New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-20
Webber Amendment Will
Prevent Ousting Officials
for Patronage.
26 SUCH BILLS NOW
BEFORE WHITMAN
COnventiOnAlSO Considers AbOl.
iShing Taking Of State
Census.
From a s'a- corre,pond.n, Of IN, Tribune.

from a s'a- Correspondent q IN, Tribune,
Albany, May 49, Charles A. Web
Der. Brooklyn Democrat. to-day in
troduced in tho Constitutional Conven-
ton a proposal TO prevent the passage
by the Legislature Of so-called rip
per- or patronage bills. The Repubi-
can and Democratic parties have each
for years. when not in power. accused
the other Of enacting ripper legisla-
ton. Kings County seems to be the
principal section to be affected b. such
measures.
When the Democrats got control Of
the Legislature in 1871 the Republicans
charged them with patronage grabbing
IN cnactlug several bills. the main pur-
pose Of which. it was claimed. was to
transfer me appointing power of Ger
tain Kings County Offices from Repub-
llCan TO Democratic officials.
The Democrats now charge tho Re-
publicans with doing the same thing
They say that three Of these alleged
kIngs County ripper bills are before
Governor Whitman. but the Rcpubli-
cans declare the measures referred 10
are merely undoing the patronage
grabs Of the Democrats i'm 1911.
Colonel Michael !. Dady, Republican
leader Of Kings County. and Jacob A.
Livingston, chairman OF the executive
committee, appeared before the GOV
ernor yesterday in behalf of these
measures. but were unable 10 learn
what the Governor will do with them.
These ripper bills" said Delegate
" gbbpT "forpn tirions 81 Of
islalion, marking every party change Of
administration for years past and grow
ing moro general each year. They
nominally abolish appolntivc Offices or
curtail the terms Of the incumbents
and by transferring the duties to a
ueWly made office or the power Of ap-
polutment 10 those Of their own party
obtain partisan Spoils. This year ! am
told tWcutE-slN such bills were passed
some legislators seem 10 take pride in
Introducing them. three lu New York
city coming from the same Senator.
How far arcld they 20 20 sock n favor
able a'pontinC power rs shown IN the
change made "a 20 Public Administrator
~ Kings County. which transfers the
power from the Surrogate. the really
proper and logical sclector of one so
closely connected with probate bust
ness. TO the Surrogate, county judges,
County Clerk. Sheriff and District At
torncy. the latter three Of whom surely
have no relation 10 such an appoint
ment except that they happen to be
Republicans"
Mr.. Webber's proposal provides that
"Whencvcr "a bill rs passed curtaling
the term OF or abolishing any office
during the term or the incumbent
thereof. mo duties Of said Office IN
whole or ~ part. shall not be trans
ferrcd 10 any one appointed, directly
or directly. by the Leg stature passing"
Charles II. Belts. OF Lyons. intro
duced IN tho convention to-day pro
posed amendment cmbodying The Trib-
uue'S suggestions for abandoning
state census every ten years.
The proposal provides that the
Senate districts Of the state shall be
rcarrangcd b. the Leg stature at the first
regular session after tho return Of the
state enumeration ~ 1918. Thereafter.
a. The Tribune 'ugSested, the reappor-
tl1nment shall he based on the federal
census, thus Sn.Ing the state $500 600
each decade. ,ir. Betts's proposal also
provides that If ~ any time the popu-
lation Of DE- portion Of a political sub.
division. proposed 10 be included i'm a
senatorial d .rict, be not ascertainable
from the federal census returns. the
Legislature may provide for local
enumeration.