New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-01-19
CHANGING AN OLD ORDER.

The chief object Of the constitutional
revision which is about 10 be attempted
i'm New Jersey is To reverse an order
Of affairs which has existed since the
fc1noation Of the American govern
rtpeas. Numerous minor changes are
desired I'm the constitution of the state
and upon some of them nearly all men
ESQ agreed, But the one supreme
Casnge. far tranScending in importance
oil others put together. relates to the
basis Of election Of the state Senate
If II should be effected it would trans
form the whole theory Of the state
soeernment. toward which TRANSFORMS
tinn indeed. one important step has
already been taken.
Yts government Of New Jersey j.
modelled after that Of the United
States. perhaps more closely than that
of any other state. Its leading prih-
c.ple is that of equality Of units All
voters are equal within their own inu-
nicipalities. An municipalities are
eouaI I'm sending each one member 10
the County Board of Freeholders. All
; counties are equal In sending each one
B Senator 10 the state Senate: precisely
as each state in the Union. large OF
small. sends two Senators TO Washing
ION Then there is a State Assembly
p modelled after the national House OF
REPRESENTATIVES. with its members APP
uortioned 10 the counties according 10
popnlation. but with at least one mem
her for each county. however small
Tins the individuality Of townships
and counties is preserved and the rights
Of minoritics are protected.
There has recently been enacted how
ever a law under which several coun'
ties have changed the system Of elect
ipa. freeholders. so that instead Of there
being one for each township there Is
merely small board elected by the
county aS whole on a general ticket
The result Of this is, naturally that all
the members of the board come from
one or two OF the largest places in the
county. leaving the minor municipal
ties unrepresented. Now the purpose
Of the constitutional revisers is 10 abol-
iSh the unit Senatorial system and 10
have Senators elected by districts III
stead OF by counties, so that while each
county NAV still have at least one Sen
ator the larger counties will each have
several Senators and the equality
among counties in that branch Of the
P AL 10 rr,VnR
: three OF the largest counties will be
able to outvote all the rest OF the state
in the Senate as well as I'm the Assem-
bly. Thus the small counties will he
reduced i'm influence and the minority
will be deprived of its present protec-
ton.
That this is the chief aim Of those
who are moving for constitutional re-
vision Is frankly confessed. and is
, shown in the fact that the bill which
has been introduced provides for a
constitutional convention elected on the
same basis as the present Assembly,
thus assuring full control of 1t TO three
or four big counties. or course, this
4 Dill Will nave W run NHt SdhtINN Va 'hN
Senate. in which the small counties
/ still have equal representation with the
big ones. IL may meet with disaster
; there, as former similar proposals have
/ done. Or it may be accepted by the
/ Senate on the theory that II is best
10 change the old order and abandon
/ the principle of county equality, as in
deed some have urged should be done
: IN the case Of the United States Sen
ate. There are likely to be some Sc
rious thinking and earnest debating In
4 New Jersey before the matter is set
tied.