New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-30
Constitution Makers Argue
For and Against Pres
ent Restriction.
ADJOURN WITHOUT
REACHING RESULT
New York Men Plead for Reg
ulatiOn of Business and
Residential Zones.

tFruw o s a' .-rct0f0dent OF me i'l'"'-I
Albany. J 22.-The danger Of New
York state becoming like Ireland be-
fore the la~d act was passed, with all
the evils of absentee landlordjsm, was
pictured by Louis Marshall, Of New
York. in the Constitutional Conven-
tion to-day. when a proposed amend
uont Of IL. Leroy Austin, Of Albany
County. was up for final passage.
This was the first measure TO come
before the convention IN general
orders. and IL started 3 discussion that
waxed as hot as the day. The AUSTIN
amendment provides for striking rom
the Constitution Section Is Of the Dill
Of rights, which reads: .,
NO lease or grant OF agricultural
land for a longer period than twelve
wears, hereafter made, in which shah
be reserved any rent or service OF any
kind. shall he valid ,
Mr. Marshall saw in the repeal OF
this .cction the possibility Of big cor
norations gobbling up all the agricu!t-
ural land Of the state and holding the
farmers in form of slavery lie
pointed out that before the enactment
Of this clause, one family the Van
i.
counties Of Albany, Columbia. Greene
and Rensselaer,. an area twice as large
as Long Island. This one holding was
typical. in a measure, Of many other
large parcels held by single families IN
the early days Of the state.
Already Forbidden by Law.
NJ. Austin's chief argument was that
the clause was unnecessary, as the
Legislature. Immediately following the
anti-rent war, enacted laws prohibit
ing the very thing Section - Of the
bill OF rights forbade.
Mr.. Marshall held that the retention
Of the clause was necessary as declara-
tory Of the public policy Of the state.
There is much 70 be gained by the
perpetuation Of these fundamental prln-
cipies in our organic law" said Mr..
Marshall. an these days, when we see
one man owning l00,00 acres for q prl--
vate park, much of il good agricultural
land, and another holding $4,000 acres,
i is necessary that we have such
clause in our constitution. without y,
and with this tendency toward large
holdings by single individuals or small
groups Of individuals, we might IND
ourselves face to face with a dangerous
situation some day"
While the debate was still on the
convention adjourned.
Representatives Of New York City
and Of civic organizations appeared at
Joint hearing Of the Cities and Bill
of Rights committees this afternoon
to urge that some provisions be incor-
porated in the constitution giving
either the Legislature or the various
subdivisions Of the state power TO reg
ulate the height Of buildings, establish
business and residential zones and con-
denim property that is unsanitary.
There are five bills before the con-
vention embodying these proposals,
which were introduced by Herbert Par
sons, William K. Bayes and William I.
Bannister. No one appeared to speak
against the measures.
For More Juvenile Courts.
Judge Julian W. Mack, of the United
States Circuit Court of Appeals for
Illinois. pleaded before the Judiciary
Committee that the present system I'M
der which cases involving juvenile de.
linduency are dealt with by courts OF
criminal jurisdiction be abolished. lie
said these cases ought TO be tried IN
separate tribunals, possessing complete
equity jurisdiction and empowered 70
deal with adults accused of lmpalring
the morals of minors.
Judge Mack said he favored the pro-
posed amendment dealing with the
question Of jurisdiction IN cases OF
Juvenile delinquency presented by eX-
judge Alphonse 7. Clearwater.