New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-12

to-day he said, as the practice Of
tflai OF cases by newspapers. This
practice creates an atmosphere which
II is hard for the court and Jury 70
overcome. My suggestion would b..
mat the constitution modify the free
dom OF the press provision to the OK
tent, at least, of authorizing the Leg
lsiature TO pass laws TO protect the
administration OF Justice against the
abuse of the press"
Mr.. Taft said he believed the ac-
cused should not be exempt from being
called as witness. He disapproved
OF the safeguards thrown around per
sons accused of crime. He said he
preferred the French system of pre-
hminary investigation.
Our present methods Of handling
persons accused Of crimes render easy
a perlured defence or prepared de-
fence"
Mr.. Taft said we had gone too far
with rules of evidence.
Greater discretion ough. to lie in
the trial judge az TO what he would ad-
NIT Our too stringent rules have
caused many needless reversals."
As to the impeachment Of judges, Mr..
Taft would add two more grounds in
competency and lack Of judicial tenn
permanent.
when a judge is on trial on either
Of these two charges The number of
votes necessary TO impeach ought 10 be
increased. Give to your Senate right
TO improvise among its members q
court of trial fer judges"
MIR. Taft said that If necessary the
lower house might be included in the
court Of impeachment
81 am strongly in favor of making
judges feel that they are not removed
from responsibility to the public. The
recent impeachment of Federal judges
has had healthy effect"
667 Amendments Proposed.
The time limit for the introduction
Of proposed amendments expired to-
day when the last proposal, No. 667,
was read. This is a little more than
half the number introduced in the last
convention.
The Court of Special Sessions Of New
York City sent its chief clerk Of the
court, Frank Smith, with a proposed
amendment making the tribunal con-
sttutional court. Mr.. Smith reached
here after the session adjourned, but
received assurances the proposal would
be introduced as a committee bill next
week
Representatives of the state hospitals
for the insane. members of boards Of
managers and supcrintendents and the
State Charities Aid Association APP
pesred before the Charities Committee
to oppose the proposed amendment 20
create a state board of nine members
to manage the state hospitals and place
in the hands OF :he Controller .he man
agement Of their fiscal affairs.
DR.. Willi:m Nal ". superi. ter. dent
Of the Manhattan State Hospital. led
tho opposition. Hcme. Folks secretary
of the State Charities Aid Association,
said that fiscal control meant actual
control OF al, the affairs Ct the institu-
tons, and that they would practically
be run by clerks in the Controllers Of
fee.
Prohibition Of the cutting of mature
timber. except for the benefit and i'm
provement of the state forests, was ad-
vocated before the Conservation Com
mittee by George D. Pratt. Conserva-
ton Commissioner. who said the de-
nuded state lands could be reforested
for 100000. He said that it would
cost IS an acre for $4,000 acres.
Charles VI. Chadwick, Of New York,
urged the committee to take some &C.
ito that would insure to the cities Of
the state the use of the water for res
ervoirs He declared that in a few
years New York City would have to go
10 the Adirondacks 10 get water.
Compulsory military service would be
provided for in proposed amendment
introduced by Andrew L. Tuck, Of
Rochester. The term of service would
be three years.