New York Constitution - 1915 Convention

1915 Convention

Under the 1894 Constitution, the people were to vote on the holding of a constitutional convention in 1916. However, the Governor proposed that the Convention be moved to 1915 so that it would not be overshadowed by other issues. Thus, in April 1914, a referendum approved a constitutional convention to be held in 1915. There were 168 delegates to the 1915 Convention. Members included Elihu Root (the President of the Convention), Seth Low, and Henry L. Stimson.

Proposed changes included:

• A reorganization of state government leaving it with seventeen departments, reducing the number of elected officials, and providing for the appointment of others
• Removing from the State Legislature the power to review local matters and private claims
• Budgetary regulation
• Improvements in the ways the State could become indebted
• Home rule for cities
• Giving the State Legislature the authority, with voters' consent, to alter county government
• Simplification of the court system
• State control over tax assessment
• Establishing a conservation commission to oversee natural resources
• Expanded rights for workers

All of the proposals were grouped into five questions, which were rejected by the people. However, all was not lost. In 1925, a revised article 5, containing many proposals from the Convention, was submitted to the people and accepted. In 1927, the budget proposal was also accepted.