The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-17
Judge Adolph ]. Rodenbeck.

in some counties of the State IL crude
and ineffective. and under a provision
in the Constitution the Legislature
may by general laws afford a means
for simplifying county government.
Enough has been said TO illustrate
the statement made in the beginning
of his article that the controlling
principles which lie at the basis of the
changes in the Constitution are
greater efficiency and responsibility.
AS a result of these changes the peo-
pie rave an opportunity 10 say
whether or not they desire an effective
and responsive State and local Gov
eminent.
No substantial reason has been ad-
vanccd against these provisions Of the
Constitution. They were adopted by
the convention by a non-partisan
vote. Many Democratic members of
the convention o an active part In
putting these provisions into their
present form and supported them by
their vote. No caucus or conferences
were necessary and every provision
received an opportunity for a full de-
bate In the convention and may be
said to hc the conviction Of a large
majority OF the convention without re-
gard TO party lines.
There are many other provision.
that might he referred to which serve
10 round out the main features which
have already been mentioned. Atten-
o mig he called to the creation
OF supreme Court commissioners who
are tn take the place Of condemnation
commissioners in New York city and
end the scandals connected with the
condemnation of real Eel and
save the unnecessary expense TO the
city which has become part of the old
system.
The creation 81 a conservation COM
mission OF min members, who are TO
serve without compensation, to have
charge of the development and pro.
lection If the natural OF the
State, the encouragement OF forestry
and kindred matters, conservation pre.
vention of pollution and regulation Of
the waters of the State, the protection
and propagation of its fish. birds and
gam" ~ a new departure from which
an effective administration Of this i'm
portant work of the State is expected.
II the educational system Of the State
car he satisfactorily administered as
II has been by a Board of Regents
serving without compensation II is
reasonable to suppose that the i'm
portant subjects mentioned may be
administered by a conservation COM
mission serving in like manner.
Provision has also been made for
absentee registration, for a reform in
the finances Of the State with respect
10 the issuance Of bonds and for an
effective state control over the assess
mcnt of taxes on personal and in
tangible property. Power has been
given to the Legislature to regulate
or prohibit manufacturing in tene-
mcnt houses, to extend the principle Of
the workmcn's compensation 80 as to
include occupational diseases of en-
ployees, and a department of labor and
industry has been created. the head of
which shall he an industrial commits
sion or commissioners.
In the light Of these provisions IL
seems far fetched to oppose the Com
stitution because some provision which
some n desires has not been inserted.
Many propositions were advanced hy
amendments which the convention did
not have the time sufficiently to con-
slider to warrant their insertion in the
Constitution, and II any of these
amendments are deserving of serious
consideration they can he inserted
through the usual channel by amend
ments after the Constitution has been
adopted.
The opportunity to secur "A busi-
nesslike and effective administration
of state and local matters should not
be jcupardized because some provision
which is regarded AS important has
not been inserted. Nor should 1t be
thrown away because of the desire OF
some organization or body OF men to
secure its rejection for some advantage
which may accrue from the holding Of
another convention dominated per-
haps iS other interests at great ey-
pcnse to the people Of the State and
with no certainty of the adoption of
such a Constitution,