Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-06-15

| into grdnu committee as Is called Tor Dl
the Constitution. The upper house theI
passes resolution Of adjournment to tn,
following January, with which tn,
lower house refuses to concur and upor
a provision in the Constitution giving the
governor power to prorogue the Assem-
bly, when the two houses fail to agree
upon adjournment, the acting governor
who Is Of the same political party as the
majority Of the senate issues proclama-
tion proroguing the Assembly. The
House insists upon remaining In session
until the business that the Constitution
provides shall be transacted in grand
committee is completed
To Judge as to which party is right,
| let US 20 TO the Constitution as citizens
while the spoilsmen are going to the Su-
preme Court for an Interpretation Of the
English language.
Article ~ Of the Constitution treats
"Of the Legislative Power"
Section says Each house shall be
the judge Of the elections and qualifca-
tions OF its members; and a majority
shall constitute a quorum to do business; !;
but smaller number may adjourn from
day TO day, and may compel the attend
ance OF absent members In such manner,
and under such penalties, as may be pre-
scribed by such house or by law. The
organization OF the two houses may be
regulated by law, subject to the limita-
tions contained In this constitution"
Is there any ambiguity In those
words? Can there be anything palmer
than the fact that each house "shall be
judge Of the elections and qualifications
right is permanent, inasmuch as any stat
ute law for the organization Of the two
houses must be " subject TO the limita-
tlons contained In this constitution" IL
English words have any unequivocal
meaning no argument is needed In sup
port Of not only the right, but the duty
of each house to judge Of the cleo
tions and qualifications Of It's members.
Now by what fundamental rule Of our
state government can the senate refuse to
go In grand committeep BY none! the
Rhode Island Constitution Is remarka-
BILE compilation of unmistakable phrsseol-
ogy. 1t says that the ballots cast for
state officers shall be delivered by the
secretary OF state 10 the grand committee
after the organization Of the two houses
at the annual May session, 4" and 1t shall
be the duty Of the two houses at
said session, after their organization,
upon the request of either house, to join
In grand committee, for the purpose Of
counting and declaring said votes and Of
electing other officers"
IL no person shall have majority OF
votes for governor, II shall be the duty of
the grand committee to elect one by ballot
from the two persons hasGIag the highest
number of votes for the Office" etc.
Nothing can be clearer than the fact that
the senate has no constitutional right to
refuse TO 60 into grand committee; In
fact, it violates the Constitution by such
refusal.
Now by what authority does the gov
ernor prorogue an Assembly that has not
complied with the Constitution In It's or
ganization and duties preparatory for
legislation! This right is claimed by
Section 6, Article VIII "Of the Execu-
tive Power" which reads:
SEC. 6. In case of disagreement be-
tween the two houses OF the general AS
sembly, respecting the time or place Of
adjournment, certified to him by either,
he may adjourn them TO such time and
place as he shall think proper Provided,
that the time Of adjournment shall not be
extended beyond the day OF the next
stated session.
The foregoing Is one Of several Sec
tions defining the authority of the execu-
tive, but II Is not to be supposed for q
moment that this section with q mag was
TO override the constitutional sections
with mandatory shall. This constitu.
tional privilege Of the governor presup.
poses that all the provisions of the Con.
stitution governing the Geperal Assem-
| bly, organization and duties have been
obeyed and that disagreement between
the houses has taken place as to length OF
the session for purposes of legislation
nothing more or less.
| In reading the constitution we are
neither partisan republican nor partisan
democrat, reading 1t for our enlighten
ment upon the acts of the Assembly a,
Newport. None too soon can the mem
bers Of the Assembly for their own repu
tation and the good OF the State, heec
conscience and reason In place Of spoils
men bosses. For nearly ten years W,
have had In Rhode Island a reign Of 10
called practical politics for the day, unit
neither OF the two leading parties com
mands popular respect or majority. -
Rhode Island Pendulum.
L