The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-31
Report on Proportional
Representation.
To Be Acted on at Next Ses-
sion Of MunicipalLeague.
An Interesting Discussion of the
Subject Officers Elected.

well attsnoed. Ihe election OF officers
was merely q formal matter and most Of
the two hours the league was in session
was devoted to proportionate or minority
representation.
The executive committees recon men,
dation Ia favor of the idea came near be.
Ing adopted, for James A. Williar1s, after
hearing the subject discussed, was In IA
vor OF the league Immediately placing
itself on record as in favor Of tho general
proposition that miporities be more gen.
| erously represented in our legislative
halls than at present. Former Council
man Truman, who had asked good
many questions during the event ng, made
q plea for conservation and delay. though
Dr. Garvin and secretary Bicknell had
explained the mstter before the meeting
at length, Mr.. Truman referring to the
latter gentleman's explanation, said 1t
was bit mixed and few in the hall un-
derstood how the scheme would work.
Finally action was delayed until the next
nesting.
Several Of the prominent members OF
the league were absent. Henry c. Clarke
was present during the earlier part Of the
evening, but took no part in the discus
sions.
President Green called the meeting to |
order and the minutes OF the previous |
meeting were approved. On motion. a |
committee to nominate officers for the |
ensuing year, consisting of JIM. Rounds,
nd I N,
vas appointed.
Arnold Green, Esq, az chsirman OF the
executive committee made the following
report The executive committee 10 which
was referred on October %, 1896, the mat
ter of proportional or minority represep-
tation has considered the matter and re-
commends the passage of the following
resolution:
Resolved thst the municipal league
favors the adoption OF proportionai and
minority legislation in the election of
mem bers OF the city council.
And the commission further submits
for the consideration Of the iesg ne the ac-
companying draft of an act which 1t be-
lieves will reMlizs it's recon men dation in
The election Of the Board of Aldermen.
Section !. The mem bers of the Board
'f Aldermen OF the city of Providence
'hall be elected upon q general ticket
or the entire city and the names shall
lot be Numbered upon the ballots and ,
me person only shall bs voted for by any
me elector.
section z. In counting said ballots the
en- candidates receiving the Highest
um Der OF votes shalt be declared elected. =
SECTION 3. All acts and parts of acts 8
tconsistent herewith are hereby repealed, I
nd this act shall take effect on the first
ay OF July, A. ID. 1897. =
In support OF the report Chairman
reen made an able address on the doc I
line involved in the act claiming that un- O
50 some such system was adopted, repre- 1
'ntive government could not stand. u
peakiug Of the trials made of this idea 4
said the stato Of Illinois had been the b
ne that had tried the idea Of minority =
and that after trial of is n
ears one who enquired concerning the Il
fscts OF it found 1t satisfactory, how Il
President Green said he e
ould leave to the mem osrs Of the league q
ascertain. M
During the deliverance of Chairman
reen's address, the nominating commit
% came In sni the following gsntIomeu !.
ere elected una y ously.
President, Arnold Green vice presidents. N
. II. i. Goddard, Obadiah Brown, John st
:. Vernon; secretary, Thomas W. Bick- L
sll; treasurer, Oren westcott; executive e.
ths president, the secretary, n
lillian j. Simmons, Ratnb bone Gardner ~
J. Mccarthy, william r. Knight, -
mes A. Williams, Henry X. Barker and n,
'seph A.MiIler; mem bsrship COMMITTEES. ST
mos Z. Bsrstow, W. G. Sslleck, George m
McAuslsn, John Y. Huntsmau, Henry yt
Sharpe, Herbert A. Richards, Adrian nj
stthews, Henry c. Clark and the secre- ~ ~
~.
Dr. l.. +. Garvin explained bis idea of
rportionste representation at length -,
d Secretary Bicknell gave another view -,
the subject. Mr.. Truman asked many ,o
estions. ID. ID. Donovan told of the Ar
Grafton OF the system In Connecticut M
wn elections. or
After Alderman Nichols had expressed III
! approval Of the idea Mr.. Williams ns ns
de his motion to have immediate s M
ion taken on the matter. Mr.. Trueman nj,
nurrei and finally, on motion OF p. we
Mccarthy. the subject was made the or
'cisl order for the next meeting. up
sir
,uring the evening the following new =
nbers wero elected: r,
ames II. McGsnn, Heury &. Hodgdop,
bert Grieye. George Becker, william l.. y
dgman. Frederick C.Mark ham, William sen
Cady. Frederick A. Smith, James n. ~. ~,
nncdy, Ttomss Higgins, Robert q. veil
Kay, George Il. Bixby, Lysandcr Il. La
It's, John Metzgrr, George w.willisms. can
1hen Minot Pitmsn, Alfred u. Eddy. TAI
'ar List. John fallon, W. Edward a.
<e, Charles W. Jencks, Francis A. e. s
!, Theodore Z. liogert, William y, isSl
ch, Edwin A. Greene. A.. a. billings