New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-16
Constitution Makers at
Odds Over Reapportion-
ment Question.
LEADERS FORCE
A POSTPONEMENT
Delegates Decide to EscheW
Saratoga Water for Another
Bottled Beverage.
From a star Correspondent Of The Thbun"

n NNit'HA'AtA+'A's
Albany, June 15.-Ex-Senator Edgar
T. Brackets Committee on Legislative
ORGANIZATION started small sized row
this afternoon in the Constitutional
Convention when its report was re-
ceived recommending that the Legs
lature be left in its present form. The
report. II adopted, would have meant
the death Of all proposed amendments
to the constitution providing for legis-
lative reform.
Just as it looked as II there was to
be real fight, ex-United States Attor-
ney General George W. Wickersham
moved to postpone debate until June
"a. and when this was carried by
viva voce vote he moved that the con-
vention adjourn, which was also car
ried
The report Of the committee. Senator
Bracket admitted, was merely the pc
ginning Of a movement to reapportion
the Senate and Assembly districts. This
WAS known TO the leaders Of the con-
vention. who want 10 leave the work
of reapportionment to the Legislature.
At n conference held by the leaders
before the session started, a resOlu-
ton was drawn up by Frederick I.
Tanner, which he was prepared TO IN
troduce had Mr.. Understands motions
10 POSTPONE debate and adjourn been
beaten. and which provided that any
vote on the Bracket resolution was not
TO be regarded as an expression OF
sentiment of the convention.
SAYS New York Wants Change.
81 do not see how reapportionment
can hiring about any serious division in
Il convention on party lines" said
Mr. Bracket, Except on the question
Of whether the present constitutional
limitation, which prevents New YORK
City from having a majority IN either
house of the Legislature, shall be con-
tinued. That question is bound to come
up any way, and know the New YORK
City members will fight like wildcats
for a change, because they do not be
Eeve IL fair that one locality should
dominate the whole legislative body"
De Lancey Nicoll, a Democrat from
New York, told how the 1898 conven-
ton had gone along smoothly for sixty
DAYS until the question of reapportlon-
ment was infected into the proceedings
1.-THE convention at once divided on
party lines" said Mr.. Nicoll "and har-
mony was at an end. Let US avoid that
mistake now. Let US put the question
Of reapportionment in the stature
where Il belongs and not imperil the
. / nf
| vention can accomplish II II works har-
moniously."
Patrick W. Cullinan, Of Oswego, said
the report should not be adopted as il
would kill, among other proposals, enc
for proportional representation, mat
ter which was warmly defended before
his suffrage committee by very I'M
posing array of speakers.
Thinks Committee Dodges Burden.
Henry L. Stimson, ex-Secretary Of
| War, criticised Mr.. Brackets commit
tee for introducing the report, which
| he said, meant the placing on the
| shoulders of the convention the duty
! Of deciding on questions which Mr.
! Brackets committee ought to act on
"To adopt this report would be 70
establish a dangerous precedent" sale
! Mr.. Stimson. at Is not the duty of {
committee 10 throw its burdens on the
convention--to have important ques'
tions decided unacademically."
At the morning session the conven'
ton, by o vote Of 60 to 81, voted not
to drink Saratoga Spring water, and 70
purchase instead a popular bottled
spring water. The amount involved
was $3.50.
Senator Bracket, who halls from
Saratoga, was loud in his protest:
against the convention, using anything
except Saratoga water. Next to sal
vation," said he, 81 know of nothing
better for the system than Saratoga
water"
Among the amendments reported IA
4 vorably to-day we're that of John God
frey SAKE, of New York, prohibiting
the passage of any bill granting TO any
corporation, association or individual
the right TO approve a claim against
the state, and one by Ray y. Smith, 0,
Syracuse, preventing the Legislature
| or any subdivision of the state from
granting extra compensation TO an!
| public officer, servant, agent or con
: tractor,