Production Note Cornell University Library produced this volume to replace the irreparably deteriorated original. It was scanned using Xerox software and equipment at 600 dots per inch resolution and compressed prior to storage using CCITT Group 4 compression. The digital data were used to create Cornell's replacement volume on paper that meets the ANSI Standard Z39.48-1984. The production of this volume was supported in part by the New York State Program for the Conservation and Preservation of Library Research Materials and the Xerox Corporation. Digital file copyright by Cornell University Library 1993.CONSTimnONAI, AMENDMENTS. “ For all propositions on this ballot which are not canceled with ink or pencil; and against all which are so canceled. For the proposed amendments to article tw@ “ relative to suffrage and bribery.” For the proposed amendment to article three, part first, “Legislature and its organization,” section one to eight, inclusive. For the proposed amendment to article three, part two, “powers and forms of Legislature,” being sections seventeen to twenty-five, in- clusive. For the proposed amendments to article four, “ the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, their powers and duties.” For the proposed amendments to article seven, “finance and canals.” For the proposed amendments to article eight, part one, being sections four and eleven, “relating to corporations, local liabilities and appropriations.” For the proposed amendments to article eight, part two, section ten, “ State appropriations.” For the proposed amendment to section nine of article ten, being section “relative to compen- sation of certain officers.” For the proposed amendment to article twelve, “oath of office.” For the proposed amendment to add a new arti- cle to be known as article fifteen, “relating to official corruption.” For the proposed amendment to add anew arti- cle to be known as article sixteen, “ time for amendment to take effect.”CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS PROPOSING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITH ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE, PRE- SCRIBING THE FORM OF BALLOT FOR VOTING THEREON, AND MANNER OF SUBMITTING THE SAME TO THE ELECTORS OF THE STATE. Published by the New York State Council of Political Reform. Albany, August 18, 1874. CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS proposing amendments to article two of tlie Constitution. Whereas, At the last session of the Legislature, the following amend- ment was proposed in the Senate and Assembly, namely: That sections one and two of article two of the Constitution be amended so as to read as follows: Section 1. Every male citizen of the age of twenty-one years who shall Quaimca- have been a citizen for ten days and an inhabitant of this State one electors, year next preceding an election, and for the last four months a resident of the county and for the last thirty days a resident of the election dis- trict in which he may offer his vote, shall be entitled to vote at such election in the election district of which he shall at the time' be a resi- dent, and not elsewhere, for all officers that now are or hereafter may be elective by the people, and upon all questions which may be, sub- mitted to the vote of the people, provided that in time of war no Elector in elector in the actual military service of the State, or of the United ^vicef States, in the army or navy thereof, shall be deprived of his vote by reason of his absence from such election district; and the Legislature shall have power to provide the manner in which and the time and place at which such absent electors m?y vote, and for the return and canvass of their votes in the election districts in which they respect- ively reside. § 2. No person who shall receive, .expect or offer to receive, or pay, who not offer or promise to pay, contribute,, offer or promise to contribute totOYOte* another, to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding a vote at an election, or who shall make any promise to influence the giving or withholding any such vote, or who shall make or become directly or . indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of any election, shall vote at such election; and upon challenge for such Challenge cause, the person so challenged, before the officers authorized for thatan oat2 purpose shall receive his vote, shall swear or affirm before such officers that he has not received or offered, does not expect to receive, has not paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to contribute to another, to be paid or used, any money or other valuable thing as a compensation or reward for the giving or withholding a vote at such election, and has not made any promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such vote, nor made or become directly or indirectly interested in any bet or wager depending upon the result of such election. The Legislature, at the session thereof next after the adoption of this section, shall, and from time to time thereafter may, enact laws excluding from the right of suffrage all persons convicted of bribery or of any infamous crime. And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses of the said Legislature, entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place, and said proposed amendment was duly published for three months previous to the time of making such choice, in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution; therefore, Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the Assembly do agree to the proposed amendment. State oe New York, 1 In Assembly, January 23,1874. J The foregoing resolutions were duly passed. By order of the Assembly. JOHN O’DONNELL, Clerk. State of New York, i In Senate, April 10, 1874. f The foregoing resolutions were duly passed. By order of the Senate. HENRY A. GLIDDEN, Clerk. CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS proposing amendments to article three of the Constitution. Whereas, At the last session of the Legislature, the following amendment was proposed in the Senate and Assembly, viz.: That sections one, five, six, seven and eight of article three of the Constitution be amended so as to read as follows: ARTICLE III. Legteia- Section 1. The Legislative power of this State shall be vested in a ture* Senate and Assembly. Assembly. § 5. The Assembly shall consist of one hundred and twenty-eight Members members, elected for one year. The Members of Assembly shall be appor- apportioned among the several counties of the State, by the Legislature, tioned. as nearly as may be, according to the number of their respective inhabitants, excluding aliens, and shall be chosen by single districts. The Assembly districts shall remain as at present organized, until after the enumeration of the inhabitants of the State, in the year eighteen hundred and seventy-five. The Legislature, at its first session after the return of every enumeration, shall apportion the Members of Assembly Super- among the several counties of the State, in manner aforesaid, and visors to the board of supervisors in such counties as may be entitled under3 such apportionment, to more than one member, except the city and divide county of New York, and in said city and county the board of alder- fntodls- men of said city shall assemble at such time as the Legislature, making tricts. such apportionment, shall prescribe, and divide their respective coun- ties into Assembly districts, each of which districts shall consist of con- venient and contiguous territory, equal to the number of members of Assembly to which such counties shall be entitled, and shall cause to be filed in the offices of the Secretary of State, and the clerks of their respective counties, a description of such districts, specifying the num- ber of each district and the population thereof, according to the last preceding enumeration as near as can be ascertained, and the apportionment and districts shall remain unaltered until another enu- meration shall be "made as herein provided. No town shall be divided no town in the formation of Assembly districts. Every county heretofore estab- Jg^ded. lished and separately organized, except the county of Hamilton, shall Each always be entitled to one Member of the Assembly, and no new county shall be hereafter erected, unless its population shall entitle it to a member, member. The county of Hamilton shall elect with the county of Ful- Hamilton ton, until the population of the county of Hamilton shall, according county, to the ratio, be entitled to a member. But the Legislature may abolish Hamilton the said county of Hamilton, and annex the territory thereof to some county, other county or counties. Nothing in this section shall prevent divis- Division ion at any time of counties and towns, and the erection of new towns and counties by the Legislature. towns! § 6. Each member of the Legislature shall receive for his services an Pay of annual salary of one thousand five hundred dollars. The members of members, either house shall also receive the sum of one dollar for every ten miles they shall travel, in going to and returning from their place of meeting, once in each session, on the most usual route. Senators, when the Senate alone is convened in extraordinary session, or when serving as members of the Court for the Trial of Impeachments, and such Members of the Assembly, not exceeding nine in number, as shall be appointed managers of an impeachment, shall receive an additional allowance of ten dollars a day. § 7. No Member of the Legislature shall receive any civil appoint- No mem_ ment within this State, or the Senate of the United States, from the.J^to re- Governor, the Governor and Senate, or from the Legislature, or from point-ap" any city government during the time for which he shall have been ment- elected; and all such appointments and all votes given for any such member for any such office or appointment, shall be void. § 8. No person shall be eligible to the Legislature, who, at the time who not of his election, is, or within one hundred days previous thereto has ®o the6 been, a Member of Congress, a civil or military officer under the United legisia- States, or an officer under any city government. And if any'personture’ shall, after his election as a Member of the Legislature, be elected to Congress, or appointed to any office civil or military, under the government of the United States, or under any city government, his acceptance thereof shall vacate his seat. And that the following additional sections be added to said article * three of the Constitution: § 17. No act shall be passed which shall provide that any existing Acts re- law, or any part thereof, shall be made or deemed a part of said act, privets.4 Special legisla- tion. or wftich shall enact that any existing law, or any part thereof, shall he applicable, except by inserting it in such act. § 18. The Legislature shall not pass a private or local bill in any of the following cases: Changing the names of persons. Laying out, opening, altering, working or discontinuing roads, high- ways or alleys, or for draining swamps or other low lands. Locating or changing county seats. Providing for changes of venue in civil or criminal cases. Incorporating villages. Providing for election of members of boards of supervisors. Selecting, drawing, summoning or impaneling grand or petit jurors. Eegulating the rate of interest on money. The opening and conducting of elections or designating places of voting. Creating, increasing or decreasing fees, percentage or allowances of public officers, during the term for which said officers are elected or appointed. Granting to any corporation, association or individual the right to lay down railroad tracks. Granting to any private corporation, association or individual any exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise whatever. Providing for building bridges, and chartering companies for such purposes, except on the Hudson river below Waterford, and on the East river, or over the waters forming part of the boundaries of the State. The Legislature shall pass general laws providing for the cases enumerated in this section, and for all other cases which in its judg- Laws as to ment may be provided for by general laws. But no law shall authorize the construction or operation of a street railroad except upon the condition that the consent of the owners of one-half in value of the property bounded on, and the consent also of the local authorities having the control of that portion of a street or highway upon which it is proposed to construct or operate such railroad be first obtained, or in case the consent of such property owners cannot be obtained, the general term of the supreme court' in the district in which it is proposed to be constructed, may upon application, appoint three com- missioners who shall determine, after a hearing of all parties interested, whether such railroad ought to be constructed or operated, and their determination, confirmed by the court, may be taken in lieu of . the consent of the property owners. § 19. The Legislature shall neither audit nor allow any private claim or account against the State, but may appropriate money to pay such claims as shall have been audited and allowed according to law. § 20. Every law which imposes, continues or revives a tax shall dis- tinctly state the tax and the object to which it is to be applied, and it shall not be sufficient to refer to any other law to fix such tax or object. § 21. On the final passage, in either house of the Legislature, of any act which imposes, continues or revives a tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or revives any appropriation of public or trust money or property, or releases, discharges or commutes any claim To pass general law. street railroads. Private claims against the State. Tax laws. Vote, how taken on certain acts.5 or demand of the State, the question shall be taken by yeas and nays, Three_ which shall he duly entered upon the journals, and three-fifths of all fifths acts, the members elected to either house shall, in all such cases, be neces- sary to constitute a quorum therein. § 22. There shall be in the several counties, except in cities whose Boards of boundaries are the same as those of the county, a board of supervisors, su^er- to be composed of such members, and elected in such manner, and for vlso such period, as is or may be provided by law. In any such city the duties and powers of a board of supervisors may be devolved upon the common council or board of aldermen thereof. Section seventeen of said article is hereby made section twenty-three of the proposed amendment, and is amended so as to read as follows : § 23. The Legislature shall, by general laws, confer upon the boards Local leg- of supervisors of the several counties of the State such further powerslslation- of local legislation and administration as the Legislature may from time to time deem expedient. § 24. The Legislature shall not, nor shall the common council of Extra any city nor any board of supervisors, grant any extra compensation s2tSm.n" to any public officer, servant, agent or contractor. § 25. Sections seventeen and eighteen of this article shall not apply when §§ to any bill, or the amendments to any bill, which shall be reported to^0^*18 the Legislature by Commissioners, who have been appointed pursuant apply, to law to revise the Statutes. * And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses of the said Legislature, entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place, and said proposed amendments were duly published for three months previous to the time of making such choice, in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution; therefore, Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the Senate do agree to the proposed amendment. State of New York, \ In Senate, January 27, 1874. j The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Senate. HENRY A. GLIDDEN, Clerk. State of New York, { In Assembly, March 19, 1874. f The foregoing resolutions were duly passed. By order of the Assembly. JOHN O’DONNELL, Clerk. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION proposing amendments to article four of the Constitution. Whereas, At the last session of the Legislature, the following amendment was proposed in Senate and Assembly, namely: That sections one, two, four, eight and nine of article four of the Constitution be amended so as to read as follows: Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in a Governor, who Executive shall hold his office for three years; a Lieutenant-Governor shall bepower*6 chosen at the same time, and for the same term. The Governor and Lieutenant-Governor elected next preceding the time when this section shall take effect shall hold office during the term for which they were elected. Quaiiflca- § 2.- No person shall be eligible to the office of Governor or Lieu- Governor. tenant-Govemor, except a citizen of the United States, of the age of not less than thirty years, and who shall have been five years, next preceding his election, a resident of this State. Powers § 4. The Governor shall be Commander-in-Ohief of the military and of Gov-ties naval forces of the State. He shall have power to convene the Legis- ernor. lature (or the Senate only) on extraordinary occasions. At extraor- dinary sessions no subject shall be acted upon, except such as the Governor may recommend for consideration. He shall communicate by message to the Legislature at every session the condition of the State, and recommend‘such matters to them as he shall judge expe- dient. He shall transact all necessary business with the officers of government, civil and military. He shall expedite all such measures as may be resolved upon by the Legislature, and shall take care that Salary. the laws are faithfully executed. He shall receive for his services an annual salary of ten thousand dollars, and there shall be provided for his use a suitable and furnished executive residence. Salary of § 8. The Lieutenant-Governor shall receive for his services an annual Governor, salary of five thousand dollars, and shall not receive or be entitled to any other compensation, fee or perquisite, for any duty or service he may be required to perform by the Constitution or by law. Bills to be g 9. Every bilk which shall have passed the Senate and Assembly, toethe ed shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor; if he Governor. appr0ye, he shall sign it: but if not, he shall return it with his objec- tified tions to the house in which it shall have originated, which shall enter Actions" the objections at large on the journal, and proceed to reconsider it. iowdis- If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members elected to posed of. that hougg shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent together with the objections to the other house by which it shall likewise be recon- sidered ; and if approved by two-thirds of the members elected to that house, it shall become a law notwithstanding the objections of the Governor. In all such cases, the votes in both houses shall be deter- mined by yeas and nays, and the names of the members voting shall if not re- be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If any bill shall within returned by the Governor within ten days (Sundays excepted) ten days, after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Legislature shall, by their adjournment, prevent its return, in which case it shall not become a Bills to be law without the approval of the Governor. Ho bill shall become a law with?ned after the final adjournment of the Legislature, unless approved by the aftSYadays ^oyernor within thirty days after such adjournment. If any bill pre- journ- sented to the Governor contain several items of appropriation of ment. money, he may object to one or more of such items while approving ofPpartsof of the other portion of the bill. In such case, he shall append to the bills. bill, at the time of signing it, a statement of the items to which he objects; and the appropriation so objected to shall not take effect. If the Legislature be in session, he shall transmit to the house in which the bill originated a copy of such statement, and the items objected to shall be separately reconsidered. If, on reconsideration, one or more7 of such items be approved by two-thirds of the members elected to each house, the same shall be part of the law, notwithstanding the objections of the Governor. All the provisions of this section, in rela- tion to bills not approved by the Governor, shall apply in cases in which he shall withhold his approval from any item or items contained in a bill appropriating money. And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses of;the said Legislature, entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place, and said proposed amendment was duly published for three months previous to the time of making such choice in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution; therefore, Resolved (If the Senate concur), That the Assembly do agree to the proposed amendment. State op New York, I In Assembly, January 33,1874.) The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Assembly. # JOHN O’DONNELL, Clerk. State of New York, ) In Senate, April 10, 1874. j The foregoing resolutions were duly passed. By order of the Senate. TTTCTCRV A. fiTJmVEVNr. nhvrk.. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION proposing amendments to article seven of the Constitution. Whereas, At the last session of the Legislature, the following amendment was proposed in the Senate and Assembly, viz.: That sections three and six of article seven be amended as follows: Section three to be amended by adding at the end of the section the following: No extra compensation shall be made to any contractor, but if, from Extra any unforeseen cause, the terms of any contract shall prove to be satSmto unjust and oppressive, the Canal Board may, upon the application of contract- the contractor, cancel such contract. ors* Section 6. The Legislature shall not sell, lease or otherwise dispose canals not of the Erie canal, the Oswego canal, the Champlain canal or theto be sold* Cayuga and Seneca canal; but they shall remain the property of the , State, and under its management forever. Hereafter the expenditures Canal ex- for collections, superintendence, ordinary and extraordinary repairs on penses* the canals named in this section, shall not exceed, in any year, their gross receipts for the previous year. All funds that may be derived Funds from any lease, sale*or other disposition of any canal, shall be applied or^saief880 in payment of the debt for which the canal revenues are pledged. That the following be added as sections thirteen and fourteen in place of sections thirteen and fourteen of this article which have been transferred and inserted as sections twenty-one and twenty-two of article three.8 Sinking funds. Limita- tion as to claims. Savings banks. § 13. The sinking funds provided for the payment of interest and the extinguishment of the principal of the debts of the State, shall be separately kept and safely invested, and neither of them shall be appro- priated or used in any manner other than for the specific purpose for which it shall have been provided. § 14. Neither the Legislature, Canal Board, Canal Appraisers, nor any person or persons acting in behalf of the State, shall audit, allow, or pay any claim which, as between citizens of the State, would be barred by lapse of time. The limitation of existing claims shall begin to run from the adoption of this section ; but this provision shall not be construed to revive claims already barred by existing statutes, nor to repeal any statute fixing the time within which claims shall be pre- sented or allowed, nor shall it extend to any claims duly presented within the time allowed by law, and prosecuted with due diligence from the time of such presentment. But if the claimant shall be under legal disability, the claim may be presented within two years after such disability is removed. And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was agreed to by a majoritv of the members elected to each of the two houses of the said Legislature, entered on their journals, witln the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place, and said proposed amendment was duly published for three months previous to the time of making such choice, in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution; therefore, Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the Senate do agree to the proposed amendment. State oe New York, ) In Senate, January 37, 1874. f The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Senate. HENRY A. GLIDDEN, Clerk. State oe New York, \ In Assembly, March 19, 1874.) The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Assembly. JOHN O’DONNELL, Clern. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION proposing amendments to article eight of the Constitution. Whereas, At the last session of the Legislature, the following amendment was proposed in the Senate and Assembly, viz.: That article eight of the Constitution be amended, by amending section four thereof, so as to read as follows: § 4. The Legislature shall, by general law, conform all charters of savings banks, or institutions for savings, to a uniformity of powers, rights and liabilities, and all charters hereafter granted for such cor- porations shall be made to conform to such general law, and to such amendments as may be made thereto. And no such corporation shall have any capital stock, nor shall the trustees thereof, or any of them have any interest whatever, direct or indirect, in the profits of such corporation; and no director or trustee of any such bank or institu- tion shall be interested in any loan or use of any money or property9 of such hank or institution for sayings. The Legislature shall have Bank no power to pass any act granting any special charter for bankingcharters* purposes; but corporations or associations may be formed for such purposes under general laws. And further, by adding thereto additional sections to he known as sections ten and eleven, as follows: § 10. Neither the credit nor the money of the State shall be given Credit or or loaned to or in aid of any association, corporation or private under- ^ate not taking. This section shall not however prevent the Legislature from to^e making such provision for the education and support of the blind, theloane deaf and dumb, and juvenile delinquents, as to it may seem proper. N or shall it apply to any fund or property now held, or which may hereafter be held by the State for educational purposes. §11. No county, city, town or village shall hereafter give any Money or money or property, or loan its money or credit, to or in aid of any in- municipal dividual, association or corporation, or become directly or indirectly, the owner of stock in or bonds of any association or corporation, nor to be shall any such county, city, town or village be allowed to incur anyloaned- indebtedness, except for county, city, town or village purposes. This section shall not prevent such county, city, town or village from mak- ing such provision for the aid or support of its poor as may be author- ized by law. And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was. agreed to by a ma- jority of the members elected to each of the two houses of the said Legis- lature, entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place, and said proposed amendment was duly published for three months previous to the time of making such choice, in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution; therefore, Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the Senate do agree to the proposed amendment. State of New York, ) In Senate, January 27, 1874. f The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Senate. HEN It V A. GLIDDEN, Cleric. State of New York, ) In Assembly, April 15, 1874.} The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Assembly. JOHN O’DONNELL, Clerk. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION proposing amendment to article ten of the Constitution. Whereas, At the late session of the Legislature, the following amendment was proposed in the Senate and Assembly, viz.: That article ten of the Constitution be amended, by adding at the end thereof an additional section, as follows: §9. No officer whose salary is fixed by the Constitution, shall Oonapen- receive any additional compensation. Each of the other State officers, itate ° named in the Constitution shall, during his continuance in office, offioers‘ receive a compensation, to be fixed by law, which shall not be increased or diminished during the term for which he shall have been elected 210 Oath of office. or appointed; nor shall he receive to his use, any fees or perquisites of office or other compensation. And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses of the said Legislature, entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place, and said proposed amendment was duly published, for three months previous to the time of making such choice, in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution ; therefore, Resolved (If the Assembly concur), That the Senate do agree to the proposed amendment. State of New York, ) In Assembly, February 4,1874. f The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Assembly. JOHN O’DONNELL, Clerk. State of New York, j. In Senate, January 27, 1874. J The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Senate. HENRY A. GLIDDEN, Clerk. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION proposing amendment to article twelve of the Constitution. Whereas, At the last session of the Legislature, the following amendment was proposed in the Senate and Assembly, viz.: That article twelve of the Constitution be amended so as to read as follows: ARTICLE XII. Section 1. Members of the Legislature (and all officers, executive and judicial, except such inferior officers as shall be by law exempted), shall, before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation: “ I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of New York, and that I will faith- fully discharge the duties of the office of , according to the best of my ability •” and all such officers who shall have been chosen at any election shall, before they enter on the duties of their respective offices, take and subscribe the oath or affirmation above prescribed, together with the following addition thereto, as part thereof: “ And I do further solemnly swear (or affirm) that I have not directly or indirectly paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed or offered or promised to contribute, any money or other valuable thing as a consideration or reward for the giving or withholding a vote at the election at which I was elected to said office, and have not made any promise to influence the giving or withholding any such vote,” and no other oath, declaration or test, shall be required as a qualifi- cation for any office of public trust. And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses of the said Legislature, entered on their journals, with the yeas and nays11 taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place, and said proposed amendment was duly published for three months previous to the time of making such choice, in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution; therefore, Resolved (If the Assembly concur), That the Senate do agree to the proposed amendment. State of New York, { In Senate, January 27, 1874. j The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Senate. HENRY A. GLIDDEN, Clerk: State of New York, ) In Assembly, February 4,1874. f The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Assembly. JOHN O’DONNELL, Clerk. CONCURRENT RESOLUTION proposing an amendment to the Constitution to be known as articles fifteen and sixteen. Whereas, At the last session of the Legislature, the following amendment was proposed in the Senate and Assembly, viz.: That the Constitution of this State be amended by adding additional articles thereto, to be known as ..articles fifteen and sixteen, as follows ARTICLE XY. Section 1. Any person holding office under the laws of this State officers re- who, except in payment of his legal salary, fees or perquisites, shall receive or consent to receive, directly or indirectly, any thing of value be guilty or of personal advantage, or the promise thereof, for performing or£*£fel" omitting to perform any official act, or with the express or implied understanding that his official action or omission to act is to be in any degree influenced thereby, shall be deemed guilty of a felony. This section shall not affect the validity of any existing statute in relation to the offense of bribery. § 2. Any person who shall offer or promise a bribe to an officer, if it penalty shall be received, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and liable to pun-f£g bribes, ishment, except as herein provided. No person offering a bribe shall, upon any prosecution of the officer for receiving such bribe, be privi- leged from testifying in relation thereto, and he shall not be liable to civil or criminal prosecution therefor, if he shall testify to the giving or offering of such bribe. Any person who shall offer or promise a bribe, if it be rejected by the officer to whom it is tendered, shall be deemed guilty of an attempt to bribe, which is hereby declared to be a felony. § 3. Any person charged with receiving a bribe, or with offering or Evidence promising a bribe, shall be permitted to testify in his own behalf in cases1?617 any civil or criminal prosecution therefor. | 4. Any district attorney who shall fail faithfully. to prosecute a District person charged with the violation in his county of any provision of to^re-8 this article which may come to his knowledge, shall be removed from moved for office by the Governor, after due notice and an opportunity of being prosecute.12 Expenses of prose- cution. Amend- ments, when to in force. heard in his defense. The expenses which shall be incurred by any county, in investigating and prosecuting any charge of bribery, or attempting to bribe any person holding office under the laws of this State, within such county, or of receiving bribes by any such person in said county, shall be a charge against the State, and their payment by the State shall be provided for by law. ARTICLE XVI. Section 1. All amendments to the Constitution shall be in force from and including the first day of January succeeding the election at which the same were adopted, except when otherwise provided by such amendments. -1 And Whereas, The said proposed amendment was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses of the said Legislature, entered on their journals with the yeas and nays taken thereon, and referred to the Legislature to be chosen at the then next general election of Senators; And Whereas, Such election has taken place and said proposed amendment was duly published for three months previous to the time of making such choice, in pursuance of the provisions of section one of article thirteen of the Constitution ; therefore, Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the Senate do agree to the proposed amendment. State of New York, ) In Senate, January 27, 1874. j The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Senate. HENRY A. GLIDDEN, Clerk. State of New York, | In Assembly, February 4,1874. f The foregoing resolution was duly passed. By order of the Assembly. JOHN O’DONNELL, CZerfc. State of New York, | . Office of the Secretary of State, j SSm I have compared the preceding copy of Concurrent Resolutions proposing amendments to the Constitution with the original Concur- rent Resolutions on file in this office, and do hereby certify that the same is a correct transcript therefrom, and of the whole thereof. Given under my hand and the seal of office, of the Secretary of State, at the city of Albany, this twentieth day of July, in the [L. S.] year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. DIEDRICH WILLERS, Jr., ’ Secretary of State.13 ACT prescribing form of ballot for voting upon proposed amendments to the Constitution, with manner of submis* sion thereof, to wit: CHAP. 330. AN ACT to provide for submitting amendments to th« Con- stitution to the electors of the State. Passed May 6,1874; three-fifths being present. The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : Section- 1. The inspectors at each poll in the several towns and wards of this State, at the general election to be held in this State on the third day of November, one thousand eight hundred and seventy- four, shall provide a box to receive the ballots of the citizens of this State in relation to the amendments proposed to the Constitution as hereinafter mentioned, and each voter may present a ballot on which shall be written or printed, or partly written or partly printed in the form following, namely: “For all propositions on this ballot which are not canceled with ink or pencil; and against all which are so canceled. For the proposed amendments to article two “relative to suffrage and bribery.” For the proposed amendment to article three, part first, “ Legisla- ture and its organization,” section one to eight, inclusive. For the proposed amendment to article three, part two, “ powers and forms of Legislature,” being sections seventeen to twenty-five, inclusive. For the proposed amendments to article four, “the Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, their powers and duties.” For the proposed amendments to article seven, “ finance and canals.” For the proposed amendments to article eight, part one, being sections four and eleven, “ relating to corporations, local liabilities and appropriations.” For the proposed amendments to article eight, part two, section ten, “ State appropriations.” For the proposed amendment to section nine of article ten, being section “ relative to compensation of certain officers.” For the proposed amendment to article twelve, “ oath of office.” For the proposed amendment to add a new article to be known as article fifteen, “relating to official corruption.” For the proposed amendment to add a new article to be known as article sixteen, “ time for amendment to take effect.” Each of said ballots shall be counted as a vote cast for each proposi- tion thereon not canceled with ink or pencil, and against each proposition so canceled; and returns thereof shall be made accord- ingly by inspectors of election and canvassers. The said ballot shall be indorsed “ Constitutional Amendments.”14 And all the citizens of this State entitled to vote for Members of Assembly in their respective districts, shall be entitled to vote on the adoption of the said proposed amendments during the day of election in the several election districts in which they reside. § 2. After finally closing the poll of such election, the inspectors thereof shall count and canvass the ballots given relative to the said proposed amendments in the same manner as they are required by law to canvass the ballots given for Governor, and thereupon shall set down in writing the whole number of votes given for each of the said proposed amendments, in the words in which said amendment is here- inbefore given, and the whole number of votes given against each of the said proposed amendments, in the words in which said amendment is hereinbefore given, and shall certify and subscribe the same, and cause copies thereof to be made and certified and delivered as pre- scribed by law in respect to the canvass of votes given at an election for Governor. § 3. The votes so given shall be canvassed by the board of county canvassers, and statements thereof shall be made, certified and signed and recorded in the manner required by law in respect to the canvass- ing of votes given at an election for Governor, and certified copies of the statements and certificates of the county canvassers, shall be made, certified and transmitted by the county clerks respectively, in the manner provided by law, in cases of election for Governor. The said certified copies transmitted by the county clerks, shall be canvassed by the board of State canvassers in the like manner as provided by law in respect to the election of Governor, and in like manner they shall make and file a certificate of the result of such canvass, which shall be entered of record by the Secretary of State and shall be published by him in the State paper, and in the papers designated by the several boards of supervisors to publish the session laws or which may be designated by said board to publish said certificate, and in any county in which such designation is not made for the present year in one paper published in each Assembly district, of such county to be desig- nated by the Secretary of State. § 4. It shall be the duty of the Secretary of State to cause the said proposed amendments to the Constitution together with the form of the ballot as herein specified to be published in the manner provided * for the publication of the certificate of the result of the canvass as provided by section three' hereof, at least twice prior to such election, but no neglect or failure to publish shall impair the validity of such election.” State of New York, ) Office of the Secretary of State, j ss * I have compared the preceding with the original law on file in this office, and do hereby certify that the same is a correct transcript there- from, and of the whole of said original law. Given under my hand and the seal of office, of the Secretary of State, at the city of Albany, this twentieth day of July, in the [l. s.] year one thousand eight hundred and seventy-four. DIEDRICH WILLERS, Jr., Secretary of State.No, 486 BROADWAY, ALBANY, AUG., 1874,. To the People of the State of New York: The New York State Council of Political Reform, in the furtherance of the general objects for whiph it was organized, has undertaken to make the necessary preparation for the adoption of the Constitutional Amendments that are to be voted on at the election in November next. This the Council has felt compelled to do, both from the urgent request of those who have been chiefly instrumental in framing these Amend- ments, and securing their passage through the Legislature, and of other public men and bodies of the State; and also from the manifest neces- sities of the case. These Amendments are intended to legalize several measures of reform in the prosecution,of the State government — especially in the facilities allowed under the present constitution for special legislation, and for corrupting the Legislature; — sources from which a large part of the abuses have sprung, that have made the administration of public affairs in this State for several years past infamous throughout the world. Lobbyists, professional corruptionists, and some of the State employes, who have carried on their fraudulent operations under these defects in the organic law of the State, have been able, through their great influ- ence in the management of the party machinery, to defeat every attempt that has been made for several years past to amend the Constitution of the State in the interest of good government. This is the third attempt of this kind within the last three years. The two former failed from the causes that have been mentioned in connection with the ignorance of the great body of voters of the nature of those amendments, and their consequent indifference to their fate. It is to be presumed that these causes will be influential in effecting the defeat of the present amendments if left to themselves. Besides, it is known, that the evil minded classes referred to are making com- mon cause covertly to accomplish such a result. No just charge can be made against these amendments of being de- signed or framed in any partizan interest. The Convention that drafted them was selected by the then Governor Hoffman under a resolution of the Legislature of 1872, from well known publicists of the State having the public confidence, and equally divided in their party con- nections, which Convention, after mature deliberation, adopted these amendments by a unanimous vote. As concurrent resolutions, they have been thoroughly discussed and passed by large and non-parti- zan majorities by the two last Legislatures, and at once signed by the Governor. The public press of the State has universally approved of them. No open opposition has ever been made to them. It cannot be imagined how any can be. It is apathy alone that is apprehended. Besides the interests of legislative purity and of public order and economy that are at stake in the vote on these amendments, it will also be a trial of the relative strength of the forces of public purity and corruption in the State. Every citizen who has the honor and16 prosperity of the State at. heart is urged to co-operate with the gentle- men whom this Council is now employing throughout the State, for this purpose, to see. that this trial is made, with, all the circumstances in favor of a decision that shall strengthen public order. If this attempt fail there is no hope that the people of the State can he induced again in this generation to put their hand to an effort to amend the Constitution in the interests of true reform. OFFICERS. O. J. HARMON, Oswego.................................. President. J. T. PECK, Syracuse.................................. Vice-President. BRADFORD R. WOOD, Albany.............................. Vice-President. CALVIN T. HURLBURT, St. Lawrence Co................... Vice-President. HENRY NICOLL, New York... EXECUTIVE M. E. VIELE, Albany, Chairman. JAMES H. BRONSON, Amsterdam. J. P. H. TALLMAN, Poughkeepsie. A. B. CAPWELL, Brooklyn. JAMES W. BEEKMAN, New .York. DEXTER A. HAWKINS, New York. HENRY N. BEERS, New York. ............. Vice-President. COMMITTEE. JOHN STEPHENSON, New York. JOHN B. SHEFFIELD, Saugerties. WARREN S. KELLY, Albany. J. C. GALLUP, Clinton. LEMON THOMPSON, Albany. DAVID DECKER, Elmira. E. REMINGTON, Ilion. MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL OF POLITICAL REFORM. JOHN STEPHENSON, JOHN FALCONER, J. C. HAVEMEYER, GRANVILLE P. HAWES, ALBERT KLAMROTH, WILLY WALLACH, JULIUS W. TIEMANN, JOHN R. VOORHIS, JOSEPH B. VARNUM, DORMAN B. EATON. JAMES EMOTT, HIRAM MERRITT, J. C. SANDERS, WILLIAM GARDNER, J. P. HUGGINS, PHILLIP BISSINGER, HENRY -CLAUSEN, Jr., F. B. THURBER, DAVID L. MANIER, ROBERT HOE, GEORGE HENCKEN, Jr., DEXTER A. HAWKINS, JACKSON S. SCHULTZ, JOHN P. CROSBY, C. E. DETMOLD, FREDERICK SCHACK, . CHARLES WATROUS, WILLIAM M. VERMILYE, A. F. OCKERSHAUSEN, GEORGE H. MOLLER, BENJAMIN TATHAM, FRED. D. TAPPEN, WILLIAM DOWD, ERNST KRACKOWITZER, M. D., J. H. GAUTIER, JONATHAN STURGES, JACOB D. VERMILYE, WILLIAM H. NEILSON, B. B. SHERMAN, SAMUEL D. BABCOCK, JAMES W. BEEKMAN, D. WILLIS JAMES, HENRY NICOLL, EDWARD SALOMON, R. LENOX KENNEDY, JOSEPH C. JACKSON, S. B. H. VANCE, HENRY TICE, JOHN H. EARLE, HENRY A. OAKLEY, JAMES M. REQUA, EDWARD FITCH, HENRY N. BEERS, AMOS F. ENO, WILLIAM H. FOGG, F. H. COSSITT, R. A. WITTHAUS, JOSEPH SELIGMAN, HENRY J. SCUDDER, THOMAS L. THORNELL, CORNELIUS k. AGNEW, M. D., J. B. CORNELL, BIRDSEY BLAKEMAN, WILLIAM SLOANE, JOSEPH HAIGHT, ROBERT G. CORNELL, CHARLES SPEAR, EDWARD A. MORRISON, CHARLES CRARY, ALFRED C. POST, M. D.