The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-29

the days when the Spragues were power
in these plantations. They were power
also in the street railway company, and
in the steamboat corporation, TO which
they gave such large share OF their
freight carrying business.
That protest OF the Improvement So
ciety and the Municipal League against
the bill changing the date of city elec-
tions in Providence so that in future
they will fall on the same day as the fed
eral elections. does not appear 10 have
had much influences on the legislators Of
this commonwealth. Yesterday the bill
passed both branches of the General As
sembly with very little opposition and Is
now law. Last night the Gossiper had
a chat with member of the house on
that subject. The law maker was not at
oil averse to stating just where he stood
on the matter or to giving the reasons
for voting for the bill against the strong
protest that had been entered in opposl-
tion 10 it. "Why didn't we delay action
in view OF the protest." he said, repeat
ing n question that had been asked him
and then went on, "Weil, I can't speak
for other mem bers, but the reason
ddn't want any delay was this: II the
bill is good one the sooner we put IL in
operation the better and IL 1t isn't a good
one why we should kill IL outright.
believe the bill TO be good one and
therefore wanted il passed at once end
the members of both branches felt the
same way.
81 know very well the charge Is made
that The bill was framed Tor political
purposes; for the defeat OF Mayor Nc
Guinness and his Goo Goo friends and oil
that but that DOESN'T alter my opinion
about the matter in the least. The fact
is, j give very little heed to the grum-
bIings OF the Goo Coos or the murmuf-
ings of mugwumps. Nothing suits them,
or will ever suit them. They are afflicted
with chronic fault-finding and the only
cure for their disease is an office, and
judging from some recent developments
In this town that remedy is by no means
effective. Every measure framed outside
this coterie Of PERSISTENT political pessi.
mists has sinister motive behind IT,
that is, TO their distorted view; no men
are disinterested or sincere but them
selves, while they alone hold commits
sion to safe guard the rights OF the dear
people from the encroachmepts and
Vaccinations of designing politicians.
The dear people have been fooled once
by this sort Of talk and they are now pay
ing for their delusion.
"But tn come down TO the practical
side of this elections bill, where can any
reasonable man find an objection to 1t.
The Goo Coos in the City Council are de-
claring that the treasury is practically
bankrupt and are even now trying to in
crease the tax rate. The expense of main
tanning the Government, they assert, IL
greater than the city's income. This bill
VIII lessen the expenses OF the city. For
years it has been admitted that one of
the banes of Rhode Island is the fre-
quency OF its elections. This bill will re-
duce the number. But, say the Goo Coos,
national and municipal elections should
be kept apart. Why so? Is the mental
caliber of our electorate so circumscribed
that after saying whether IL wants Reed
or Mckinley on the one hand or Cieve.
land or Russell on the other for Presi-
dent, IL will be unequal to the task OF
deciding whether Mayor. .McGuinness or
competent and able man of affairs shall
be the city's executive for the coming
year? Again, the opponents OF this bill
say 1t Will defeat full expression OF the
Will OF the people. That is absolute
nonsense. Just as many men will vote
on the first Tuesday in November as on
the last. Tho man who is interested in
public affairs Will exercise the right of
franchise without regard 10 the day or
the week, or even the month, on which
that exercise is called for. But away
down at the very foundation OF this oppo-
sition will be found a feeling Of fear on
the part OF the opposition TO this full
ana fair expression of the will of the
people about which we hear So much.
An election such that of next November
Is certain to draw out a very large vote.
IL the Goo Coos and their allies, the
Democrats, for moment believed the
verdict on such an occasion would be
favorable to them they would hail this
same bill as god send. They know
better, however. They are not so obtuse
as not to know that on full vote of the
electors OF the city OF Providence no such
political accident as that OF November
last can happen. They want the acct.
dents. We don't. We want to give all
the electors OF this town a chance TO say
who shall manage municipal affairs, and
that IL all there is 10 the matter. -