Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-31
AdjOurnS Before the Mes
Senger Arrives.
T0M0RROWS PROGRAMME.
House Will Not Attempt to Force the
Senate Into Grand Committee.
From our special correspondent.


NEWPORT, May 31.-The May session of
the General Assembly opened yesterday,
but for the first time In Rhode Islands
history the work OF counting the ballots
was not even reached.
Immediately after the two bodies organ
lied the Senate rested on its oars and the
House began the roll call.
Upon the name OF John b. Landers
being reached Col. Honey presented the
petition OF Samuel Smith, claiming that
the seat from jamestown belonged to him,
and a resolution, striking Mr.. Landers'
name from the role and substituting In
It's place that of Mr.. Smith.
This was the beginning OF the business
which has been looked toward TO with
such widespread interest for the past
month.
The resolution passed by a strict party
vote, and Mr.. Smith was seated.
The Westerly muddle was the next case
to be considered. William Hoxsie, the
town clerk of Westerly, member OF the
House OF Representatives and Senator
elect, decided to let the old Republican
hold over in the Senate and himself to
hold over I'm the House.
After short discussion and the filing
of certified copy OF the certificate issued
to Senator elect Hoxsie the seat of first
Representative from Westerly was de-
clared vacant. This was declared reyo-
lutionary by the Republicans and their
plan now is to refuse to meet I'm grand
committee and, as a consequence, we are
likely to have a holdover government
and no plurality law.
The matter of Postmaster Potter Of
Coventry slipped up, the Republicans
having caught on to the Democratic pro-
gramme, and got Mr.. Potter to clear out
just before the roll was called. Mr.. Hall,
the last years member, was seated as
holdover.
This work occupied the House till 2:15
p. m, when a recess was taken to today
at 9:45.
Gov. Brown has retained ex-Chief
Justice Durfee and Hon. William p. Shef-
field, and the secretary OF State has re-
tanned Francis b. Peckham as counsel,
and 1: is given out by prominent Republi-
cans that this counsel acting jointly look
upon the action OF the House In
unseating Mr.. Landers as revolutionary,
and 1t Is announced that the Republican
Senate, acting upon the advice OF this
counsel, will refuse to meet the House in
grand committee.
This, OF course, means hold-over State
government.
The steering committee OF the Repub-
licans, Senators Freeman and Wilbour
and Representatives Allen, Wilson and
Blodgett, held secret meeting last night.
The action of the Democratic House of
Representatives Yesterday has brought
about this condition, IL the Republicans
can be held to obey their STERLING com
mittee: There Will probably be no grand
committee, and the present State govern
ment will then hold over. Eventually
under this the Secretary OF State'and At
torney General Will resign and as author
lied by law the Governor will appoint
their successor, the present Republican
candidates. The plurality amendment
resolution is practically dead and the ma
jority system will be in vogue for at least
two years more.
The Senate intends to furnish an evil
dence To the people OF the State that IT has
not changed its position on the matter of
plurality elections, and that Senator
Baker OF Darlington rightly represented
the Republican sentiment OF the State
when he presented that now famous
measure.
SO yesterday morning resolution pro-
viding for the election Of all officers by
pluralities and calling a special election
for Nov. %, to pass upon the proposed
amendment to the Constitution, IL to be
presented In the Senate and adopted.
There IT ends. The resolution cannot be
brought TO the House by Mr.. Warner, the
clerk, because the Senate will not recog-
nize the alleged revolutionary body.
Probably, however, II the Senate
thought the resolution would ever reach
the House IL would not have been In
such a hurry To pass II.
II is considered probable that II the
Democrats In any manner can contrive to
secure meeting OF the Senators and Rep
resentatives In grand committee. the Re-
publicans have placed another stumbling
block to impede their further progress.
TIE first action of the grand committee is