Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-30

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rOcks ana snIIung onsnneIs, ves. as...-.. -..
OF suthcient depth To float in perfect safety
vessels that now seek New York and Boston.
The construction OF "a system of docks on the
Providence river would attract trade sufficient
10 compel recognition from any railroad com
pany. regard this matter of such moment
10 the business interests of the state as 10
warrant the request that YOU authorize the
appointment of = commission for the purpose
vi considering plan for the development Of
our harbors. IL Ia not necessary that the i'm
provenent should be carried out by the State
or the municipality, although IL would DO pre-
ieraole as public enterprise. Surely there
Is sufficient energy aud capital In our midst
TO enable the Improvement 90 be carried out
even as private In vestment under State and
municipal supervision. There Is nothing more
disheartening in the business life OF this State
today than the large amount of capital poured
into other communities for their development,
when such grand possibilities are AZ our very
door-steps
The annual report of the Railroad Commis-
sioner will show that the roads operated in
this State with but few exceptions are ia "A
prosperous condition aud generally managed
with due regard 10 the safety OF the public.
The capital stock Of the steam roads is s59-
els,1o1 miles of road owned and operated
ls0i.& OF which 25.Od miles are in this State.
They have property and assets amounting 10
above the total amount of capital stock and
ali Indebtedness, funded and floating. The
total receipts from all sources we're So, B,lDe
etibS rX pendltures SJl,ojj, Ic0Os net earnings
sj,3lj,3lJ..1.
large part of the legislation which
he recommended last year was adopted
but the act making II "A misdemeanor
10 walk upon railroad track with
out any right or permission, although IL
paHsed the senate, was defeated la the House
IL ls, pSrlaps, sufficient commentary upon
this action 10 state that during the year 20
persons were killed and oinjured while walk
ms upon OF crossing the railroad tracks in adj
dillon TO ~ Killed ana injured at grade cross
ings-
In the matter OF street railways he recon-
mends that suitable wheel guards and plat
FORM Tenders be placed upon all cars and that
the rate Of speed IN the streets of thicky sst-
ueu localities ~ regulated by some competent
person. Authority should also be obtained 10y
statute 10 require bUtt.r aCt uInlnodatiOns Tor
the public al some of the stations ON the rail-
roads and also TO have suitable shelters pro-
vided At stopping places where passengers
waiting FOR trains are now exposed 10 the in
ciemency of the Gather.
Election Laws.
have seen no reason to alter my opinion re-
garding the advisability Of making certain
changes In our system of voting. particularly
in the direction of improving the form OF the
ballot, the regulations regarding its marking
the dutle. o. supervisors and the met nod of
canyasslng the voting lists. ] entered into the
subject fully In my previous message To which
refer you Tor the details of the changes de-
sired and tne reasons therefor.
Ia the interests VI a Tree and full expression
of public opinion On all questions submitted 10
the people, ask YOU To consider whether IL IL
possible " improve the present method OF
registration. The registry lists are now y
monument of the energy and shrewdness OF
political workers, and To all undesirable ex-
tent represent influences pre- judicial to "A frse
vote There 10 IA large class OF espeC Ia bio and
patriotic citizens who do not care 10 spare the
time and effort required by the present system
Of registration. Cannot their participation In
the rights of the franc hiss bs secured by pro-
viding by law that the registry book shall bs
placed IN every ward and district under the
care Of a trusted Official during other than
working hoursY | am Also In full sympathy
with the just demand of our foreign born citi-
zens that they shall not bo compelled To pro-
duoe their naturalization papers every time
they desire to register.
Constitutional Amendments.
The extraordinary legislative experieno OF
last May has not been entirely devoid of good
II IL moved the people 10 give that emphatic
approval of the proposition ~ substitute the
plurality vote for the ma jority In all Of our
elections. This latest amendment ~ the
Constitution which had the pleasure OF AL
nounoinR ON December &th, oaunot fail 10
simplify our methods OF election aud remove
the aggrayation aud expense which has
charac erized the majority rule. The reform,
however, Ia not yet complste. Under the now
system every vote will assume u graver Inn
portance. and with the determination Of the
legality of peculiar ballots left largely to the
discretion OF the oanvassers Of the vote. Il Is
undesirable that the dnal counung OF the
votes, should remain with body which from
its construction must be partisan. With the
Constitutional provision now IN force, regard
ing the counting Of votes, IL will be fortunate
IL We avoid complications as perplexing as
those which have lately arisen.
| therefore recommend the adoption Of q
proposition 10 submit To the people an amend
ment OF the Constitution which will substitute
for the Grand Comuittcs \ on-partisan re-
turning board empowered 10 count the votes
for State officers and representati In Con-
gress, between the date sf election and the
time OF Inauguration, and TO certify Its and-
ings To the Secretary Of State or other re-
sponsibe State officer. This change Should be
extended 30 as TO relieve the cards OF Alder
men and Town Councils OF the inCongruous
duty OF counting the yotss for members of the
General Assembly, and possibly to city and
town elections.
With the foregoing amendment there shonld
term q. ofice II stats officials to not less than
two years. Rhode Island and Massachusetts
stand alone among the states IN their sd-
heronoe To the antiquatod practice Of annual
elections, "A practice which weakens authority
and 10y the uncertainty IL creates disOourages
all efforts 10 improve and develop the public
service Any business man who might he
brought Ia contact with the internal manage
meut Of our state department could not fail To
observe that the continual shifting OF respOn-
bbility before public official has oppOrtun-
ity " become familiar with the duties Of
his posit itiou, IL perniCious In its psenlts. be-
lieys the Submission oT this question during
an election which aFouses strong public inter-
tst could not fail to result In an expression OF
popular approval.
An enlargement OF the constitutional pow
ers OF tue governor To the extent Of comforting
ths pow yr OF veto over enaotments OF the Cen
srAl Assembly would DO Of equally beneficial
import. Some barrier Of that nature 10 re-
quIred against the enactment Of special legis-
lation and the granting Of sxtravagant appro-
prlations repuguant to the will OF the people.
Your attention Will probably DO called dur
ing the session TO the desirabilty of extending
the suffrage 10 women. A determined effort
Is evidently being made by the friends OF this
movement 10 secure recognition, and the ques-
ton has assuined an importance which war.
rants Its discussion Ia a practical and states
manlike manner
Industrial Questions.
Upon tie harmonious character OF the rs-
lations between the employer and employed
depends % a large extent the stability and
progression of 0nr business interests. There
TOre m eonHlderln1 measures proposed TOT the
purpose Of adjusting the differences between
the wage Garner and wage payer, we should
avoid extreme aud radical legislation, which
too frequently agsravates the conditions IL IL
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