The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-07
IN STATE. ! LEGISLATURE.
The Senate Wants to Retain
War College at Newport.
Over the Act 10 Provide for Calling a
Convention of the People to Form a
New Constitution OF Government for
the State-Distinguished Guests.

Hon. Percy ID. Smith was re-e elected
speaker pro tenn OF the House today, the
affections OF Speaker Owen being alienated
from the chair of state to the Supreme
Court chamber In the trial of a
civil cause OF unique interest. The
quorum materiaIized Is minutes after Joe
Mullen, had rung the assembly bell.
Temporarily Mr.. Smith gave way TO Colo
mel Honey as he had some business TO in
troduce.
New State Normal school Building.
Representative Smith OF Glocester in
troduced resolution transferring the
old State Prison property TO the commits
sion appointed to select q site for a new
building for State Normal School. Mr..
Smith explained that as many OF the
pupils lived out OF town IL was expedient
that the new building should be accessi-
BILE to the new union depot. This
commission had conferred with The
State House commission and the
special committee on terminal
facilities, and it seemed desirable. inas-
much as the State House is to be erected
on Smiths Hill, that the State Prison
property was a suitable place for the
School and the three buildings could
be so arranged as to form a picturesque
and symmetrical whole. Ii might be
necessary to exchange land further up
the Hill so as to complete the
scenic picture. Representative West
hadn't better be referred, but Representa-
tive Smith said II the Legislature was
going TO adjourn this week it ought to
pass at once. Finally the resolution was
referred TO the committee on State pro-
perty.
Constitutional Convention.
Then came an avalanche OF bills and
resolutions reported by the various COM
mittees, which were piled up high on the
speakers desk. They were allow
ed to lie dormant for the
up the special order, the bill providing
for calling constitutional convention to
be held in thejcity of Providence, Sept. 3,
1894, the primary meetings To be holden
Aug. 10. The distinguished statesmen then
entered upon his carefully prepared ora
with commendabie eelocutionary effect and
characteristic rapidity. No sooner had he
entered upon his classical resume of CON
stitutional reform, dating from the
creation Of the universe, than the minor
ity retired to the smoking room, while the
majority perforce paid that due Difference
to the speaker, which the preparation and
delivery OF such powerful discussion en-
titled him.
Distinguished Guests Present.
In the midst of Colonel Honey's speech,
Speaker Owen entered the chamber
escorting Judge Patterson and ex-Com-
missioner OF Pensions General Black,
the distinguished Congressman, who are
the guests OF the Rhode Island Business
Mems Association. They occupied seats
on the right and left of the presiding
officer and listened to the utterances
OF the Newport statesman with some de-
gree of interest and attention. Among
the party were President John {. Shepard.
Jr., Gardiner q. Sims, Esq, Secretary Hen
~ c. Aylesworth, and other noted MEM
bers of the Business Mems Association.
At the close of Colonel Honey's oration,
Representative Smith moved
recess for ten minutes, and Speaker
Owen said that there were
two distinguished gentlemen from other
70 Thev to se
and a season OF handshaking and con-
graduation ensued.
At the close of the recess Speaker Owen
took the chair and Colonel Honey moved
that the resolution be laid on the table
temporarily.
General Suffrage for Registry Voters.
order Of the day. He explained that it
provided for full and equal suffrage to
voters and changed the time of regis
try. The article provides that every male
citizen who has had his residence and
home In the State for one year, and in the
town or city In which he may offer to
vote six months next preceding
the time of his voting, and whose name
shall be registered In the town or city in
which he resides, shall have
right TO vote in the election of
nicipal, and on all questions in all legally
organized town and ward meetings.
Representative Wilson opposed the
amendment on the ground that no per-
son should have the right to vote on
questions involving the expen-
diture OF money who are not assessed.
Representative Honey said that the ex-
perience in Newport, where the registry
voters in Newport voted for members OF
the City Council, showed that after
the passage OF the Bourn amendment there
was no change in the personnel OF those
bodies. Representative Greene OF Woon-
socket said that the Democratic registry
voters though holders OF property are not
assessed because the board OF assess
ors being Republican would not assess
them on account of the franchise machine.
REPRESENTATIVE Robinson of Pawtucket,
said that the registry voters were
entitled to vote for members
of the General Assembly who
expended more money in the course OF
few months session than city councils
expended in year. Representative West
said that there were 1900 property voters
and $500 registry voters In ward lo,