The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-30
CONSTITUTION M
TO END TASK THIS WEEK
All Work Expected to Be Finished Except Dovetailing
New Amendments-Root Says People Will Get
Chance to Kill Invisible Government.

ALBANY. Aug. 29.-rresident Root and
George w. Wickersham expect the Con-
stitutional Convention to complete the
passage OF amendments to the state
Constitution by next Saturday night
Then a recess will be taken until the
following Thursday, over Labor Day, to
permit a committee. Of which 1t Is ex-
pected Louis Marshall will be at the
head, 10 ut the new amendments into
the Constitution, and put 1t in revised
form for "A vote of the people at the
November election.
The Federal crowd" including Presl-
dent Root, George w. Wickersham.
Henry l.. Stlmson. Herbert Parsons,
John Lord O'Brian and Frederick c.
Tanner. have reviewed the work OF the
convention during the last four months
and feel that they are giving the people
for their approval at the November elec-
tion a progressive but not a radical Con-
%stltutlon.
Thu revised Constitution will not con-
tain provisions for the initiative. refer
endum and recall, but will nav pro-
visions making the impeachment OF pub
lie officials easier. If the short ballot
and Tanner reorganization plan are
adopted invisible government In this
State in the future will he made impos-
sible and responsibility will centre In the
Governor. says President Root
Next to the financial programme out
lined by the convention an important
work has been the amendments aimed to
do away with the laws delays through a
revision OF the rules OF practice and
making provision for an enlarged Court
OF Appeals and Appellate divisions In
New York and Brooklyn. The judiciary
committee has also suggested the APP
pointment OF Supreme court commits
sioners to act as referees in private liti-
cations in New York and Brooklyn. thus
preventing enormous fees In condemna-
ton proceedings and in private litiga
ton.
An important amendment TO be acted
upon provides that a jury in a murder
case may impose the death penalty or
life Imprisonment. II Is not expected
that II will be passed.
Another important question to ZONE
up this week will be a provision In the
report OF the bill OF rights committee
authorizing the Legislature TO pass gen.
eral avs permitting the taking OF pri-
waite property by the owner of water
power sites which have been actually
htNtluDtus iHtit o MUM bPlOSlNioh W
IL.
Important Amendments Made.
The important amendments which have
been made or will be made this week
are:
The tanner plan providing a short
ballot through the election only OF the
Governor, Northumberland, Attor-
ney-General and Comptroller, and the
concentration OF the 152 State depart
ments and commissions into seventeen
executive departments. the heads OF
which are to be appointed by the Gov
ernor, with the consent Of the Senate.
but removable without the Senate's APP
proval.
Providing for an executive budget to
be submitted to the Legislature each
year by the Governor, the Legislature
being permitted only to reduce or elimi-
nate appropriations recommended,
though after the budget has passed the
Legislature may pass separate appro-
priations.
Permitting the people at the November
election to vote separately on the ques-
ton of giving women the right to vote.
Substituting serial for sinking fund
bonds and putting the sinking funds upon
a scientific banking basis. thus saw
ing s35, 200, 900 in interest charges In
the retirement of the State debt Turing
the next forty years.
To Prevent Log Rolling.
Directing the Superintendent of Pub.
lie Works 10 file with the Secretary OF
state a certificate showing the neces.
sary and probable cost OF constructing OF
repairing a public building. good roads,
mr. canal hpi1na f.a1ap All.
waterway, with a purview of preventing
log rolling In the Legislature for APP
preparations for different localities where
the appropriation is not essentially for
a State work.
Increasing the salary of the Governor
from $4,000 10 100000 from January
l next. and the term Of the office from
two to four years after 1918.
Increasing the salary of the Stat.
Senators from $500 to $500 and al.
lowing railroad fare from the State &c
and from Albany during the legislative
session.
a complete article granting home rul,
to cities. which as finally agreed upor
Is acceptable to the home rule reform
organization as being Il long step to
ward municipal self-government.
ASrevised judiciary article, which
makes the three Supreme Court Justice
now designated TO serve on the Court o
Appeals permanent members Of tn,
court. From four TO six Supreme Cour
Justices are TO be called to the Court O
Appeals bench by the court itself, which
VIII sit in two sections until Decembe
81, 1917, In order to reduce the pendinJ
cases to 200. The number of Justice
of the Appellate Division OF the Suprem
Court of the First Department will b
increased from ! to 10 or ~ and in tn
Second Department from 9 to 7, two new
Supreme Court Justices TO be elected II
the First district. The State Court o
Clalms is continued. The jurisdiction
of the New York city Court OF Genera
Sessions Is extended throughout the rlty
and the County Court Judges are mad
n part OF the General Sessions Court
the County Courts being abolished. TIL
Legislature may give Bronx county a
additional General Sessions Judge, tn
jurisdiction of the New York City Cour
is extended throughout the city and II
Jurisdiction Is extended in civil action
10 amounts up to $1,000. The Leg!sla
ture may provide for the election of tw
additional City Court Judges in King
and one each in The Bronx n Queens
Children's courts are also provided for.
EDlarges Tax COmmissiOn's Power
Daanfnu tI, I,,tt,g 80 ,ho c.,,. ~.