New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-08-18
Rises from Ranks to De-
feat Short Ballot and
Budget Plan.
HIS PET MEASURE
AGAIN REJECTED
Elon r. Brown, Senate Majority
Leader, Attacks Tanner and
Stimson Proposals.

AlOhny, aug. Nv llliam Barnes
has assumed full command of the re.
dictionary forces in the Constitutional
Convention. He is determined to kill
the Tanner short ballot proposal, with
its plan of reorganization of the state
departments, and the Stimson scien-
tifc budget scheme.
This means the shelving of ex-Sena-
tor Bracket. of Saratoga, as reac-
tionary .eader. His alleged failure to
make any real showing was responsible
for Barnes's entering the field.
Barnes had remained out of the fight
Il ! last night, when the attack on
his pet measure, the so-called anti
social welfare proposal. by George W.
Wickersham, Henry L. Stimson and
other convention leaders, forced him
into the open.
Soon after Mr.. Wickersham again at
/ tackled Mr.. Barnes to-day a letter from
Senator Elon r. Brow. majority leader
of the upper house and friend of the
Albany leader, was made public. Ad-
dressed to Mr.. Tanner and Mr.. Slim
So, 1t said in part:
"The budget amendment and the al
legged short ballot amendment are OBJ
jectonable. While they come from diff
ferent committees. they work together
20 create an autocrat in the Executive
Chamber.
care the people of this state ready
10 place in one mans hands without
q presidents power of removal the
/ tho EaHnra1 ~ niacou
in the Governor General of Porto Rico
or the Philippines over those depen-
denotes?
Short Ballot Delusion.
"The so-called short ballot amend
ment is, as you well know, a delusion.
The withdrawal of three names from a
ballot containing fifty, or even twenty,
will afford no appreciate relief to
voters, whether ignorant or informed.
It's leading advocates are preparing
trenches for their retreat when discov-
cred by criticisng you for not making
( the Attorney General and Controller
appointive, as if two more deducted
from fifty would insure the ideal short
ballot.
1.-THE Controllers Office is the great
est department at Albany. 1t has been
managed for thirty years with signal
ability, economy and public benefit. It's
success has been principally due to the
maintenance in that department of the
permanent under-secretary system,
chiefs of bureaus being retained re-
gardless of party. What sufficient rea-
I son can be given for dismantling this
large and satisfactory department? The
sum total Of departments will not be
reduced by dividing it.
/ There is no need to increase the
| Governors power either to make the
place coveted by good candidates or to
make the office effective. A Governor
of character and force can with diff
Guilty be checked when he is wrong;
nothing can stop him when he is right.
There IS, however, the gravest need
of increasing the attractions of public
life at Albany to able, ambitious men.
/ There will be no attraction for such
men in Albany if the Legislature is
stripped Of power and furnishes no OPP
portunity for career. these amend
ments are a move in the wrong direc
ton"
The entrance of Senator Brown
means that all the forces that Barnes
can command, as we'll as those who
have been swung into line by Con-
troller Travis, will, with the Tammany
] men IN Int COuNtILlOI. put w n III
midablc front against the Tanner and
Stimson proposals. There is grave
danger that Barnes NAV succeed.
Enlists Few Prominent Men.
To-day Barnes tried to have his pet
proposal. which was killed last night
bv vote of 10 to 3S, recomm;tted to
his committee. The convention, by a
vote Of 90 to As, decided against him.
| He did not want the ayes and noes re-
corded, saying that the same PROPOSE
ton would be reported by the Bill OF
Rights. Mr.. Wickersham then Jumped
to his feet and said, with show OF
feeling:
al ask for the ayes and noes"
Eihu Root. presiding, when fifteen del
egates rose to second the motion decid-
ed for Mr.. Wickersham. Nearly every Re-
publican of prominence voted against
Barnes. Among his supporters were
Berri, Belts, Clearwater, Culllnan, HIN
man. Quigg and Wadsworth. Five Dem
ocrats voted with them.
The convention spent the better part
of the day and night discussing the
proposal Of the public utilities commit
tee providing for the incorporation of
tn, Public Service Commissions in the
constitution and preventing the removal
of a commissioner without the approval
of the Senate. At present this approval
is not required.
The proposal also prevents the Legs,
lature from passing rate bill until
after the reasonableness of the rate
has been investigated by the commits
sion. and it is provided that decisions
and orders of the commission shall be
subject to review by the courts "in
such manner and to such extent as the
Legislature may provide"
Mr.. Wickersham objects 20 commit
ting the state TO two Public Service
Commissions Tor twenty years, and Of
Tered an amendment carrying out his
ideas.