New-York tribune., 1919-07-27
Constitutional
Amendments TO Be
Voted On i'm Fall
Would Raise Salaries Of
Legislators and Judges,
Aid in Swamp Drainage
and Create Absent Voters

Four important constitutional amend
ments are up for adoption or rejection
by the voters of New York State this
fall. They are:
TO increase the salaries CT the
members of the Legislature.
To permit the exercise of franchise
by persons unavoidab!y absent from
their voting precincts Election Day.
To increase the salaries Of judges
Of the Court Of Appeals.
To facilitate drainage of swamp
lands for agricultural and other pun
poses.
Proposals to give the state law
makers more money for their FORK
have been before the gislaturc for
years. The 1915 constitutional conven-
ton decided almost without dissent
that the legislators are underpald. but
the Increased salary proposal inserted
at that time went down to defeat, along
with the rest Of the document.
Senator'S and Asscmblymen are paid
$500 q year for Legislative session
which lasts at least one hundred days.
and often much longer. During the
brief interval that the Democrats had
government but got to pickering among
themselves, and decided Governor Sui.
ger should be impeached the loGisla-
tors were in almost continuous session
throughout the year. Under the pro-
posed amendment Senator'S would re-
ceivc $4,000 a year, and Assemblymcn
with the exception of the Speaker S.
900. The Speaker, the presiding officer
Of the lower house, would receive
IS 900
Those in favor of increasing the sal
aries argue that it is difficult to get
efficient lawmakers at the rate of s.,
ECO & year. Those of contrary belief
hold that the legislative salary is not
meant to reward a legislator for duty
performed, but is to meet necessary
expenses only. They insist that tue
honor of representing q district at Al
/ bany is sufficient to attract men of
proper calibre.
The absentee voting proposal is de-
signed to meet conditions arising from
modern methods OF living. By reason
Of present law restrictions thousands
Of men and womcn-commercia trav-
cllcrs, actors, railroad workers and the
! like the prevented from voting because
they are away from homc Election Day
The amendment would authorize jcgis-
latlon which would permit these people
20 vote.
The chief Judge OF the Court of Ap-
peals now receives $1O,50O year and
the associate judges $4,000. In addi-
ton, the Judges receive an allowance
! of $1,000 each for travelling and living
expenses. The justices Of the Appel
late Division in New York City receive
salaries Of $17,500. The justices are
/ inferior in jurisdiction to the Judges
The proposed constitutional ameNd-
mcnt is designed TO place the mem
bcrs of the highest court of the state
at least on parity, so far as salary Is
concerned, with any other occupants OF
the bench. The amendment would pre-
scribe the 500 as a minimum. L
would be left with the LegislatiA't
whether it be fixed at more.
The fourth proposed amendmcn
would specifically enunciate the prin
cipje that "thc use Of property for th'
drainage of swamp or agricultural
lands is declared to be public aso =,
and would permit the Invocation o
condemnation proceedings under TIKI
doctrine Of eminent domain in their lm
prOvemcnt.