Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-06-25
ooNsrIrUT1oNAL ooNvENTIoN.
AFrERNooN sEssIoN.
THuRspAY. Jnne 2.

dlency OF limiting the terms of service of Justices
and Clerks of Police Courts, and for their cleo
ton by the voters Of the towns or cities in which
they may be located. Adopted
Basis of Representalion-M Gardner, of Sc
konk, submitted an order for inquiry inIo the
expediency Of apporlionng the members of the
House OF Representatives that towns of less
than 1000 inhabitants may send representatives
in ten years, or two more may unite to send
one annually; towns between 900 and 900
may send one annually; all over 5000 shall be
divided into single DISTRICTS and those containing
from 5000 to TO- 600, TO send two rep esenlatives
annually; those from 10 900 TO Is, 600, to send
three; fium $4,000 to 10000. four; TO 25, 900,
FIVE; TO 81 900, six to So 900, seven; 10 As, 900
eight; to go 600, nine; to $4,000. ten; 100, 900
twelve; to 100000, twenty; and no city or town
TO send more than that number. Referred to the
Committee of the Whole
The Convention then went into Committee, Mr.
Wilson Of Nack, in the chair, on the report on
the basis Of representation for the House of Rep
| resentatives.
Mr. Alley Of Lynn, ably expressed his disap-
probation Of both the majority and minority re-
ports of the Committee, and as favorable to that
of Mr. White of Quincy.
MIR Butler, Of Lowell, followed, and presented
new plan, which he moved as substitute for
| the majority report, providing that every town of
less than 900 inhabitants have FIVE representa-
tives in ten years, with an additional one for val.
uaton year, any two of such towns, BY vote, to
unite for representative each year, to continue
hive years, excepting valuation year; towns of L.
! 600 and less than 1000, to have representative
each year; of 1000 and less than 900 two: or
5000 and less than IL ,00O three; of II 900 and
| less than Is 900, -four; of Is, 900 and upwards,
one, and as many additional as 5 200 is contained
in the whole number of the nhabitants-the ap-
| portionment to be upon the census of 1850 ard
/ the Senate 10 re-apportion under the next census
SO as to limit The House to $40 members. No
town TO be hereafter incorporated with less than
! $500 inhabitants. Cities to be divided as the
Legislature may decide, districts not to be chang
ed oftener than once in five years, and no one to
choose more than three Representatives.
Mr. Brinley Of Boston, moved to amend the
amendment by striking out all after the word
Resolved, and inserting his pan previously sub.
mtted, providing for the election of $50 members
in districts of cities and towns, and CT contiguous
towns and districts, as nearly as may be, on the
| principle of an equality Of numbers of population
and defended the same by argument.
Mr. Edwards of Southampton, pointed out some
omissions IN the gentleman's tables, saying that
! while he looked out well for Boston, giving her
| 48 representatives his own town, together with
Westhampon and Easthampton, were nowhere,
not being mentioned.
Mr. Briney explained that there was an evil
dent omission in the tables, which he thought
must be typographical.
Some further debate ensued, when, without
taking any question, the Committee rose
| Further plans for the basis were made by
Messrs Schouler, of Boston, and Huntington, Of
! Northampton, which we're referred to the Com
mlttee of the Whole
The Judicary.-Mr Wilson of Natick, sub
mitted order for inquiry of the Secretary of the
q commonwealth fha har IF oc.
Supreme Court and of the Court of Common
Pleas, appointed since the adoption of the Con-
stiution, the time when so appointed, the term of
continuance in office, and the names of those re.
signed or died in office Adopted.
Qualifications of Voters.-Mr Walker of North
Brook6eld, presented report from the Committee
on this subject, of inexpedient, &C., relative to
voters being able to read and write. Placed in
the Calender-Adjourned
FRIDAY, June "a.
On motion of Mr. Breed Of Lynn, the Conyeu-
ton went into Committee Of the Whole. Mr.
Walker Of North BroohfieId IN the Chair, on un-
hnised business, and further considered the mat
| ter of Representation.
Mr. Foster OF Charlemont spoke first, and advo-
Gated the system oftown representation.
Mr. Morse Of Newburyport, followed Mr.. Fos-
ter, and read an argument opposing the system
] OF town representation as advocated in the major.
ity report.
Mr.. Kinsman, colleague of the last named
speaker, succeeded in debate, and review
| ed and combatted the positions assumed bv
| Messrs Hallett and Dana.
| Mr. Upham of Salem next addressed the Com
| nttee. He declared himself an advocate of The
rights Of the small towns.
Mr. Holder of Lynn sustained the town basis.
and at the close Of his remarks the question was
taken on Mr. Brney's amendment, and the same
was rejected
| Mr. Gray of Boston, moved that the Committee
rise, which ii refused to do.
| Mr. Butler modified his amendment of yester.
day SO as to make the last paragraph Of the pro-
| posed basis OF representation read as folows:-
every city or town of over twelve thousand in
habitants shall be entitled to as many additional
representatives in each year as the number of
times 1900 may be contained in the additional
number ofinhabitants ihereof''
| ny the paragraph before, town Of IL 900 in
habIlants Is entitled 10 four representatives, and
the above amendment gives one additional for
every 5000 additional inhabitants
Mr. Gray of Boston, opposed both amendments,
and urged the necessity ofnot only rejecting them
but the majority report also.
MIR Stetson of Braintree, opposed all the schemes
| before The Convention. He moved an amend
| ment TO the amendment, in substance as foows
| One hundred towns TO be united in contiguous
districts, which will be entitled to one represen-
tatlve cb,annualy. All other towns of less than
1000 inhabitants 10 be entitled 10 one representa-
tive annually. All towns from 1000 to 5000 Q;
from 5000 TO $4,000, 3; all town and cities above
! 5000, except Boston, to be distrcted, each dis
lrict 10 contain 1000 inhabitants each, and enti-
tied TO one epreseniative-Bosio to be divided
into districts or wards ofS0OO inhabitants, emit.
tied to one representative each. In 1860, and
each decennial period thereafter, 5000 nhab-
itants to be the mean increasing ratio for another
representative. Pending this amendment the
| Committee rose
| 10 the Convention, Mr. Earle Of Worcester,
proposed still another scheme, which, with that
OF Mr. Stetson, was referred to the Committee Of
the Whole, andordered to be printed.
Mr. Butler Of Lowell moved that the final ques-
ton on all the propositions be taken on Tuesday
afternoon. This motion was slrenuously opposed,
modified TO Wednesday, which was likewise on,