The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-20

| 1908, Is only tWenty-SeVen years, but
| the Importance OF having a firm foun-
| dation for the government was thor
oughly understood. And the charter,
| which was practically an act of incor-
! poration of the colony. was greatly ap-
preciated This became the funda-
mental law of the colony and state. and
for nearly 200 years remained SO,
surviving the shocks of separation
from the mother country and continu-
ing to exist until the electors OF the
state saw fit to adopt a constitution, i'm
November. 1912.
Under the provisions OF that con-
stitution 10 articles of amendment have
been adopted:
Three i'm November, 1854.
one in August 1864.
Two in April 1886.
one I'm April, 1883.
one in June. 1889
one i'm November, 1892.
one I'm November. 1898.
And some propositions for amend
ment have been submitted To the cleo
In the present constitution and in the
proposed revision it is declared that
the bases of our political systems is
the right of the people To make and
alter their constitutions of government.
but that the constitution which at any
time exists, till changed by an explicit
and authentic act of the whole people.
is sacredly obligatory upon ALL" And
our Supreme Court holds that our con-
stitution can be altered or changed only
in the manner therein provided. As
that is the only way Il is useless to |
speculate about what might be done. |
except for those constitutional provi- |
sions and opinion of the court.
is there any necessity for amend |
ment?
For long time II has been urged |
that the larger or largest cities did not |
have sufficient representation in the
general assembly and that represent
atives should be elected by districts:
that constitutional convention should
be provided for: that veto power should
be conferred upon the governor: that
the legislature should receive fair COM
pensation; that the taxes and other
burdens of the state shall be fairly dis
-ributed among it's citizens. All
)f these are provided i'm the
revision. But objections are
made that the constitution OF the sem
tie should be altered and that senator's
should be chosen from districts and
lot from cities and towns: that a small
own has the same representation in
he senate as the largest city. True:
TO does the smallest state have the
ame representation i'm the United
states senate as the largest state, and
or the same reason.
Undoubtedly the proposed revision
viii not be perfectly satisfactory to ev-
ryone, perhaps not to anyone. Neither
$ the present, nor would any be that
an be framed by human beings for
luman beings, but the vital questions
re: rs IL better than the present
ne?" Does it provide for amend
nent in a proper manner. so that its
Effects may be remedied when dscov-
''H w III We luSt bE gam IN tlfne /
r otherwise by rejecting it," "By
lhom was IL constructed?" "In
rhat manner was II prepared?" "Did
he people have an opportunity TO exA
ress their views?" WAS IL hastily
one?" ,
In answer TO some of these questions: {
1t is better than the present constitu- !
ION. 1t enlarges the house of repre- :
entatives TO 100 members. increasing /
he number of Providence members
rom II To %. 1t provides for payment
{ members by the year and not by
ne day, so that the sessions will not !
e heightened TO increase the pay A /
eto power is conferred upon the gov
rnor.
u not only provides for amendments y
a proper manner, but special proVi- (
on is made TO submit the question: I
Shall there be a convention to revise h
ne constitution? to the decision OF $
~ electors at the general election i'm 7
10 and each twentieth year thereafter. Il
Without the adoption OF the revised @
IL there any hope for 4
convention as early as n
10? Would not the general assembly
ok upon the rejection OF this re-
sion as an indication that tho people
e. satisfied with what they have? Not
lat the agitators are satisfied. but
Iat the men behind the ballots are
tished?
IL was constructed by a commission
imposed Of fifteen members appointed
the governor.
Thomas Durfce. ex-chicf Justice of
Ie Supreme Court. was chairman and l
le others prominent men Of the state
the leading political parties. viz.
Samuel w X. Allen. u
D. Charles Francis
Edward l. Freeman.
Robert ~. l. Goddard.
William w. Bludgett. 4
= eAi----i-----i- iortuufi
David s. Baker q
Edwin ~. McGuinness j
Entpn.l nnVuV,v COLI