The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-28

hLBASY u 2I.-1he ngn over the
Tanner plan favoring tho short ballot
and reorganization OF the State gov
eminent with the Capitalization OF
strong powers in the Governor wen
on again to-day hammer and tongs in
the Constitutional Convention.
Although bitterly opposed, indications
tonight we're that the amendment will
30 through. although minor details may
be changed.
Chairman Tanner himself led the
forces In behalf OF the amendment. But
at the end of the night session the de.
bate was still on and will be continued
tomorrow.
THE operation of this plan" said
Chairman Tanner. will serve the dou-
BILE purpose of organizing the State gov
eminent on simple and direct lines sim
liar to those of great successful busi-
ness corporations and to put an end to
ripper legislation
boards Reduced n Tenth.
"If 1852 departments. boards apd COM
missions car be reduced to approNi-
matelly onc-tenth OF that number. there
will be vast savings In overhead charges.
This proposal is radical only in the
complete Encouragement OF "A clumsy
system. We do not add a single new
function to our government. We have
not tried to determine what new things
the government should do. but we have
suggested a plan showing how to do tho
things better which the State is now
committed to.
"The people look to the Governor of
the state to give a good administration,
and under the present system, instead
of giving the owe to the Governor
commensurate with his responsibility we
have erected a seven head government.
the divisions of which are largely inde-
pendent of each other and derive their
authority directly from the people.
THE adoption of this plan IL needed
to round out the work of the con-
vention providing for an executive bud
get "A reform in the States judicial sys-
TEN. home rule for cities and the plan
to save millions of dollars in retiring the
State debt through the issue OF serial
bonds. all of which will give true and
popular government in the State.
Tanner Explains.
This plan does not put the government
OF the State in "A straitjacket, but II
wipes out the hypocrisy of forcing the
Governor TO max charges against an
official before he can be removed. by
permitting such removal In the dtscre-
ton of the Governor without the action
of the State Senate.
at Is no answer to say that the Legis-
lature can put this plan INTO opera
tion without the aid Of the constitu-
tional Convention concluded Mr.. Tan
her. This is the place to do it. and now
10 tho tt,,a All uGE ynp IN ln 10 fp
give the people a chance to vote on
this question"
Assemblyman Alfred l.. Smith stated
the position OF the Democrats upon the
question when he said they would vote
for il IL il were perfected along certain
lines, II the Governor would have real
responsibility without Interference from
the State Senate.
The operations of the Public Works
Department under your plan Will cause
the people in the future to term It the
constitutional convention folly of
1915" said MI. Smith.
You are misleading the people when
you say there are 49, boards and COM
missions in the state. tor half Of them
are made up of boards of managers of
State institutions or honorary boards
which do not spend any State money.
Let h Governor DO II.
III YOU mean what you say about
centring responsibility in the Governor,
you must strike u the provision that
the men appointed to head the executive
departments by the Governor must be
confirmed by the State Senate and let
the Governor appoint az well as remove
them without interference"
"Wlll you vote for u an amend
ment:' interrupted Chairman Tanner.
surely. | am going to offer an
amendment to hat effect. | am trying