The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-21

By the provisions of Chapter 1859 of the
Public Laws, passed May 20. 1896. the follow
ing proposition OF amendment to the Consti-
tuition OF this State was declared approved
and ordered 10 be published and submitted TO
the electors for their approval or rejection.
at meetings OF tho electors TO be held on the
twenty fifth day Of September AID, 1895.
"ARTICLE XII.
"SEcrIos l. The senate shall consist of one
senator from each town or city in the state.
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS shall preside in the
senate and in grand committed. Tne presid.
Ing ofncer or the senate and grand committee
shall have a right 20 vote in case of equal
division, but not otherwise.
"sEc; 2. II. by reason Of death. resigna.
tOn, absence or other cause. there be no lieu.
tenant-governor present to preside In the
senate. the senate shall elect one Of its own
members TO preside during such absence or
vacancy and until such election IL made by
the senate, the secretary Of state shau pre-
side. The senate shall! have authority to
elect its secretary and such other officers as
"sEo. 8. The house of representatives shall
never exceed seventy two members, and shall
always allowing one representative for a frac'
uon exceeding half the ratio; but each town
or city shall always be- entitled to at least
one member: and no town or city shall have
more than one-sixth OF the whole number OF
members 10 which the house is hereby limited.
The present ratio shall be one representative
twenty three Inhabitants, and the General
Assembly may, after any new census taken
by the authority OF the United States OF
by altering tine ratio. The general assembly
may by law, from time TO time, in Its discre-
ton, when requested so TO do by vote Of the
sentatives 10 which such city Is or may here.
after be entitled, among the several wards in
such city, and the representatives so appor.
TONED shall be voted for and elected only by
the electors in the ward or wards TO which
they are apportioned: Provided. however,
that, that each ward IN any city so apportioned
which such city Is entitled equals the num-
Der Of wards, have at least one representa-.
tive; but no town shall be divided into dis
tricts for the choice OF representative.
SEQ. l. The governor, lieutenant COVER
nor, secretary OF state attorney general gem
eral treasurer, senators and represen tstives,
shall be elected biennially at the town, ward
or district meetings TO be held the hrst
Wednesday Of April in each alternate year.
and shall severally hold their Offices for two
years from the last Tuesday OF May next sue
ceeding said first Wednesday OF April. and
until others arc legally. chosen. and duly
qualified after the said last Tuesday OF May,
they shall mold their offices for the remainder
OF the two years ensuing said last Tuesday of
May, and until their successors are Qualified
TO act
"SEo. s. Section Of Article VII. 'of tho
Executive Power, Section OF Article VIII,
'of Elections, and Article XIII, 'Of Amend.
n1ents, are hereby amended by striking out
the word annual wherever ID occurs in all Of
the above-named sections and in Article XIII
OF the Constitution, and inserting in lieu
thereof the word biennial
"SEc. o. The General Assembly may pro-
vide by law for the continuance in offico ot
any officers OF election appointment until
places.
"sEo. z. Tho first election under this
Article shall be be had on the first Wednesday
OF April next following the adoption thereof,
as provided by Article XIII of the Constitu.
tion of the State.
SEC. s. This amendment shall take, in the
Constitution OF the State, the place OF Section
! OF Article V, OF the House of Representa-
uves, which section Is hereby snnulled Of
Article vi, OF the Senate, which article is
hereby annuled: of SECTION of Article VIII,
OF Elections, which Is hereby annulled: ot
Section 10 OF Article Nv, which is hereby an
nulled; and also OF the word annual. wher-
ever II occurs in the several sections, and in
Article NH, referred to in Section of THIS
Amendmelt."
Attest: CHARLES +. BENNETT.
sl4w2t-sl1d7t Secretary of state.