The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
NO RADICAL CHANGES TO
GO INTO CONSTITUTION
Reforms Will Be Approved, but Appointment of Judges,
Voters Litclucy Test, ETC., Will Fall by
Wayside, Leaders Say.

ment or less. 1t will permit the defend
ant to waive trial by jury in such cases.
Under the presev system prisoners
often are held In Jail three months be-
cause OF inability to get bail before their
trial "a come UP. The Grand Jury
time.
TIL bill OF rights committee will not
abolish the death penalty, II il declared,
but II by any possibility the amendment
should get out OF the committee there
will be a provision that no person con-
victed Of murder shall be pardoned un-
less positive proof Of innocence OF the
crime Is furnished.
The unanimous verdiots OF juries in
both civil and criminal cases will be
maintained. All jury exemptions will
be abolished. the idea being to improve
the class OF men on juries. and Judges
will be given discretion 70 grant exemp-
tions.
failing OF Debtors 20 GO.
The new Constitution also will pro-
vide that there shall be no Imprisonment
for debt except in cases q contempt or
final judgment. The Alimcay Club comes
under this exemption n so those fail
ing to pay up will continue to pass their
time In prison.
one of the principal changes affecting
New York city will be designed to cor
rect the outrageous conditions said to
exist In the condemnation proceedings
In the greater city. The amendment will
provide hat such proceedings shall be
conducted before Judges at special
terms or before standing salaried ref
erees appointed by the courts.
The bill Of rights also will contain a
declaration on the development of water
powers. There will be no provision for
the right of eminent domain for the
people or railroads or power corpora
tons. but the Constitution will say that
whoever owns water powers shall have
the right to develop them, even II lands
above those water powers have to he
taken In the process.
The conservation article will not be
changed to any great extent II present
plans go through. The present protec-
ton Of wild forest lands will be main
tanned. The lumber interests are ex-
pected to make an effort to get an en-
tering wedge for themselves in a pro-
vision for the removal of dead and
fallen timber and the leasing OF camp
sites, but defeat Is predicted for this.
service Board Affected.
No provision will be written in the
present Constitution for the retention in
office of the present Public Service Com
missioners until their terms expire. The
commissions will be made constitutional
bodies. however. and the courts prob
ably will be given the right to review
orders of the commissions.
The corporations committee will make
an adverse report on the proposal TO In
corporate the Stock Exchange and TO
take from the Constitution the provision
90. N,kI a aA.ftt., -. hail stnAEI1iI
ers.
The education article will declare edu-
cation OF children to be n state policy.
but there " still uncertainty as to the
attitude that will be taken In relation
to the jurisdiction of the State Educa-
ton Department over local school boards.
Indications are that the Constitution
will not provide for a return to the
State convention system OF choosing
party candidates for State Office. instead
of the direct primary system. The lead
ers have about decided that although
most OF them believe in the convention
system tho people should be allowed 10
tire of the primary system and then re.
turn to the convention plan on their own
] accord. The Constitution will contain
I nothing to prevent a return to the cor
vention system.
The suffrage committee. OF which
Patrick W. Cull.nan is chairman. will
see to II that the woman suffrage ques.
ton Is submitted separately. the lesisla-
tive proposition going before the voters
without any relation to the submission
OF the new Constitution. This can he
accomplished by adopting the proposal
of louis Marshall, 1t is declared.
The same committee plans to write
into the Constitution provisions for the
registra zion OF Federal employees. rail
road men n commercial travellers alb
sent from home OF registration day.
Although the question OF increasing
the New York representation In the
Senate and Assembly was beaten ar
effort will be made at some later date
to increase New York's representation
In the Assembly. At the same time the
convention would adopt az a check or
New York a provision that no territory
contained wholly within a city should
have more than one-half OF the Sena.
tors. This Is more restrictive than the
present clause against which the New
York members fought so hard. Senator
Edgar T.. Brackets committee will take
UP this proposal later.
No one seems certain just what the
convention will do with the contrary
proposals pending before the Parsons
committee on industrial relations and
the Barnes committee on legislative
powers. The Parsons committee has be
fore 1t the labor unions proposal 70
provide for minimum wage legislation,
old age pensions and the like. while the
Barnes committee IL considering a pro-
posal to prohibit the passage OF such
legislation.