Evening journal., 1890-10-28
pownhAM.s nupLlclrx.
senator Richardson Dismpproved o.
Republican Tactics.


senator Richardaon Disapproved OF
Republican Tactics.
Notwithstanding the ample discussion
which took place at the time the Leeisla-
ture was In session, the facts concerning
the effort to call constitutional eonven-
tion are not 80 well known as to prevent
the interested demagogues from creating
misspprehensions. The story is as fol-
lows:
A bill was passed by the House calling
a convention on the vote of 1887 The
Senate refused 20 concur ia that bill on
the ground Of an insufficient vote. Then
the Senate passed bill without dis
senting vote calling convention strictly
in accordance with the constitution and
the laws The House substituted by a
party vote. another bill calling conven-
tlon which would also have been illegal.
The Senate thereupon amended the Honse
substitute to the Senate bill which was
passed unanimously and returned so the
House. The House refused to confer
and asked for committee of conference
which was granted
The Conferences.
The members OF the committee for the
Senate we're Senators John P. Donahoe,
chairman; John B. Dorman and A. B.
Richardson
From the House there were Represen-
tgtives MeKendree Downham, William
A Davis and George Lodge
II soon became evident In the, confer
enee that the House conferrees would
refuse to act outside Of their own bill.
The Senators offered several compro-
misses, among which was the offer to call
convention IN four weeks from that
day. April 25, 1889, being the
third Tuesday In May, 1889, the
date specified by the constitution.
The mspublicans Refused.
But the Republicans of the House re-
fused to accept even this proposition.
Senator Richardson, the Republican,
seeing that the Republicans of the House
were insincere and quibbling, took issue
with them and agreed to support the
propositions OF the Democrats Of the
Senate. II Was at this period OF the
conference that the following collsquy
took place;
Senator Donahoe to Representative
Downham-"Since you have refused
our bill on which a convention can be
properly and legally called and sRbsti-
tuted bill TO which the Senate cannot
agree. have this last proposition to 4
offer" Namely TO call q convention
May, 1888.
Representative Downhsm-"Is that
your uitimatHmT
Senator Donahoe-"CaIl It what You
please l offer to fix the date at the
third Tuesday ia May, 1880"
Representative Downham, hanging his
head in profound thought-"Tha Is too
soon."
Senator Donahoe, turning to Senator
RichRrdson-"You perceive, Senator,
that he is quibbling; he does not wish to
call convention at any time
Senator Richardson-''I do not Rgree
with Mr.. Downham. do not care
whether the Republicans or the Demo
Gratis have the credit Of calling convsn-
tion. ! want convention ana the time
proposed Is not too soon"
Report of the Oonfsrrses.
The conference was abandoned and the
fate Of the movement for q constitu-
tional convention is shown by the follow
ing report;
ssThs Committee Of Conference ap-
pointed to consider the differences be-
tween the two Houses In the matter Of
the Senate amendments, to the subshi--
tute propoxnded by the House for Senate
bill No. 145, relating to constitutional
convention, respectfully report that
the undersigned, constituting a majority
Of the said confsrrees, have agreed and
determined that the said amendment sf
the Senate TO said substitute shall be
sustained, and that the Senate shall nos
rseede tharsfrem. Signed
'Jno. p. Donahoe.
~. B. Dormam,
"a b. Richardson,
George Lodge"
Senator Moore, the other Republican,
never made minority report, buk
taeitly agreed TO the action taken by the