The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-22
WHAT THEY SAY
About the Governors Action in Call
ing a Special Session.

Gov. Brown has to-day issued his pro-
clamation calling special session of the
General Assembly for Tuesday, October
4, for the purpose Of taking into con-
sideration the matter of the Newport
election. and to decide il there is any
way Of affording relief to the voters who
have been disfranchised by the action OF
Mayor Honey and the Board Of Alder
men. Gov. Brown has only done this
when It seemed 10 be the last resort and
after it WAS learned that the Supreme
Court could not interfere, the time of
notice having already passed.
With regard to the action OF Gov.
Brown Il seems to be the opinion Of Off
cials and politicians generally that the
Governor has done just right; that there
was no other way out OF the muddle and
that the voters must not be disfranchised.
Mayor Potter, when asked for his
opinion OH the question, said he had not
followed up the case, but II the Governor.
after hearing both sides, had decided to
call an extra session he probably knew
what he was about. He had formed no
opinion on the merits Of the case.
Alderman Burrows said he did not see
how Gov. Brown could do anything else
than call the extra session. Hearings
could be given and the General Assembly
could then decide on the right and wrong
OF the trouble.
Alderman A. K. Vest am not in
favor Of the State meddling in municipal
affairs. They should ADJUST themselves.
but IL there Is no relief for the disfralr-
chised voters and the courts cannot do
anything for them, Gov. Brown has done
right in calling the session.
Alderman Harris-They should have an
election in Newport, and If IL cannot be
brought about in any. other way the
governor must call this extra session.
The voters OF Newport must not be dis
franchised, and il the city authorities can
not help them out the State must.
Alderman Winship - don't see any
other way but for the governor to call the
session; they have tried every other
means. and all have failed. The voters
should have chance to exercise their
franchise.
Alderman Roupds-I cannot see any
other way out of the difficulty. and Gov.
Brown. aving all the evidence at hand,
knows best whether 1t is necessary to
issue the proclamation. i thinx he has
done perfs city right
preme Court can do anything for the
newport voters, Sd that the only thing
that can be done is for the General Assem-
bly, to have n chance to help them out.
Congressman Charles III. Page-So me
plan ought to be devised so that the peo-
ple VI newport irrespective OF political
affiliations can elect their officers. They
should not De deprived of this right by
amy quibble. IL There l. dsfect IA the
laws governing Newport's eie.tious that
defect should be renipdied by the legisla-
ture. The only means of remedying de-
iect OF this kind at this time is by legisla-
tive inter position.
H. ID. Bassett-U nder the circumstances
IL was the best thing that could be done.
Gorbam Pomroy-I have not looked
into. the matter, but believe that he
ch ef executive OF the state, after looki x
into the pros and cons Of the matter,
knew what was best 10 be done.
Gen. John M. Brennat 1T was quite
necessary to call the Gsi eral Assembly
together to straighten cut things for tie
Presidential election. At is not for n
City Council to hold solemn act OF the
General Assembly unconstitutional, no
matter how partisan the act may lie.
That is something always reserved for
the biyhest tribunal IN tue State.
X. y Owen-The General Assembly
had bs.ter let tie Newport people settle
the matter for themselves and not bother
this end OF the State. aud until they do
there will be trouble.
Attorney General Burbank. who was
standing by Mr.. Owen, SAID that tue pso-
pie from the other end OF the state had
asked aid.
Louis Il. Cady-The governor was
entirely justified In calling session OF
the General Assembly. 1t was the only
oOurse lie had To Dursue