The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-08-28
TANNER PLAN is STILL
A NIP AND TUCK FIGHT
Republicans in Convention Are Far Apart, but Backers
of Short Ballot Expect to Pass
the Article.

TO get you to vote for it, retorted Mr..
Smith. This should be amended to
provide that the reorganization plan
shall not take effect until January 1,
1917"
Henry l.. Stimson interrupted to say
that he thought that was n valid OBJ
lection.
There is no use for FOUR State
Treasurer. or your Department OF Ac-
counts" said Mr.. Smith. THE State
Treasury amounts to no more than the
New York city Chamberlain. and IL the
Commissioner Of Accounts is to prove a
check on the Comptroller he would need
as large "A force az the Comptroller has.
You must eliminate these two jobs or
you violate your wi platform. which
was pledged against the creation OF ad-
ditional departments"
"The Commissioner of Accounts will
perform practically the functions OF the
State Department OF Efficiency and
Economy and you voted for that de-
partment," said Chairman Tanner.
"Yes, n I also voted against the
law putting the department out of bust
ness. but when 1t was abolished I want
to tell you that the Republicans in the
department were transferred to the
Comptroller's office at a good salary,
while the Democratic employees were
taken down to the Union station and
shown the gate leading out OF town"
replied Mr.. Smith.
Quigg Hints OF Influence.
Iemuel Ely Qulgg referred to the
newspaper comments that President
Root and Chairman Tanner OF the state
committee were to exercise the influence
OF their offices to persuade the delegates
To vote for tho short hallof.
The people are only beginning to
wake up to "A mlsnomer the short
ballot is said Mr.. Quigg. They be-
liere 1t IL a shorter ballot from the
standpoint of the paper used. The idea
OF "A short ballot got in the minds OF the
people when they went into the voting
booth to use the first ballot under the
Hughes primary law. which was sew
eral yards long and a yard wide.
They are just beginning to realize
II is a denial of their right to vote for
State officials. You can make the bal
lot just as long or AS short as you like
In marking 1t II you will restore the
party column and circle and party en-
blem. While the advocates OF the shorter
ballot insist II IL "A matter OF principle
with them, they forget that the short
ballot means the election OF the Gov
ernor and Lieutenant-Governor only and
that the Tanner plan could not be
brought In here until the fourteen Re
publican delegates from Brooklyn were
appeased by retaining the state Comp
troller as an elective official with all
his present powers.
Hopes to Save constitution.
My only hope is there will be enough
Republican delegates opposed to the
plan to cause the leaders OF the con-
vention to pause and ponder before fore
ing this into the Constitution,
~ can understand how a Governor
anxious for power would rather appoint
seventeen than lj2 heads OF depart
ments. because he could control seven
teen easier. The least concession YOU
shuuld make is to agree to the election
Of superintendent Of public works, pro-
viding you insist OF creating such a big
political monster in his state"
George W. Wickersham said he had a
higher opinion of the intelligence OF the
voters OF the state than to believe they
thought a short ballot meant Al alb
breviated piece OF paper.
1.-THE ineffciency OF State government
has been commented upon for years and
Mis- Is the first plan to reform the or
ganizatiou of the State government
ever brought into n constitutional con-
yention here" he said.
Senator Wagner suggested amend
ments providing that the Legislature be
permitted to elect the Commissioned Of
Accounts instead OF his appointment by
the Governor. so that he would be indie
pendent and directly responsible TO the
people. He also urged that the Superin-
tendent of Public Works because OF the
iminense patronage given him should
be made an elective official even IL it
were necessary to make the Attorney
General an sppointive officer.