The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-04
THE TROUBLES OF OUR NEIGHBORS
Trying to Unravei tho Tangle In
New hampshire.
An Address from the Governor Ex-
planning His Action.
Little Prospect of Legislation at the
Special Session.

CONCORD, N. H, December 3.-In thu
Senate this afternoon, a bill making the cen
sus of 1890 the basis of representation in thu
next House was passed, seventeen Republi
cans voting for the measure, and two Demo
Gratis against.
In the House the judiciary committee re
ported new draft of the bill prescribing
the qualifications of the officers of the legis
lature. This was passed under suspension
of the rules. The same committee presented
resolution in respect to the memory Of the
late Gilman Marston Of Exeter, which wa;
adopted. A concurrent resolution for the
final adjournment of the legislature to-
morrow noon was unanimously adopted
The Senate bill relating to the representa-.
tion in the next House was read twice and
referred to the committee on judiciary. Both
branches assembled In joint convention In
Representatives Hall at 3.15 D. IN. and Gov
Goodell read the following message;
'Gentlemen Of the Legislature:
"Since the election In this state on the
fourth of November last gravequestions
have arisen in regard to the powers and du-
ties OF the clerk of the present House OF
Representatives and In regard to the consti-
tutlonal and legal rights OF many towns to
representation in the legislature that will
convene the first Wednesday of January
next. Out OF these questions have grown
radical differences of opinion and fierce con-
tentions which threaten the peace and dig
it was entirely in the province Of
your honorable body to take such
action as will decide beyond dispute
and to the approval of all good citizens tho
questions referred to, and thereby rescue the
state from its impending peril, | have sum-
mr. fa q in nvfr h.
constitution, as amended In 1859, forbids
CHASING towns for the election of represent
atives to the general court, and thereby the
towns formerly claSsed come under the con-
stitutional provision that they be pro rated
tives. The legislature, at the last session,
neglected to determine the proportionate
part of the time to which such towns may
be entitl' d. to representation. 1t is
plain the inhabitants of such towns
are entitled to g fair representation.
| understand that each 0f the towns former
ly classed has elected representative but by
the plain construction Of the constitution
none OF them are entitled to admiSsiOc /.
Again the constitution allows one representa-
tive to every town and ward having 6000 in
habitants, and an additional representative
for every additional 1900 people. A large
number of representatives were elected In
towns and wards according to the increase
OF population as shown by the census of
1890. The clerk In making up the roll of the
members of the house in 1881 did not in-
clude the names of those elected under
similar circumstances. The next day after
t e organization of the house, Mr.. Hatch of
Greenland introduced resolution deelarin g
that these men had right to membership.
This resolution was referred to the judiciary
committee and Mr.. Bingham made
the following report: That according to the
requirements Of the constitution of New
Hampshire, the representation In the pres
ent House be based on the census of the Uni
ted States taken in 1880" The House unani-
action of the clerk and declared these men
entitled to membership. This action of the
House was based on the report presented by
the judiciary committee that such additional
representatives were entitled to seats, not by
favor or votes of the House, but as a matter
of constitutional right What action should
be taken by you under these circumstances
l submit to your candid consideration. re-
gret exceedingly the circumstances that made
1t necessary to put you to the trouble and
extra session, and hope the work before you
will be. quickly and cheerfully accom-
plished."
At its meeting this afternoon the house
judiciary committee considered the senate
bill making the census of 1890 the basis of
repr. sentation in the next house. The COM
mittee, by vote of eleven to one, Mr.. Holt
Of Claremont, Republican. dissenting, de-
cided to report it inexpedient to legisiate
This report will be made to the house to-
morrow morning. II it is accepted, there
will be no legislation at this session. Con-
cerning the me u bership of the next House,
the Democrats maintain that the names of
81 Republicans and 13 Democrats elected un-
der the census Of 1890 should not go on the
roll Of the next House when that roll is pre-
pared by the clerk previous to the organizs-
tion of theHouse. They say IL the present
House, the majority being Republican, re-
fuses or fails to pass the Senate
clerk to place such names upon
the oil they do not believe Mr.. Jewett, to-
day elected clerk by this house, will assume
to do so. They further say they expect to
organize the next house, but give no figures
or other information as the basis for this
claim. While the Democrats are united in
opposition to the passage of any bill relat-
ing TO the preparation of the roll of the
next House, there is diversity Of opinion
among Republicans. and enough of chem
will vote with the former in the House to
prevent the enactment of legislation upon
the subject at this session. Those opposed
to taking action at this time say there is no
douot the Republicans will organize the
next House and elect the governor and a
United states senator.