The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-24
THE COMING ASSEMBLY.
Constitution Of the State a
Good Study for Democracy.
SOME INTERESTING PROBABILITIES
The Republican Policy Not Definitely
Outlined, but IL Includes Going the
Limit on Forbearing In Hope of Pass
ing Needed Legislation.

The preamble OF the constitution OF
Rhode Island sets forth that we, the people,
grateful TO Almighty God for the civil
and religious liberty which He hath so
long permitted usto enjoy and looking to
Him for blessing upon our en-
deavors to secure and TO transmit
the same unimpaired to succeeding gen.
erations, do ordain and establish this
constitution which shall be of paramount
obligation in oil legislation, judicial and
executive proceedings" In the light of
the revolutionary tactics by the Democracy
since their election to the general
assembly a year ago might be pardoned
for the reflection that they long since
ceased, to regard their instrument as sacred
and inviolable, and as to any permanent
obligation in legislative proceedings,
they have in effect dismissed
it from their recollection. They want a
chance 10 doctor up several Objectionable
featuresSf they ever get chance to get
together in convention. In the meantime
they are indulging in go
it-alone policy and figure that
the Supreme Court Is nullity
except of course when some of them prac-
tice before it in the role OF attorneys.
Now they gave fresh evidence of their
independence yesterday in voting to take
a recess till Tuesday next. Their rump
sessions at Newport were adjourned for
not more than two days pending the de-
cision of the Supreme Court but after
ward edjourned to Providence sometime
in August.
Killed Themselves Legally.
BY their own act they became extinct as
a coordinate branch of the state govern
ment, yet they met week before the date
prescribed by the constitution for
the adjourned session in Providence,
and then took recess for
a week. Assuming that they were in le
gitimate session yesterday, they were
bound to sit in two days acting independ-
emily of the Senate as neither recess or
an adjournment could be taken for lon
ger period. But they did it just
the same, and at 10 o'clock Tuesday morn
ing they got together in caucus again to
fight over their line ofpolicy. The battle
is to be waged between the stalwarts and
milk-and- water men, and just at present
the conservative have won the toss and
got the pole.
Republican Policy Not Decided On.
The Republican policy has not been
officially decided upon, but in all proba-
bility the appropriation bill will be passed
by the Senate promptly after the roll-call,
and it will -be-seHt- to the House
where printed copies will have been
distributed, and the majority will
be confronted with a most perplex-
ing political problem. There are suffi-
cient number of malcontents among the
majority by combination with the min
ority TO pass the measure, but no fellow
can tell what the bosses will order the
revolutionists TO do. Doubtless it will be
tabled or referred, and in the meantime
labor legislation amendments to the
ballot law and other partisan measures
will be sprung in. The Senate will reserve
the right to receive their pending concur
rent action on the appropriation BILL The
House will be given a reasonable
time prior to the April election in
which to pass it, and II not the Governor
can repeat hisNewport ultimatum whereby
the legislature will be peremptorily
adjourned until the week succeeding.
IL is matter of fact that the
bulk OF legislation is generally trans
acted after the town meetings, and hence
the adjournment Wonld not restrict
deliberation upon such matters as are of
public import and value in the interval
before the final adjournment. The nate
recognized the House at Newport for the
purposes of passing the constitu-
tional amendment, and for like reason
they would be disposed to afford
them the privilege OF adopting the appro-
priation bill SO indispensable to the opera
tion OF the several departments of the
state government. Otherwise the Senate
is mindful Of the fact that there is an in
cidenta issue known as the meeting of
the grand committee land at the same
time they have no objection 10 hold
over government until April when the
signs of the times give encouraging as
surance OF party supremacy at the polls.
The House chamber will be warm and its
seating accommodations intact next
Tuesday and perchance under such au-
spicious conditions the raging elements
may be transformed into lamblike factors
in the maintenance of good government
and compliance with constitutional obli-
cations.