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


voters will pass upon proposed amend
ment 10 the Constitution to accept it or
reject ii.
Three-fifths OF the total vote cast is
necessary TO incorporate the proposition
in the Constitution OF the State.
The proposed amendment has, during
the two sessions OF the Assembly, through
which II has progressed, became fsmil-
iarly known as the biennial elections
amendment. II provides, however, for
several constitutional changes, the occs-
sion being taken TO secure, II possible,
the adoption OF other changes which for
some years have been discussed and
which, by quite general consent, are be-
lieved TO be desirable. The woroing OF
the proposition is necessarily elaborate,
as the sections designed TO be altered are
incorporated in the proposition as they
appear in the Constitution with such
changes as express the amendment. But
stripped of verhiage the proposition
which will, IL adopted, become Article
Xl OF amendments to the state Constitu-
tion, will secure the following changes in
governmental and political procedure.
Section provides that the Lieutenant
Governor shall preside over the Senate,
instead of the Governor.
Section is simply PROVISIONAL in event
of the absence OF the Lieutenant Gov
ernor, that the Secretary OF State shall
take his place, pending election.
Section 8 provides for the representa-
tion from the various cities and towns to
the Assembly, as already in the Constitu-
tion, and in addition, provides that in the
spportionment OF representatives, should
the City Council OF any city so request, the
Assembly, may, In Its discretion, give
such city the privilege Of electing it's rep
resentation by. wards, instead of in a
lump, as now provided.
Section provides for the election BIZ
ennially OF all general State officers and
Assemblymen.
Section 8 merely provides for verbal
changes in other sections of the Constitu-
ton, made necessary by the change from
annual to biennial.
Section is, similarly, only provision
made necessary by the proposed change.
Section provides for the first election
under the amendment, ssand the balance OF
the proposition provides for presenting 1t
to the electors, counting the ballots and
other necessary procedure.
After the years Of discussion Of biennial
elections, after Its repeated urging In ex-
ecutive messages and efforts to secure leg
islative action, we take it that not only
would three-Hfths OF any imaginable
number OF voters pass favorably upon q
proportion to secure II but that the
necessary proportion of all the people of
the State could be secured In its favor, for
the asking. Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island are the only States in the Union
that hang to the old annual elections
idea. The tendency In the younger States
is to place their elections as far apart as
four years. OF the A States, 10 hold
their elections quadrennially, one tri-
ennially, and % biennially. The advan-
tages OF :biennial elections, over annual,
are so clear,and have been demonstrated
so widely, that they need no advocacy at
this day. Neither in Massachusetts nor in
Rhode Island, where the matter has come
up from time to time in recent years,
have we noted any opposition to biennial
elections, except from political labor
agitators-and on Just what their oppo-
sition has been based we have never been
able to determine clearly through the
thick smoke OF talk that enshrouds
their ideas on about every subject they
talk at.
The taking away from the Governor OF
the right to preside over the Senate is in
accordance with widely general practice,
and with the judgment OF executive and
legislative experience. 1t contributes moth
ing to the dignity OF the chief officer OF
our State TO use him in this capacity. 1t
should properly not be part OF his du.
ties. The service is onerous, inappropriate
and unnecessary. The proposed change
has long been desirable, IL not absolutely
essential to the conduct OF our State gov
ernment. We take it there is nowhere
any opposition to 1t.
No less obvious 10 the advantage OF the
proposition contemplating a change in