New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-29
FL.RiChardS'S Plan Would
Increase TERMS and Pay
of Members.
SHORT BALLOT ISSUE
ROUSES CONVENTION
Se,h Low Moves TO Abolish Per-
petual FranchiseS-Plan No
Radical Judiciary Reforms.

.r-.., So Correspondent O, The Trbunel
Albany. April IS Three important
.,,.,,5r,ents 10 the constitution were
introduced at to-day's session oil 'he
. constitutional convention.
r,rcoe Lamb Richards proposed that
IL legislature meet once every two
ord that the terms Of Senators
!. extended from two 20 four years
- ~ ASScmblymen from one 10 TWO.
10 would also increase their salaries,
80 Senators s.. 500 a year and AS
tho,,biy-oea $500. Each now receive
$500. .nar,or.
- end the granting Of perpetual iran
ch;ses by any subdivision OF the state
,-o,c~-rocnt. II provides that lndeter-
innate franchises may be granted, on
-orS.-iou that the granting power nave
ne RIGHT TO resume control OF me
<,srcr-se on terms specified IN the
,-~s~,. that franchises granted Tor
iovrc~ than twenty-five years ShaIl
,-oyt5e for periodic readJustment, at
Intervals Of not less than twenty-five
years. and that when franchise eX-
r,rss s. may be reSranted 10 the same
The third amendment would give 10
Soev.sh war veterans and soldiers and
ssIcrs who served in the Philippine
i7su~Yectior prior TO June !, 1902, the
f1c same advantages now held by owl
War veterans in the civil service. VIII
Lam ". X. Olcott introduced tins
rlsn. which has been defeated by the
legislature many times.
Bar Radical Judicial Reforms.
The judiciary committee, of which
81 WicKcrsham is chairman, VIII ho!o
rytrc meetings every Tuesday and
thursday. beginning next week. Inc
chairman has sent invitations 10 every
iydce and District Attorney in the
s,ate. 10 bar associations and TO prom
,rert attorneys to offer suggestions
for reforms IN the judiciary.
l. can be said authortauVely that
20 radical reforms along this line Will
lie considered seriously. This state
mont was made 20 The Tribune CORE
s2ordent to-day, following the receipt
81 a letter from Thomas +. Wilkinson,
2 local attorney, urging Mr.. Root TO
act favorab.y on an amendment otered
Yesterday. which provides that
--rce-fourths vote Of jury shall con-
stltute a verdict.
ONLY one amendment offered thus far
IS certain Of adoption. TINS Is one IN
troduced yesterday by Charles II.
Young. Of New Rochelle, calling Tor
the creation of state budget commits
SION. composed Of the Governor, win
TWO votes. and the Lieutenant Governor
S-ate Treasurer and Controller, with
one vote each. The one objection re
formers make 10 this plan Is that 1t de-
rri,es The Governor of his veto power
on che budget The proposed change
William Barnes's idea.
Short Ballot a Stumbling Block.
Ore reform long agitated by students
o. state government, the short ballot,
r,ar..se, 20 be one Of the stumbling
blocks Of the convention. Its sponsors,
believing that the Capitalization OF re-
sroas.bility viii result IN more eihclent
r...rrment. advocate the election OF
o.-v the Governor and Lieutenant Gov
They believe the Secretary Of State,
State Treasurer, Attorney General,
State Engineer and Controller should
he appointed by the Governor. In TINS
they are opposed by the practical poll-
tcians in the convention, who are IN
the vast majority. they see III the
short ballot a blow to their power IN
der pressure they may vote for making
1Dpointive the Offices Of State Engineer
and Secretary of State, but no more.
These practical politicians, Demo
Gratis and Republicans, believe that the
state convention should be restored and
NIL make a determined effort 10 carry
through the constitutional amendment
d announced in The Tribune to-day.
Ex-senator Edgar Truman Bracket,
a. Saratoga, one of the leaders OF tne
convention and Republican OF the Ola
school. Is strong for its restoration. In
a. interview with Inc tribune CORE
spoudent to-day ne said:
There IS no such forum in the world
for settling political questions as IN
convention. 1t gives every one chance
% explain his views and, perhaps most
important. II gives members Of party
chance 20 become acquainted.
smith. Of Tammany, Wants 1t.
Thomas T. Smith. secretary of Tam
many Hall. also a delegate, said that
the democrats were almost TO a man
for restoring the state convention.
"The present direct primaries are
chiefly in the interest Of the dema-
goguc, and should never nave heeh
enacted into law" said Mr.. Smith;
Their continuance is menace TO good
government -.
: There is a belief among some dele
gate that the question Is more prop
ely one Tor the Legislature. ne al
yoca,es Of the plan, however, declare
that members Of the Leg stature wouId
not dare restore the state convention
/ fearing defeat the next time they ran;
j A. FOR delegates TO the constitutional
convention. they have to run once every
twenty years. so why fear popular cen
1 sure
4 Beginning next week, the convention
1 urtl further notice, will not SIT Mon
tsy nights. but start the weeks WORK
4 a. noon on Tuesday.