The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1898-10-28

settlement Of the state, in 1886, until the
time of the granting of the charter. in
1865, is only twenty-seven years; but
the Importance of having firm fOun-
datlOn 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 founda-
mental law Of the colony and state. and
for nearly 2GO years remained so, sur
viving the shocks of separation from the
mother country and continuing to exist
until the electors of the state saw fit to
adopt constitution, in November, 1912.
Under the provisions of that cOnsti-
tuition 10 articles of amendment have
been adopted:
Three in November, 1854.
One in August, 1864.
Two in April, 1886.
One in April, 1888.
One in June, 1889.
One in November, 1892.
One in November 1898.
And some propositions for amend
ment have been submitted to the cleo
tors, who have rejected them.
In the present constitution and in the
proposed revision it is declared that
"the basis 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 au-
thentic act of the whole people, is sa-
Credly obligatory upon ALL" And our
Supreme Court holds that our cOnstitu-
tion can be altered OF changed only in
the manner therein provided. AS that is
the only way, it is useless to speculate
about what might be done. except for
those constitutional provisions and Opin-
ion of the court.
Is there any necessity for amendment?
For a long time it has been urged
that the larger or largest cities did not
have sufficient representation in the
general assembly and that represen-
tatiYes should be elected by districts;
that a 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
tributed among it's citizens. All of these
are provided in the proposed revision.
But objections are made that the con-
stitutiOn Of the senate should be altered
and that senators should be chosen from
districts and not from cities and towns;
that a small town has the same repre-
sentation in the senate as the largest
city. True; 50 does the smallest state
have the same representation in the
United States senate as the largest
state, and for the same reason.
~ -.
will not be perfectly satisfactory to ev-
eryone perhaps not to anyone. Neither
is the present. nor would any be that
can be framed by human beings for
human beings, but the vital questions
are: rs it better han the present one?"
Does it provide for amendment in a
proper manner, so that its defects may
be remedied when discovered VIII
We lose or gain in time or otherwise by
rejecting it," BY whom was it con
structed?" In what manner was it pre-
pared?" Did the people have an op-
portunity to express their Yiews?" Was
it hastily done?"
In answer to some of these questions:
1t is better than the present cOnStitu-
ton. 1t enlarges the house of repre-
sentatives to 100 members, increasing
the number of Providence members
from Il to 25. 1t provides for payment
of members by the year and not by the
day. so that the sessions will not be
heightened TO increase the pay. y veto
power is conferred upon the governor.
1t not only provides for amendments
in a proper manner, but special prOvi-
sion is made to submit the question:
Shall there be a convention to revise
the constitution" to the decision of the
electors at the general election in 1910
and each twentieth year thereafter.
Without the adoption of the revised
constitution is there any hope for con-
stitutionaI convention as early as 1910?
Would not the general assembly look
upon the rejection of this revision as an
indication that the people are satisfied
with what they have? Not that the g 81
tators are satisfied. but that the men be-
hind the ballots are satisfied?
Ii was constructed by d commission
COMPOSED Of fifteen members appointed
by the governor.
Thomas Durfee, eX-chief justice of the
Supreme Court, was chairman and the
others. prominent men of the state of
the leading political parties, were:
Samuel W. x. Allen.
Z. Charles Francis.
Edward L. Freeman.
Robert II. l. Goddard.
William ". BlOdgett.
(,l--7a- L German