WILL OPPOSE THE AMENDMENTS.