The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-03-01
IN The HOUSE.


The House was called to order at
1905 o'clock, by Mr.. Speaker Holden,
and there was a quorum present.
Mr.. Dubois, of East Providence, from
the committee on corporations. report
ed back an act to incorporate the
American Textile Company; passed
under a suspension of the rules.
Also an act to incorporate the Roger
Williams Live Stock Insurance Com
pany, recommending passage in con-
curreuce with the Senate, with certain
amendments; calendar.
Mr.. Blodgett, of Pawtucket, intro
duced an act in amendment of chapter
49, general laws, "of the constitution
and organization of the General AS
sembly." The bill is introduced TO make
a new distribution of the members of
the next General Assembly, and is
brought about by the annexation of a
portion of the town OF Johnston, and 1t
provides for taking one representative
from the town of Johnston and gives
an extra representative to the city Of
Pawtucket. The act was read and or
dered placed on the calendar.
Speaker Holden then announced that
the special order OF the day would be
taken up. This was the substitute reso-
luton, which commenced as follows:
Resolved. a majority OF all the MEM
bers elected to each house OF the Gen
eral Assembly voting therefor. that the
following amendment to the constitu-
tion of the state be proposed to the
qualified electors of the state in ac-
cordance with the provisions Of article
XIII of the constitution, for their adop-
ton. to be denomnated, the revised
constitution.
Then follows the draft of the revised
constitution which was submitted to
the people last fall, with a change
"a plRntiDn
to be held in the year a. ID. 1906, and
in each twentieth year thereafter, the
General Assembly shall by law provide
that the question Shall there be a
convention to revise the constitution
be decided by the electors.
The clerk read article i, and at it's
conclusion. Mr.. Blodgett, of Pawtucket.
moved that the article s;and as a part
OF the proposed amendment.
Mr.. Garvin. Of Cumberland. moved
that the article be amended by strik-
ing out everything after the first few
words and TO substitute an article
which would provide for the election of
state senators by proportional repre-
sentation.
Mr.. Blodgett. OF Pawtucket, moved
the previous question. and the House
so voted and debate was limited TO ten
minutes.
After brief debate, Mr.. Garvin's
amendment was lost ana the article as
read was adopted
Article . was then read. and Mr..
Burns, OF Cumberland. moved that the
words "no person who shall hereafter
attain the age OF - years. or shall be-
come citizen Of the United states or
OF this state, shall have the right TO
vote unless he shall be able 10 read this
constitution in the English language,
be stricken out and his views were en-
dorsed by Mr.. Bouvier. of WoonsOcket,
and Dr. Lace. of Burrillville.
Mr.. Blodgett OF Providence, hoped
that the amendment would not pcvail,
FOR an ignorant suffrage was n danger
Gus suffrage. In tho last presidential
election i'm Providence there were on
the voting lists few less than 1000
names Of persons who had TO make
their mark.
Mr. Garvln spoke in support Of the
amendment offered by his colleague
from Cumberland. and spoke Of. what
he termed. the injustice OF the section
referred 20. and ne was followed by
Mr.. Ic Blanc. 81 Woonsocket. who
spoke in favor OF the passage OF the
amendment
The amendment proposed by Mr..
Burns was then lost by a rising vote
Of 40 TO q
Mr.. Bouvier moved as an amendment