The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-05-28
INGRAHAM TELLS
OF JUDICIAL EVILS
Justice, at Secret Session Of
Constitution Makers, At
tacks State System.
SCORES ELECTIVE SYSTEM

ALBANY, May 27.-Although two
" thirds Of the constitutional convention
ct" committee on the judiciary agreed to-
% day with Presiding Justice George j..
ingraham Of the Appellate Division OF
New York that an appointivc Judiciary
would be superior to the present elective
body IL is not believed that the people
OF the state would approve OF this
change. and so the convention Is not
expected to adopt the suggestion CHAIR
man Wickersham OF the committee II
one Of those favorlng the appointive
judiciary.
For more than three hours to-day
: Justice Ingraham behind closed doors
:. exposed the faults OF the pre- ent JUDI
2 ciary system TO the committee. The
committee stenographers were not al
h lowed to take down his remarks.
Another OF the suggestions OF Justice
{. Ingraham which may he approved ny
= the convention Is that there shall be
' standing referees at fixed salaries to take
the place Of the referees now named
by the Judges.
Justice Jngraham also is said 70 have
suggested TO the committee that all the
present exemptions from jury duty be
abolished, leaving II to the presiding
Justices at trials TO grant temporary
excuses for specified reasons. A ma
Jority OF the judiciary committee feel
that there Is need for this reform.
Delegates Eyes Opened.
There was much interest among the
delegates In the revelations ot Justice
Ingraham. Even President Root post
poned important conferences TO remain
while the Justice was speaking. 1t was
admitted after the hearing that the
qualifications OF Judges in the state
were discussed thoroughly. and II wa
said that the Justice put before the COM
mittee specific instances OF wrongdolng.
II was stated that he asserted present
day judges have not only TO answer TO
the people. but that they also have TO
so temper their decl ions and actions as
to please POLITICAL bosses and other
people. No one would say whether or
not Justice lngraham attacked the
honesty and integrity OF any Judges.
On good authority 1t was learned that
Judge Ingraham went into a lengthy
discussion and explanation OF his state
ment before the Bar Association that
Judges have to curry favor of political
leaders. or the populace. or the eNecu-
tive or legislative departments OF gov
eminent"
Gov. whitman. II is said, has been
working with Justice Ingraham toward
reform in the judicial system. IL was
recalled tina, on several OF MS Trips 10
New York the Governor said he had
been to see Justice 1ngraham to help IN
working out certain reforms.
Alfred f. Smith OF New York city. the
Democratic leader of the Assembly, pro-
posed "A series OF amendments to the
Constitution designed to improve the
financial system OF the State. Including
the issuance OF serial bonds instead of
the present fixed term bonds. THIS last
proposal Is approved by the New York
% houses.
New Legislative plan.
Mr.. Smith also proposed an amend
ment taken from the Constitution the
provision that every county In the state
shall nave representation IN the AsseT'
bly, except Fulton and Hamilton couh-
ties, which nave joint representation.
Mr.. Smiths Idea is To AVE the Assem-
blymen apportioned according to popu-
lation. thereby increasing New York
city's repi esentation.
State Chairman Frederick c. Tanner
proposed AN amendment when w'u!d
give the Governor the authority to de-
crease items In the appropriation bills
a. we'll as the power TO veto them.
Russell Virgins would give the Legs
lature or the state canal board pOwer
to fix rates OF toll on the barge canals
Of the State now nearing completion.
The canals nave been free since their
construction. but at a hearing before the
committee on Governor and State officers
last week Superintendent of Public
Works W W. Wotherspuon said he
thought the canal could be made self
supporting by the imposition Of - toll
rate and at the same tine ct interfere
with the regulatory power Of tho canal
system over railroad frciGht rates.
ARalnr Stn,s A,I,L - L,A,L1,,, n,a,a.nI
an amendment giving the Presiding Jus
tices OF the Appellate Divisions power to
make temporary designations OF Supreme
Court Justices to the Appellate Divisions
and giving the Appellate Divisions the
authority to modify sentences in GRIM
inAi cases.
Patrick ". Cullinan Of Osweeo intro
duosd . resolution asking the canal
board 70 furnish the convention with q
statement showing all contracts existing
between the State and private corpora
tions or persons leasing water powers.
MI. Cullinan declared that many cor
porations are capitalizing for fabulous
sums water powers owned by the State,
for which they pay the nominal rental
Of u.
Too Many state Jobs.
Secretary OF State Hugo told the Com
mittee on Governor and state officers
that there are altogether too many State
Jobs at the disposal OF politicians. and
he advocated returning to the elective
State officers many OF their duties which
have been taken away from time to
time by the creation OF separate boards
and bureaus. each with an official head,
deputies. secretaries and flucks OF en-
ployees.
State Tax Commissioner SAKE told
tho committee that the present tax sys-
tenn OF this State and other States was
a patchwork growth.
1T was TO a great extent the result
Of a policy which the late Speaker Nixon
once described as 'plucklng the goose
with the least squa viking" said Mr..
SAKE. hut to-day all the feathers had