The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-08

ALBANY, July Inc tOnser 'H'io"
Committee Of the Constitutional Conven-
ton 10 expected to decide finally at an
executive session tomorrow night upon
the forestry preservation provision
| which is to be recommended for the new
constitution.
II IL believed that the committee VIM
advocate permitting the removal OF dead
and down timber In the State forest
preserves, the laying out Of roads n
trails and the leasing Of camp sites.
A majority OF the committee II said to
favor these departures from the exist
ing provisions of the Constitution and.
Furthermore. that II is opposed to the
introduction Of scientific forestry at
present. largely because II Ia feared that
political maneuvrlnG woul lead to
gross abuses on the part Of the lumber
men.
The committee IL discussing n pro-
posal for q 5000. 900 bond issue to In
crease the States forest holdings and to
reforest burned and numbered areas now
owned by the State.
While the automobile interests are
anxious TO secure additional trunk line
roads throug the A~dirondacks. II is
pointed out that these roads would prove
useful to lumbermen In getting out the
hard wood. which has been unmarked
able heretofore, because II cannot he
foated down the streams which have
been utilized In dcnudine the forests of
the soft woods.
Edward Hagaman Hall OF New York
city has resigned as secretary Of the
Committee on Conservation. and Prof
Franklin r. Moon Of the Syracuse Uni
verslty college of forestry has been APP
pointed to succeed him.
Proposes Monthly Sessions.
First Deputy Attorney-General Merton
+. Lewis and Deputy Harold J. Hinman
appeared before the Bracket Committee
on Legislative Organization in favor
Of the Human amendment proposing
monthly sessions Of the Legislature the
year round. except in July and August.
Mr.. Human urged that more men Of
capacity would be willing to give a week
every month to legislative service than
are now willing TO give four or hve
months continuous service to the State.
He urged that there would be no clos
ing days Of the session with the con-
gestion Of unffnished business" no thirty
day period during which the Governor
would have to pass on from 500 to 1000
bills that there would be greater de-
liberation on legislation. the members
ha wing three weeks in which to look
over the calendar OF bills for the next
month. and hat IL "would stern the tide
OF bureaucratic government which Is
flooding In upon us"
The hearing also developed the fact
that Mr.. Lewis. one of the champions of
city home rule In The 1894 convention.
has changed his mind. saying II vould
be n great mistake to adopt the home rule
proposals. Ray n. Smith OF Syracuse
asked IL Mr.. Lewis would appear to-
morrow before the cities committee TO
help convince that committee OF the
fsllacy Of home rule, n Mr.. Lewis said
he would II he were invited.
Then YOU are hereby invited" de-
clared Mr. Smith. and Mr.. Lewis said he
would go beforel the committee.
More Work for Convention.
The convention itself adopted to-day
a suggestion of Alfred z. Smirh OF New
fork that sessions be held on Monday
nights, instead OF afternoons. and Satur-
days.
In tho long debate. william F..
Sheehan urged that such sessions were
necessary In order TO push the COM
mittees In their work. He said the
last convention vas far ahead OF the
present one at this time OF the season.
the calendars being filled with amend
ments reported by the committees.
Majority Leader George W. Wicker
sham said this was accounted for In
part by the fact that the committees
had given more public hearings thar the
committees of any other convention. and
that more real work was being done.
On motion OF Senator Edgar T.
Bracket the amendment reported
favorably from his committee on legis-
lative organization which would rave
brought on the reapportionment hght,
was recommended 10 the committee. This
IL looked upon as the end OF the reap
portionment matter.
The convention also recommitted 10
the Bracket committee the amendment
OF Jacob Gould Schurman providing for
the election OF Senators at large in thl.
State. The original amendment provided
for six Senators at large out OF a Senate
OF twenty-four. but now Mr.. Schurman
plans an amendment adding two
Senator's at large to the present Senate
Of ffty-one.
Wants ~salaried Referees.
Joel Squiers. Assistant Corporation
Counsel Of New York city. told the Bill
OF Rights committee that IL was the
habit of commissioners In condemna-
ton proceedings to Soldier In order to
Increase their fees.
Mr.. Squiers said he favored the APP
pcintment OF salar!ed referees. He did
not think the Supreme Court would
have time to handle all the condemna-
ton cases. especially In New York city.
he said the 100 or more cases on the
Seventh avenue Improvement alone
would keen "A rnIrf pninU fpr Ave- - 49,.
months. II the court were to be given
tie power TO sit in these cases Mr..
Squiers suggested that single Justices
he allowed 10 determine small cases only
AID that cases involving millions of
dollars be heard by three justices.
He questioned the advisab,lity Of ap-
pointing a permanent board of referees
In New York. one bad decision would
put the board in bad odor for all time,