The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-03

I'VE are confronted by n question Of
personal liberty. The State has ample
authority under the police power to deal
with the evils that have been pointed
out. The condition OF tenements has
SO improved that the average enement
house from a sanitary standpoint Is In
a much better condition than the pri-
vate houses OF our city. You should
not put in the Constitution this charac-
ter OF special legislation"
Conservation Bill Passed.
There were only eleven votes against
the conservation article when II passed
the convention to-day and 12l for II de-
spite the fact that 1t is claimed "A nine
headed unpaid conservation commission
was established upon the idea that II
could be easier controlled by interests
who want TO commercialize the Adiron-
dacks tina a single headed commission.
But those who favored the bill In
sisted that the Constitution was being
amended so s~tringently against lumber
ing and trespassers in the woods that
even IL the numbering interests got con-
troll of the conservation commission they
could do nothing. Blu 10 prevent such
control ~Assemblyman Smith had
adopted an amendment providing that
no one connected with numbering. hy-
draulic power or water interests In the
Adirondacks shall he eligible for APP
pointment on the commission.
There was little debate on the judi
ciary article. which passed by "A vote OF
1875 to 3.
william Barnes and William $. o.
trander OF Schuylerville were the only
two Republicans to vote against the
article giving home rule 10 cities. which
passed by a vote OF 100 TO II.
This bill contains a vicious principle
that the a~fizens OF a city should
make their own charter as II 1t were a
constitution" said Mr.. Barnes. land Il
would lead TO a development OF opinion
that the cities are not a part Of the
state, and II will come back TO plague
the cities"
III Democrats Oppose n.
Senator Wagner. A~ssemblyman Smith.
\. r. Cnger n william +. Sheehan
were mons the fifteen Democrats who
voted against the home rule article,
Wagner and Smith because 1t does not
give enough home rule. and unger be-
cause no control over it's local affairs
is granted to New York city, which is
not subjected to legislative veto.
When the accompanying amendment
TO the home rule article for cities came
up for final passage IL was pointed out
that II should be made discretionary
instead OF mandatory upon the Legisla-
ture TO determine whether citiees should
issue serial instead OF sinking fund
bonds. H.. Leroy Austin declared that
disaster would follow in many cities IL
such a mandatory proposal were pu; I'm
the Constitution and Chairman Stlmson
OF the Finance Committee agreed with
MI. Austin and an amendment was
adopted leaving the question to the Leg
stature.
When the Tanner short ballo, and re-
organization plan was reached on Ana,
passage IL was amended to provide that
the state Armorv Boar should continue
IN exclusive control OF the property used
by the National Guard and the Naval
Militia. ~
The amendments protecting the COM
pIeted barge canal and terminals from
sale or lease as the old canal system vas
abandoned were passed by a vote OF I27
To 10.
More Aid for Workers.
The convention advanced to the order
or hnal passage the amendment intro
duced by Herbert Parsons's committee,
including occupational diseases among
N"' H'J'NNS VI compensation 10 work
men under the workmen's compensation
law. William Barnes declared that
the convention seemed bent on depart
ing from the American idea OF equality
as far as possible.
Mr.. Barnes pointed out that ]. May
hew Wainwright eN-Compensatlon Com
missioner and President Gompers IA
vored an amendment to enable the State
to insure workmen against accident,
workmen's invalidity old age and un-
employment.
III this convention intends 10 place
itself In the position that this Is going
10 be on" step In that programme Of
course You have that right ana YOU
can 90 before the voters with your
proposal said Mr.. Barnes, but il is
not my Judgment that your action will
meet with the approval OF the Republl-
can voters, II that is the Republican
position. then It IS not the Republican
party OF which I ever have had knowl-
edge and is not the party to which / be-
long"