The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
Convention Winds Up Its
Work and Only Details
Are Left.
ROOT BIGGEST FACTOR
IN THE DELIBERATIONS
Short Ballot and ReOrgani-
zation Most Important
Changes.


ALp.Hr. Sept. AFTER passing thirty |
three articles and amendments to the
State Constitution at cost Of $4,000,
compared with the passage OF the same
number OF amendments by the conven- |
t,on OF 1895 at cost OF s563,ooo, the
Constitutional convention was adj
tournen promptly at I o'clock tonight, |
the appointed hour. by President Root,
This is a month less than was occupied
by the last Constitution making body.
Adjournment was taken until $50
next Thursday night when the conven-
tlon delegates are to come back for
twenty four hours to formally pass upon
the state Constitution with thirty-three
articles and amendments dovetailed into
n and ready for submission to vote
OF the people on November >.
The last thing the convention did was
TO name George W. Wickersham. Judge
Aphonso T. Clearwater, Jacob Gould
schurman. Seth Low. Judge Ledyard p.
Hale. Morgan ]. O'Brcn and Alfred +.
Smith a committee to prepare an ad-
dress TO the people OF the State explain
ing the work of the convention and the
reasons which prompted the convention
IN making these amendments to the
Constitution.
Drive Out Invisible Rule.
President Root will also be member
OF this committee and the address Will
be in the nature OF a summons to the
voters TO the polls on November :, 10
vote for the new Constitution II they
are TO drive invisible government out
OF the Car'fol and make the Chief
Executive Of the State not only the Gov
ernor but the boss OF the party which
names him.
In his address as presiding officer OF
the Republican State convention at
Saratoga last year President Root de-
clared for the short ballot, reorganiza-
ton OF State departments and central
Iyation OF power In the Governor an
executive budget, retrenohment n
State expenditures through economy and
n rearrangement OF the State bond debt,
home rule for cities and counties, the
y conservation of the natural resources OF
he State and a revision OF the judiciary
article so az to do a"ay with the laws
dalays and reduce the cost of litigation
10 the poor man.
These are the big things which have
been accomplished through the amend
men,s to the Constitution. as was
ro'nted out by President Root tonight
when he told his friends that the con-
vention could we'll adjourn as 1t had ac-
compl,shcd the work u had set out to
a.
To bring about these reforms required
much diplomacy and patience on the
part Of President Root and his lieuten-
ants in the convention, who have come
10 he termed the Federal crowd as
distinguished from the New York State
machine Republicans who have not been
identified with national politics. but the
"Federal crowd" won out on every point
and not a thing was left undone by the
convention that President Root desired.
Root Has His Way.
TIE personality OF President Root
dominated the convention from start to
hnlsh and he had but to express an
opinion to have II backed up by a sub
stantial majority OF the delegates OF the
convention on every issue. On some oc-
cas!ons It took time to smooth out the
Wrinkles. but President Root was tact
m and patient and accordingly success
Nii
Herbert Parsons. Jacob Brenner.
Frank l. Young. Raymond d. Cobb and
De Lancey Nicoll were appointed COM
m'ttee TO determine upon the time and
manner Of submitting the thrty-three
anendments to the people. whether they
WY he fitted into the present Constitu-
ton and submitted as a whole, or some
o' them submitted separately.
u Is expected that nearly all OF them
MI he submitted in blocks. so that the
tail will go with the hide. The only
ar''cl" which 1t has been suggested
should be submitted separately Is the
taxation article
Judge Clearwater introduced reso-
Iuilon to-day. which was sent to the COM
mlitee having the matter in charge. pro-
Nldiug for the separate submission OF the
TAX article on the ground tina. he had
received letters from many farmers pros
testing against provision which would
permit the State Tax Commission at AL
many to tax as personal property the
cattle and agricultural implements on
farms. which is now done by the
veal assessors, or rather not done.
President SAKE OF tho State Tax Com
MISSION, who was also a delegate 20 the
convention, declared that some one had
heen misinforming the farmers and that
wore was so much other personal prop
er'y IN the State To tax II would never
b" necessary to classify personal prop-
er'v on the farms for purposes Of taxa
ton
End Comes suddenly.
A. this mornings session : o'clock to-
night was set as the hour for adjourn
men', and the expectation was that the
hdha' on the clock would be stopped, as
usual with legislative adjournments
ana That the convention session would
gra@ on until early Sunday morning
hlt President Root refused to consent 10
any such practices and adjourned the
convection promptly on the hour, al
Wough il was in the midst Of business.
As matter OF fact the convention
adjourned right IN the midst OF debate
ol IN" amendment of Alfred f. Smit n
Wnl'h provides for the establishment OF
LYING wages for women and children,
me last amendment to he passed just
oeIor" 7 o'clock was the bill of rights
s1ic'e' which was stripped OF its big
Nnsndm"nts by large votes. 1t finally
u Continued oa Ei0hfh p00e