The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-09
IN STATE. LEGISLATURE.
Miller Thinks House Should
Pass Appropriation Bill.
BUSY SESSION IN HOUSE TODAY.
The Constitutional Convention Bill
Passed by That Body This Morning.
The bumpers After Back Pay-To
Facilitate Registration

today by Speaker Owen and 80 members
responded to the roll-call. There were
premonitory symptoms of a lively session
in consequence of the interval of "a hours
in revolution OF legislative machinery,
which afforded an opportunity to draft q
variety OF measures calculated to improve
the authors chances for reelection in the
spring.
Representatives Hazard and Wardle
were given the opportunity TO go on
record in favor Of the constitutional reso-
luton for the extension OF general SUI
frage.
On motion OF DIR. Garvin all matters on
the clerks desk were ordered c0mmuni-
Gated to the Senate.
A bill to incorporate the Norwood Bap-
tist Church was introduced by Represen-
tative Greene OF North Providence and re-
ferred to the committee on education.
Representative McOsker introduced a
resolution instructing the Congressional
regulating the mode-sf removal of letter
carriers, and providing for the application
OF the civil service system in such cases.
Referred to the committee on education.
Constitutional Convention Bill Passed.
Representative Honey called from the
table the resolution providing for con-
stitutional convention, and DR..
Garvin unrolled q voluminous man
uscript and proceeded to en-
tighten such mefnbers OF the House as
had not fed to the smoking annex. The
bill was read by sections and was finally
adopted by party Votes to 19.
Ballot Reform Laws.
Representative West introduced an
amendment to the ballot reform law, pro-
viding for the block arrangements OF can
didates and describing circle in which
the cross mark must be confined, and this
shall constitute vote for the full list of
candidates so designated. Referred to
the judiciary committee.
After Back Pay.
Representative West introduced a reso-
luton for the payment Of the clerks of
both houses for services at the May session
at Newport. This does not include the
" Rumpo gatherings. Referred to the
finance committee.
DR.. Garvin called up the special order,
for the benefit Of the illiterate
electorate--a "star" for the Repub-
l!cans, "eagle" for the Democrats and a
dhand" for the Prohibitionists. He
claimed that it was non-partisan
bill. bill and dv. IN marked s.o..,, improve S.s
The Doctor said that the bill was In the
interest OF an honest election next April.
1t got nearer to the real wishes of the con-
scientious voter. Representative Mullhol-
land was opposed to certain provisions
in the act and thought that it ought to
be carefully considered. He moved its
reference TO the committee on judiciary.
Representative Wilson said that while
the gentleman denominated il on-par-
tisan bill, the Republican 'star'
was so small it couldn't
he seen while the Democrat ic
"eagle" was enormous in size. The
Republican party laid some claim to the
eagle, and he had ascertained that
there, was some controversy as
should not be a "pump." He
thought that the bill ought to be more
thoroughly considered. The motion of
reference was adopted.
The next special order, the bill amend :
ing the judiciary law SO that district
courts having clerks may be clothed with
naturalization functions, was taken up
To Facilitate Registration.
Representative Smith for the judiciary
committee, reported the bill establishing
boards OF canvassers and registration in
the several cities and towns of the State.
Colonel Honey explained that the object
of the bill was to facilitate registration in
the districts OF the State and wards of
the cities by the wardens and clerks 10 days
previous TO Dec. 81 in each year. Objec-
tion was raised TO the bill on the ground
that registration might be duplicated in
the city clerks Office and the district or
ward system. There was spirited debate
participated in by Messrs. Honey, Null
holland, Allen and others. In the course
OF the discussion, Colonel Honey made
the statement that the Republican
party was the enemy to the
foreign-b born citizen. Representative Will
son replied TO this statement by remark
ing that Republican drafted the Bourn
amendment, and 1t was passed by a
General Assembly in which there
were only 10 Democrats. Criticising the
BILL he said that it opened up an
other avenue for fraud by re-
pcated registration, and it was
no improvement on the present
system. Mulholland's oration was the
feature OF the debate and he occupied
something like 30 minutes OF the valuable
time OF the session, his clarion tones
waking up some somnolent yeomen on the
rear seats.
DIR. ,Garvin recited the history OF the
Bourn amendment, so-called, and then
Colonel Honey asked for the roll-call.
The bill was passed by aparty vote
30 tot.
The House then adjourned to Monday
next at IL o'clock.