The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-28
WOULD NOT LET
GOVERNOR NAME
APPEALS JUDGES
w. +. Shcchan Asks Constitu-
ton Makers TO Lodge Power
With Chief Judge.
MANY COURT CHANGES
IN 26 AMENDMENTS

ALBANY. April 27.--An attack by Will
lam +. shechan on the present constitu-
tional provision which permits the Gov
ernor to appoint Judges featured to-
days session " the Constitutional Con-
vention. at which twenty-six proposed
amendments to the organic law of the
State were submitted for consideration.
Mr.. Sheehan introduced resolution pro-
viding for lodging the power OF appoint
ing Judges with the Chief Judge OF the
Court of Appeals instead of the Gov
ernor.
Mr.. Sheehan declared that a Governor
In making appointments might lie In
fucnced 10y political considerations. His
proposal is to have Court OF Appeals
OF ten members five elected by the peo-
\ pie and five named by the chief Judge
from the Supreme Court Justices.
This plan" said Mr. Sheehan. makes
the Judiciary absolutely and wholly indie
penden, OF executive power and inhu-
encc. The effect OF this amendment
would he that tho Judges Of whom
have spoken would owe their election
primarily to the people and would owe
nothing to executive power. This is MS
! 1t should be.
The day will come when there will
he no occasion for men holding judicial
HVSlNloHFs ~ ufNlIlOE Nv ll'lu A4l'ils W
go 20 the Executive Chamber hat in
hand seeking executive favor. Under
our present system the Governor. who
generally is or tries to be a political
leader. Is swayed and often controlled by
political considerations In naming Judges
Bound to He swnyrd.
Holding political office It is natural
that he should he influenced by political
considerations in naming Judges; thai
he should consult political leaders /.
whereas tho chief Judge. whose office is
not political, will naturally seek advice
from those whose first thought is the
dignity. the effectiveness and the per-
petuation Of our judicial sys.em"
Charles II. Belts OF Lyons Introduced
resolution proposing to abolish capital
punishment This is advocated by War
den Thomas Mott osborne OF Sing Sing
and prison reform associations
William NJ. Is. Olcott OF New York pro-
poses to abolish the Court OF General
Sessions in New York city. transferring
cases now before that court to the
Supreme Court.
Ex-senator Edgar r. Bracket, Of
Saratoga would give the supreme Court
jurisdiction over all claims against the
state, thus doing away with the State
Court OF Claims. Another resolution by
Mr. Bracket would give indicted per-
sons an opportunity of inspecting the
minutes OF the Grand Jury.
Il. Clarence Aiken of Owasco in
troduced six prop. sed anne ailments y
the Constitution. BY one he would Der
NIT a threr-tourths vote of "a Jury TO
constitute the verdict. In another he
would create n Court Of Criminal APP
peals { take appeals in criminal onses
from the Supreme Court and Appellate
Division. The new court he propose 4
would comprise the Chief Judge OF tho
Court OF Appeals and four justices os
the Supreme Court.
More Judicial Power.
Mr.. Aiken would all, have the rul. :
OF procedure and practice I'm the State
Court, now made by the Legislature.
made by Justices OF the Court OF Ap-
peals and justices Of the supreme Court
in biennial sessions Another OF the
Aiken resolutions would give to the
Chief Judse OF the Court OF Aprstls
the power to nominate a set Of cA..ii-
dates for the court OF Appeals and SUI.
preme Court. these nominations 80 ap.
pear in special column on the Dtlo:
Herbert Parsons Of New York intro
duced a resolution providing that the
convention shall take no action ON the
woman suffrage question, rs the Legis-
lature has already provided for sub
hitting that proposal to the voters.
John Godfrey SAKE would have the
Constitution provide for the nom. nation
of state officers lbs party seat. couycn-
lions consistiu- of at least one dele
gate from each Assembly Gistr,'- This
would do away with the direct primary
system just adopted Mr. SAKE Would
also have the Constitution provide fcr
personal registration throug bout the
State.
Alfred G. Reeves introduced a reso.
luton providing for the creation OF a
probate division OF tho Supreme Cour,
in each county which now has a Su-,
rogate's Court, thus doing away with
the SuTroGate's Court. Surrogat.s now
in office would serve on the Probate
Division bench until the expiration ot
their terms
John f ponnolly Of The Bronx in a
resolution provides that the Legislature
and the Governor shall have power &C
ask opinions Of the Court of Appeals on
important matters.
state BUDGET con missions are pro,
v'ded for In two resolutions ore bN
Mr.. Aiken and the other by Mr.. Young
Mr.. Young proposes "A commission I,
consist Of the Governor, whp would nav,
two votes the Licutcrdut-Govornnr
State Treasurer and state Comptroller
with one vote each. The Leg slatur.
would not have power to increase IN,
budget, but could reduce it, The Gov,
ernor would have no veto power on tn,
budget
Tho corvcrrion adjourned until II
o'clock tomorrow.
Customs Receipt. Ncsterdny.