The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-09

| Representative Jencks OF IaWtuckeb
presented the minority report oi the luni-
ton ton ordering the Governors message
| To be sent to the Senate unread.
| The report was read, and its calm, sensi-
bic and dignified treatment OF the
question involved was in marked contrast
TO the revolutionary and reckless alega-
tions in Honey's diatribe.
The Minority Report.
To the Honorable the House OF Representatives;
The undersigned, members Of the Judiciary Com
mittce, 10 whom was referred message from the
Governor Of the State addressed to the General
Assemb y, not eoncurring in the recommendations
in respect to the proper disposition 70 pe maoe py
the House Of said message, in report OF the ma
oriiy Of the Judiciary Committee, beg leave 70 SUB
NIT the following report
The action OF the House In sending the Govern
or's message TO the Judiciary Committee without
reading the same, immediately upon It's receipt from
the senatelwas departure from the practice OF the
House uniformly followed for thirty years such
reference not accompanied by any Instructions
from the IIousei and the undersigned have no
other means Of knowing or eoniecturing for what
purpose II was made than that afforded by the
practical construction put upon II ny
those MEMBERS constituting majority OF the COM
mittee, who sustain more intimate relations
with the majority OF the House. With their exam
pie before us we hope we shall not be deemed inn
pertinent II taxi the liberty to suggest what
TO us TO be the proper disposition OF the mes
sage 10 De made Dy lne HOUSE. Anu rs Dtailhk
upon this question we beg leave to submit some
facts which believe viii be denied by any one
l. ID. Russell Brown in 1892 was duly elected by
majority OF the votes of the electors 10 the ONCE OF
Governor, was duly qualified and entered upon
term OF Office which by Law was to continue until
his in said Office should be duly elected
and qualified, unless sooner determined by death
| other contingencies provided by the constitu-
| tion.
o In April 1898, an election for general officers
| and members Of the General Assembly was duly
held the result of that election, so far as the GOV
ernor and general officers are concerned, has not
| yet been officially ascertained
;. The Senate has heretofore declined 10 join the
| PGnse In Grand Committee for the purpose OF
counting the votes, declaring the result and com
pleting such elections in the only manner provided
! by law.
| T. No one has been elected to the office OF Gov
ernor and qualified therefor In place OF Governor
Brown.
5. ID. Russell Brown is the lawful Governor OF
Rhode Island. duly elected 10 the ONCE by major
ity of the votes OF the electors, and as such is
clothed with all the powers, duties. dignities and
responsibilities OF that high Office.
6. There is no written law expressly enionng
| upon the Governor OF this State the duty OF ad-
dressing 20 the Legislature annually or at any time
a message similar to that communicated to the
| House from the Senate. But II has been the
| practice OF every Governor which the State
| has had since the drst election OF James
" smith TO that Office in 1853, at the opening of the
January session following his election, SUBMIT 10
| the General Assembly similar message. The
| practice is In conformity with that Of
| other States, and has always been rec
| Cgnizcd and honored in this State entirely
onsstent with the relations OF the Governor 10 the
legislative department OF the government and a
most convenient mode OF laying before the Legisla
ture and the people OF the State information and
suggestions relating to the conduct and condition
of public affairs, and the needs and condition OF the
| great institutions established and fostered
| by the State, which the Governor lis
in better situation 20 furnish than any other officer
OF the state. Such communications from the Gov
ernors have always been, and, we think they always
should be- respectfully received read and carefully
considered by the General Assembly.
| The only reason given by the majority OF the ju-
1 dietary COMMITTEES for a departure on the present
occasion from the long established, well-settled
and reasonable practice and usage, is the allega-
tlon that although Mr.. Brown is in fact the
| lawful Governor Of the State, IL certain things
! had been done which have not been
done, and which, they think, ought 70 have been
done by the Senate, he probably would not now be
| the Governor. Such disposition Of the Governors
| message, as is recommended in the report OF the
| majority Of the judieiar. committee appears to us
| to be inconsistent with the dignity OF the House
and the respect which is due to tho head OF the
ecutive department Of the government. To return
the message unread to the Senate, as proposed
| would be, AS we think, an exhibition Of inpotent
| spite unworthy of the House OF Representatives,
and, course, not justified by any OF the allegations
urged reasons therefor, whether such allegations
| be true or false.
| We respectfully recommend that the message be
| received by the House, read aud ordered 10 be
| printed in the usual manner.
| W. w BLoDGETT,
JAMES l.. JENKs.
Representative Honey moved that the
| majority and minority reports and the
resolution be taken from the table and
made the special order for Wednesday
| next at IL 80 O'Clock. The Democrats
HI. bad flsxa tnrtfx hoA
been printed while the majority was not
in evidence. Representative Mulholland
| limited at funny business ON the part of
the State Printer and thought that his
criminal indictment ought TO have gone
further. He failed to invoke any reply
from the minority. Then Honey satisfied
the kickers by announcing that the ma
jority reports would be distributed in
| print to the members today.
Representative Robinson introduced n
resolution authorizing the committee on
elections TO sit during the adjournment
and recess aud to be empowered to sum
| mon witnesses and procure papers. Rep
resentative Wilson inquired what recess
was meant. Representative Robinson
| said that the committee had many cases
to be heard and they wanted TO be afford
ed a full opportunity To give the parties
i'm interest fair hearing. The resolution
was adopted by strict party vote 81
| TO 20.
Representative West introduced reso-
luton authorizing the committee on
militia TO employ a clerk. Repre-
sentative Wilson moved an amendment
including the committee on charities
and corrections. Representative Brown
of Providence objected on the ground
4 that there was no necessity for the clerk
yships, as it involved additional expense
| AS a result OF the opposition to the meas
ure the resolution was committed to the
| Ia bic.
| DIR. Garvin moved n reconsideration of
the action whereby the resolution author
iZing the committee on elections to set
during the adjournment and recess was
passed. The motion prevailed and
and then he moved an amendment
striking out the words "and
recess. lie claimed that the caucus
had voted not TO consider that issue.
Ambrose West objected TO the
amendment of the resolution as II
might defeat its object. A motion 20
table the amendment resulted by a vote
OF 27 TO %. Later on Representative
Robinson called the resolution from the
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