Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-22
RECORD OF A WEEK.

The excuse which our local evening
contemporary gives for the unheard-o ol
and remarkable legislation OF the present
General Assembly is another one OF III
spasmodic efortt 30 cover up the doings oI
set Of desperate men who are bent on
perp etuatipg themselves in power, and
while they have time, pass such acts al
will assist them and their friends, and
generally help on the "good cause"
The Times is quite right when II speak'
of this legislation as "surprising to th,
old fashioned Rhode Islanders to whom
the free and easy ways OF forty years age
are the standard OF political and parlia-
mentary proceedings" Not only is II
surprising to the old fashioned Rhode
Islander but also to the younger genera
ton which has not only been brought up
20 believe la the traditions OF tbeir
fathers but to hold to the standard OF
parliamentary procedure which their
fat hers lived up TO.
The one excuse, the sole reason given
for this astonishing parliamentary
procedure and legislation, Is the rum
bling and grumbling and threats OF the
Democrat But notice this fact, that
Republicans are in a majority In the Sen.
ate and claim to have the grand commit
tee and also hold the reins OF government
In their hands, yet 1t is necessary to Dass
such singular laws Hasn't the legisls.
ture been situated similarly before? Was
it necessary to pass legislation OF this
character then2 And II not then, why
OF less thoughtful, honest, law-abiding
and upright men than have heretofore
sat In the Legislature We venture to
say that in this regard the House-elect II
the superior OF every other. And yet there
is need OF such legislation Either the
very best element In the Democratic
party is not worthy to be trusted or else
1t is a set of knaves, a set of desperate and
frightened politicians who are occupying
the halls OF legislation in the State today
and disgracing the State and the very
names they bear.
1t is not strange that with unconstitu-
tional legislation being turned out as
Secretary Of State has engaged counsel to
advise him at the May session. He Is not
the only one who needs counsel. Such
men as Wilson and Allen and Cspron need
far more than the Secretary. They neec
some one to give them counsel In modera
tion, and to lead them back to paths from
which they have wandered so far-psths
that were known to the old fashioned
Rhode Islander Of forty years ago.
What Is more, the Times need not i'm
sgine that one man is to guide the ship OF
State at Newport. The rights OF the
peoples representatives are paramount to
any laws passed by a hot-bed of spoils-
men. The Times, with US, has acknowl-
eyed itself disgusted with the present
legislature and Its rotten work. Then
why attempt to defend IL now! Why at
tempt to say that 1t is fear OF the Demo
Gratis when the Times knows that 1t is not
for the good OF the State, the good of the
people, that such laws are passed, but to
give simply, a coterie OF power. loving
men a little longer lease OF their favorite
occupation, a little longer to feed At the
public crib, a little longer TO strut like
turkey cocks before their constituents, q
little longer to make a nuisance OF them
selves, little longer to do harm and
lower the name and dignity OF the Slater