New-York tribune., 1915-03-28
EXPERTS ON TASK OF CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENT1Ol

cial administration. The new constitution shouid
either provide for state budget or should re-
move those obstacles which now make budget
impossible The appropriation Of public moneys
on the basis Of a bill introduced by an indiViduai
member Of the Legislature or on the recommehua-
ton of any ono Of O large number OF committees
Ia an abuse Of the first magnitude Inc Oldest
standing order Of tho House Of Commons ana tho
most benehcent clearly fixes all responsibility ior
proposals to appropriate public money upon 'ho
executive. This Is not the place or tho time to
discus. this point in detail, but there are several
ways by which the same end might be accom-
pllshed in the State of New York.
ACTIVITIES OF GOVERNMENT AFFECTING
THE INDIVIDUAL MOSTLY LOCAL.
II must not be forgotten also that most OF the
activities OF government which Immediately al
feet the comfort and welfare OF tho Individual
are not national, nor even state, In their ORIGIN
hr, IoraI This is the reason why the largest
nossible measure Of home rule should be pro-
vidsd for municipal corporations. municipal
corporation is, like any other corporation, Gre
alton of the sovereignty Of the state, but it should
be created in such form to give it n very large
,ooasure Of control over its affairs. The state
sbopld not impose mandatory expenditures upon
n municipal corporation for the maintenance or
sneciGc offices at designated salaries and in an
indicated number The municipal corporation
should be under those restrictions which are nee
essary to preserve the sovereignty OF the state,
and those only. To draw tho line between the
functions which municipal government dis-
charges as a municipal government and those
which 1t discharges as an agent OF the govern
ment of the state is not altogether easy In case
of doubt however, 1t will be the part OF wisdom
TO decide the point in favor OF home rule In
state as large as New York, with as varied and
as immense a population, 1t Is not only unjust
but impracticable to attempt to put the same
detailed local restrictions upon citizens in any
and every part Of the commonwealth. Tho homo
rule article Of the constitution will need to be
drawn with very great care In order to be both
sound and effective, but | have confidence that
the convention will be able to solve this difficult
problem It goes without saying that consttu-
tional convention Is place for the display OF
partisanship for attempt to gain partisan
advantage The provisions for redistricting and
reapportoning the state should be made on
principle and In conformity to g general rule
which can be explained and defended TO all fair
minded
The people Of the United States have been
passing through very interesting and a very
striking period Of political and social change.
There are many signs that this movement of
change has passed its acute phase There Is null
tipifying evidence Of the faith Of the people in
sound and we'll tested principles of government
end IN their own ability to adjust those principles
to new needs without overturning OF wrecking
them The work of the Constitutional Conven-
tion In New York will be closely watched not
only throughout the United States but through
out the world The work Of the convention ought
to and, hope, will q model for similar
bodies elsewhere The problem is simply one of
we'll considered and judicous advance. II Is not
a problem Of revolution; it Is not problem Of
destruction; It is not problem OF blind adher-
ence to old formulas and phrases; II Is prob
lem of advance, but of constructive advance, with
the lessons Of the past clearly in mind.