New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-03
Would Combine Special
Sessions, County and
City Bench.
TAFT WILL SPEAK
ON SHORT BALLOT
Election Reform Men Have Tilt
with Democrats Of the SUI
frage Committee.
From san co,r,.ponden, ~ II. rrieun.


for hearings. thirteen
were going at once.
There are still harder days before
the convention. for some schedules
provide for day and night work during
the swelterinC months Of July ana
August. Several well known men are
to appear before the convention hear
ines, among them exPresldent Tart
who will speak before the Committee
on Governor and Other State Officers
on June 10.
Mr.. Taft will explain the Federal
government svstem Of appointing ad-
ministrative officers 10 guide the com
mittee in its proposed short ballot
amendment.
Several bills calling for ballot cur
tallmes are now before the conyen-
ton. One provides that only the Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor be
elected and that the Governor appoint
all other state officers. while another
would make the Offices OF Governor
Lieutenant Governor. Controller and
Attorney General elective.
The most important proposal intro
duced AT to-day's session was by
George W Wickersham. 1t would ere
ste Superior Court for New York
CITY 10 combine the functions OF the
Court of Special Sessions. the CITY
Court and the county courts IN The
Bronx. Kings. Queens and Richmond.
Mr.. Wickersham said that he drafted
the proposal after consulting some OF
the Judges Of New York City. lie said
il follows closely the lines of the CITY
Court Of Chicago.
Twenty Judges in Manhattan.
The proposed amendment provides
for twenty SUPERIOR Court judges IN
Manhattan. eight in Kings and two
each in The Bronx, Richmond and
Queens. Their terms would be twelve
years The judges Of the courts al
fcctcd by the amendment would sit "a
Superior Court judges until the end OF
their present terms.
Trading on margin would be made
common gambling, on par with lot.
terios. pool selling and bookmaking, II
a bill introduced by Israel I. Deyo. of
Bnghamton, were enacted into law
He would compel all stock exchanges to
incorporate.
Rush Rhees. president of the Uni
versity of Rochester, proposed an
amendment providing that the liquor
dealer and owner of the premises
where liquor was sold, be held respon-
sible for any damage caused directly
or indirectly by any man who became
intoxicated on the premises.
A batch Of amendments cmbodylng
the views of the American Federation
of Labor was introduced by Mr.. Cur
ran. Of Rochester. These provide for
the prohibition of the use Of private
armed forces in labor disputes, the
prohibition of state constabu!ary,
an eight-hour day on all public works.
old age pensions and insurance OF
workers against accident, sickness and
unemployment. permitting the state or
any subdivision of it 20 undertake pub
lie work or engage in other industry
to give employment in hard times.
John Mitchell, at meeting before
the Industrial Relations Committee,
said that organized labor is against
the minimum wage for men, but favors
il for women and children. lie spoke
in favor Of the Curran amendments.
"Womcn's wages" said Mr.. Mitchell.
"are lowered by girls VINO live at home
and who therefore can afford to work
for low wages" He sail the present
compensation provision in the conSu-
tuition should remain, and he favored
recognition by statute OF trade agree
ments between employees and employ
ers.
Opposes Compulsory Arbitration.
James NJ. Lynch, Industrial Commits
sioner, spoke against the amendment
OF Joseph Rosch, of Sullivan County,
providing for compulsory arbitration
in strikes.
"The state should not have such
power." said Commissioner Lynch.
"Bloodshed and resistance to any such
settlement OF strikes would follow.
such a measure could not be enforced,
oven with the aid Of the state militia.
The Canadian compulsory arbitration
act is not acceptable 10 the wage earn
ers here, and involuntary servitude
would be resisted by American labor"
The series of election amendments,
introduced by Herbert Parsons and
backed by the Honest Ballot Assocla-
ton. had a hearing before the Suffrage
Committee. The advocates declared
many election frauds are now prac-
tised in New York City and that the
Parsons proposals would eliminate
them.
The principal measure provides for
registration in spring instead of
foTtniqht before election. Another
calls for a construction of the word
residence in the election law TO pre-
vent the misaPplication Of the term
as under the place Of stay" joker IN
the Levy election law.
Edward L. Finch. representing the
association. said that last year there
were only thirteen days between regis
tration and election days and that IN
that time a thorough investigation OF
the rights of 100000 would-be electors
could not be made. He SAID
foaters were given cards telling tnem
what name TO vote on and an imltA-
tion of the signature.
Democrats Protest Loudly.
That's another beautiful romance
interrupted John T. DoOling, a Demo
cratic member Of the committee
Don't YOU think we had an honest
election last year." asked ex-senator
John Godfrey SAKE, also democrat
II think You would find consider
able percentage Of fraud II there was
time enough to make an absolute
check" said Mr.. Finch. The holding
Of this very Constitutional Convention
was undoubtedly brought about by
fraud"
Professor jeremiah W. jerks, OF New
York. urged favor Of Seth Lows pro-
posal for proportional representation.
lie said it would minimize election
frauds
Let the constitution alone so far as
u appies 20 the administration OF the
Education Department. was the ad-
vice given to the committee on Gov
ernor and state officers by DR.. John II.
Finley. State Commissioner OF Educa-
ton. lie said the educational system
in the state now was removed from pol