The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-04

The Demccrltic members of the Legis-
lature will now endeavor to prevent the
Investigations which both houses this
week ordered should be made. The in
quires are to be based upon allegations
of fraud preferred in memorials which
were. on Thursday, presented by Repub-
licans resident in Newport. who asserted
that the Democratic supervisors and
Mayor Honey aud the Democratic board
of aldermen had illegally marked ballots
and counted out the Republican legisla-
tive candidates.
The Democrats sought, by adopting
dilatory tactics, to prevent the reference
of these memorials to the committees on
elections that had been appointed by the
president OF the Senate aud the speaker OF
the House, and failing in this they pre-
sented an ingeniously worded substitute
resolution of reference, which, had IL been
adopted, would have caused the investi-
eating committees TO run up against u
constitutional snag. aud the Legislature
not being In session when this impedi-
ment was discovered. the investigation
would have been materially delayed.
When by application of the cloture, the
Democrats were prohibited from inter
JCCllDk SDttCntS fuitit OuiN LOT lHc puT-
pose OF killing time and preventing a vote
being taken on the main question; and
when the previous question was called for
and the measure favored by the Republi-
cans was carried, the Democrats began to
resign from the elections committees.
Mayor Honey, in the course of his re-
marks made in support of his substitute
resolution, made the direct charge thai
the house committee on elections had
been purposely packed aud in fact was "A
fixed jury.
lie would not say in so many words
that Speaker Capron had done the pack
ing and thus prejudget the ciss, but he
insinuatei that the Speaker was led TO
make up his committees as he had by the
political magnates of the house under the
advice and guidance of the greater mag
mates in the Republican party.
The first movement which the Demo
Gratis made was TO agree that none OF their
party should serve on the elections com-
mittees. The Senate members, of whom
there were two out of five, were the first
TO resign, aud shortly after this the House
members withdrew. Speaker Caproh
made an appointment at once, TO fill the
vacancy, but the favored Democrat,
Franklin Il. Owen of Scituate pleaded
that his legal practice would forbid his
serving upon the committee.
Mr.. Percy d. Smith of Glocester was
the next appointed. When he declined
he did SO because, as he said, the speaker
had manifestly made up the elections
committee with the idea OF making it as
strong from Republican sense as he
could and in this he had been very un-
fair. Four Republicans to one Democrat
was not IA fair division, but il suited the
means of the party aud the Speaker had
looked out that IL did.
Speaker Capron promptly called Mr..
Smith to order and said that he could not
allow such criticisms and aspersions To
continue. Mr.. Smith would not he ex-
cused: but it was Mr.. Smiths own prov
ince to say whether or not he would at
tend the sessions OF the committee
1t is not expected that any Democrat
named on the committee will lie present,
but as the Republicans will count quo
rum in each committee. it is immaterial
TO them whether or not the Democrats so
prejudice their case in the eyes of the peo-
Pile.
The Democrats are. so they think, get
ting ready to spring n sharp game. The
spring will be found To be exceedingly
flexible aud weak when the trigger is
loosened.
Their purpose is to allow the inquiry to
proceed up To point where they wish TO
drop out, and then to resign bodily.
This they will do that they may cause
vacancies which will have to be filled by
special election. Their idea being that
il they resign the present contestents can
not be given their seats.
They will find that their plan Will not
work. They are members of the present
legislature on sufferance only. Tney, in
common with all those who presen ted
their credentials at the bar, were sworn in
that the Senate and the House might be
organized. This having been done their
qualifications were Immediately ques-
toned. The doubt cast upon the legal
ity of their election has not been removed
-..sNI -. l. A.
been concluded and report has been
made in each House.
The committees can, after they have
heard the evidence. do one of three things.
/. They may declare which set Of can
didates was elected.
2. They can declare that all, or certain
members OF the Democratic delegation
were elected. and that certain Republi-
cans were elected.
8. Or they may declare that there was
no election.
Then is To be considered what shall be
done to fill the vacancies, il any are found
10 exist. The time having elapsed when
the complete election for Newport mem
bers OF the Legislature should be made,
NO special election eau be ordered, hence
the entire delegation from Newport
elected in 1891 would hold over, which
would give the Republicans all but two
members from that city, Messrs. Clarke
and Horton, in the House, aud who are
Democrats, having held over from the
Legislature of 1890. Thus IL will be seen
that the Democrats, by resignipg bodily,
could not stop the investigation and could
not get to the people again on a special
election.
Now as TO the charges made by Mr..
Honey and Mr.. Smith that Speaker
Capron had unfairly made up his cleo
tions committee. Ia the political year OF
lssy-90, Speaker Miller, in anticipation of
a contest over the seat OF the member
from New Shorehan, a Republican, made
up his COMMITTEES on elections by appoint.
ing four Democrats, Messes. Robinson.
Rathbope, Smith aud Lee. aud the next