Republican state senators, apparently convinced that the proposed new State constitution will be defeated in the November 7 referendum, are preparing to introduce portions of the document as amendments to the old constitution, including repeal of the so-called Blaine Amendment which would open the way to state aid for religious schools.
The negative assessment of the new charter’s chances by its proponents here followed the announcement by Mayor John V. Lindsay of New York that he will vote “No” on November 7. Mayor Lindsay attacked the draft constitution as one “that would memorialize mediocrity in New York.” He assailed the Constitutional Convention for, among other things, proposing repeal of the present constitutional ban on state aid to church-supported schools.
Explaining his stand, which represents a break with Gov. Rockefeller who supports the draft, Mayor Lindsay said: “The value of a strong system of public education in our society is not open to dispute. Any constitutional provision which permits the diversion of public funds to private schools poses a serious threat to the already hard-pressed public school system. Knowing full well the crashing financial burden under which our public school system now operates, I must include the repeal of the so-called ‘Blaine Amendment’ among my criticisms of the new state constitution.”
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