The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-06-03

Dy tnat decision also IL VIII virtually
have decided that the governors pro,la-
nation was not warranted, that legal
disagreement did not exist between the
two houses 1t will further involve de-
cision on the question as to whether the
house Is legal body to do business of
any kind. The constitution gives the
house. the senate and the governor right
TO ask the court judgment on questions
OF law. III the court accepts the question
and decides it., ~ must do so On the
ground that the house is legally organ
lied.
There will remain but one OF the three
questions practically undecided. That Is
as to whether the May session of the gen.
eral assembly can BE- adjourned before it
elects or declares elected the state officers
Tor the ensuing year.
Many OF the most sanguine Democrats
claim that there Is little probability that
the court will take any cogniz lnce of the
resolution at all Iii doesn't the whole
contention of the Republicans. will be
proved.
Dose Of Their Own Medicine.
The Democrats got dose of tneir own
policy yesterday.
1t is customary at the close of each
session TO pass resolution appropriat-
ing money for the pay OF the members
with mileage. Up to the time yesterday
when the governor adjourned the gem
eral assembly no resolution OF that ma
ture had been presented, and the mem
bers have gone lone with nothing to
show for their four days work but hotel
bills.
TIE Democrats give as their reason for
not Introducing resolution to pay the
members the fact that the general as.
sembly l. not through its work, that
until various important matters have
been settled 1t will be impossible co fore
see when the session might end and
hence IL too soon TO think of
pay. Nevertheless 1t is evident th at
some OF the Democrats did begin
to think OF the value Of their services to
the state very early In the session. AS
etrly in fact as wednesday morning the
officials OF the Democratic house were
industriously hastening around to the
members aud inquiring the distance
they lived from Newport. so that their
mileage fees might be calculated.
He Took the shore Line.
The answers we're all liberal, but one
enterprising member OF the Providence
delegation when asked how far IL was to
Providence replied:
"Eghty-five miles"
"Why, nobody has estimated IL Mt
above forty-five, and a, a fact / under
stand IL Is only thirty-one. How do you
yet eiGhty-ive miles out of itl" was
asked.
"Ah! go by the shore line.n
The questions regarding the mileage is
quite Unnecessary. as the distance is
known to Secretary Utter, who's, duty r.
is TO make up the list OF members aud
their mileage. That Secretary Utter
took no sucn steps shows that the Re-
publicans were at least not so anxious
for the emoluments OF office as were the
DE nocraiic members.
The fact is causing some comment In
view OF the nov openly declared policy
of the Democrats TO stop all appropris-
tions this year. It il evident that i" all
did not include In their
minds the pay OF the Democratic mem
bers.
The Reply Of the Republicans.
The News gave yesterday a full alb.
stract Of the reply of the Republicans to
the request OF the house that the COVER
nor ask the supreme court render decis-
ion on certain points of law" But the
question is Of sufficient Importance to
warrant reprinting in full. This request
is not unlikely TO play a very important
part in coming campaigns, as the Demo-
Gratis will claim that the governor and the
were unwilling TO appeal to
tue supreme court on the questions at
issue. This was the document of which
the Democratic house wished 10), 900
copies printed and distributed to the
electors Of this state. The reasons why
the governor did not aGree to appeal to
the Supreme court are fully stated in the
following:
STATE or RHODE ISLAND.
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
MAY SESSION, A. D., 1903
Resolution OF non-concur e ace In the hous, reso-
lu ion rsqnestlng the governor to ask the opinion
Resolved. That the senate declines to concur IN
opinion OF. the supreme court upon certain ques-
tions OF law, for the reason thai the questions
II is not questioned by tue senate that the
house is the sole judge Of the elscton, ana
% pas. sSss ,adgmsnt' '0SGnA does IN wIiiaI fisni
tizan strength. unssat from membership persons
upon whose elections and qualifications there Is
pre;ense made OF passing judgment, such action is
not the Judgment 9 q the nosse contemplation In
the state s,, IL 4, tho dny Of the senate 10 Join
counting the ballots cast for state officers, but 10
IL not their duty for that purpose to JOIN
Would he an accompce With the bouss ia its ar. !.
tempt TO defeat the val of the people. That the
mhttei is apparent w1en is considered tha II s
possible condition OF things that there should b,
zat on as has recently been the case in the o,her
states The right of both the repre- ,entatives ul-
seated 20 hold their seats has within month,
been passed upon by the supreme court OF this
state In the affirnative. 80 far "a IL Is ia
the face OF the two decisions the house has arbi-
trarily unseated these gentlemen. The senate has
reason for asking tho court To reiterate Its opin
Ions upon the true question at Issue. which Is the
rghtful qualifications OF these members, independ
ent OF the pm sicai power OF the house TO uuseat
them, aud we have no more reason for supposng
that It's opinions. so reiterated, would be any more
respected by the house than were the former opin-
ions.
An Unfounded Report.
There was rumor current this morn
ing that an order had been left with the
sheriff OF Newport county by the gov
ernor to lock the door of the room W here
the houso OF repie sentatives meets as
soon as IL was vacated yesterday after
noon. The report, however, was un-
Sucn an order would be in
consistent with the governors proclama-
tion. BY that proclamation the house
is adjourned, aud the governor cannot
the house even by an order to
keep the doors locked when IL is supposed
to regularly meet The governor has no
thou xht OF force in this mater. lie Is
simply obeyidg the law.
In contrast with this position Is the
action OF the Democratc leaders in or
dering Sargeaut Waters to guard the
doors until the rumD assembly meets on
Nondav norninu