New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-04
NOT A SHORT CONSTITUTION
But One Making Definite Provisions
for Governmental Structure.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
/ Sir: | am quite frequently hearing express
sions of opinion that the New York consti-
tuition should be short" document, "con-
tanning only essentials; that it should de
/ fine the fundamentals of government" and
leave the law making power to the Legslat-
ure." 1t seems to me that this public impress
sion-if may call it such-is fanciful and
sentimental In other words, l think the
Essentials" are very numerous and should
be adequately taken care of.
For instance, it appears to me to be as
rlain as A. b, c that the time is now ripe
for determining accurately the structure OF
state government defining the appropriate
departments in the constitution and making
the various heads of departments constitu-
| tional officers. At the present time there are
more unnecessary departments than there
are necessary departments. The functions OF
these various departments cross and inter
cross, and each year the situation becomes
worse instead of better.
Further than that, it has become the estab-
lished practice for each succeeding admins
tration to reorganze departments, principal
ly for the purpose of securing partisan jobs,
the Legislature of 1915 probably being the
worst offender IN this respect that we have
ever had in Albany At the risk of much
longer constitution, | should like TO see our
Constitutional Convention go into this sub
ject with the greatest thoroughness, defining
the ten, twenty or thirty departments which
it regards as absolutely essential; create
these as constitutional departments and pro-
vide that all new functions which may arise
must be assigned by the Legislature TO one
of these departments.
do not see how it can be expected that a
man of character and experience can be
asked to make the sacrifice Of accepting q
tenure of office OF six years at moderate
salary, when there is added to it the con-
tingency that even that six-year term may
be chopped Off by a ripper Legislature at the
end of two years.
In the same connection have introduced
proposition for amendment to the eonstitu-
ton providing among other things for the
establishment of the state convention for
state Offices. have heard the suggestion
made that, whatever the merits of my propo-
sitOn, this is question which should be left
to the Legislature. | do not agree. 1t has
been the policy in past constitutions to define
with some particularly the conduct of cleo
tors. For instance, as to registration.
do not think that in defining one or two de-
tails the constitution goes far enough.
think it high time that the voters should be
able to famliarize themselves with the fun
damentals of nominations and elections in
periods Of twenty years instead of having to
learn annually Of changes in the election
system.
There are also a great many other subjects
which will occur to any one to which
there Is real need for scientific definition and
stability, and | think that the safeguarding
Of these various subjects by adequate provi-
sion in the constitution is of more impor-
lance than the idea that we should have a
short" constitution, rather than a full con-
stitution. | should not be speaking on this
subject at this time except that feel some
one should make this alternative suggestion,
so that the general public may have it in
mind. JOHN GODFREY SAKE.
New York, May 3, 1915.