The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-08
TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION.



CONTINUED from page oneo
hack by the committee, and took the
usual course.
f,rred back number OF acts as rightiy
engrossed. includ ng the act To amend
the charter os the Providence institu-
lion for Savings.
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Kimball OF Providence called for
the special order. which was JOINT
Yesnl,ition proposing an amendment TO
the constitution OK the state, on Whlcn
the committee ON special legislation
recommends passage, with certain
amendments interlined in the orlslhal
bin which are: Section IL, line ).
goth" struck out and last inserted.
se~fIon IL line z "thirtieth" struck
out and last" inserted. Section IL.
line 2, the following words are inserted
before the word article sections 1,
.. 3, 4, 5, q, Z. 5 and OF. Section IL
line A. articles" struck out ana aru-
Gle" inserted, Section II, line 4. sec
ton" struck out and sections insert
ed.
Mr.. Garvin In behalf OF a minority OF
the committee on special legislation
presented minority I'm the form OF an
amendment To the resolution, Whlch
amendment is as follows; strike OUT
distinctly" and in lieu thereon insert
the follawing: whenever. under the
provisions of the constitution or laws
of this state IL becomes necessary 10
do any act or business in grand com
mittee, either house may invite the
other 10 assemble in grand committee
al u o'clock meridian OF the following
day. and when 40 assembled a majority
of all the members elected 10 both
f>-7ttse.ss- shaft constitute a QUORUM M
act or business OF any kind shall DC
done i'm grand committee other thah
that which is required by the cohstltu
tion or laws Of the state. or Whlch Is
agreed upon BY the two houses ana.
MIR. Kimball explained the several
amendments as reported 10y the ma
iority OF the committee, ana stated
That they were ma ! ~ Of clerical ma
ture.
Mr.. parker Of Coventry remarked
rhat ne did not think the whole act
was as specific as IL should have been.
In ctnefaiZed too much, ana lett the
way open to litigation in the courts.
He believed that there should have
been some specific provision Tor the
printing af ballots made, and also some
other matters and he thought Fhat
the committee could have reported
back a more complete act.
Mr. kimball in reply, stated That a
great real of the act was an exact
copy OF the pr sent haw, and he stated
that after careful consideration and
cansutation Il had been deemed best
10 have certain provisions ot the ACT
To be fixed by law at the proper time.
MR.. BLoDGETT EXPLAINS.
AIR. Bloodgett. Of Providence, called
attention 20 the fact that the consa .
tuition gave authority 20 the Geheral
Assembly To make any changes that
were deemed necessary, The several
amendments recommended by the
committee were then adopted, without
opposition.
The question then came upon the
amendment as offered by Mr. GarNh
in his minority report In relation T.
the organization Of the grand commit
Tee. and providing that "a majority ci
all members elected are necessary, IN
stead OF a majority Of the members OF
both branches. as provided for IN th'
proposed amendment.
Mr.. Garvin spoke in support OF hi'
amendment and said that he believe,
TINT IN should pass. as such condition
should certainly obtain in an action O.
"a I'uted states senator by the Gen
eral Assembly fle claimed that un
der he provisions of the proposed
amendment 50 represt ntauNCs on =
senators could defeat a mec,ing Of tn
grand committee. and therefore he be
grand committee embodied in the con
~ u of the United States shouh
prevail.
sir. Johnson. 30 Foster thought tha
tffposiUon OF the gentleman fron
Cumberland was ubpccuou3ble be
cause II was an attempt 90 cnurel
reverse the order of things ~ thi
state. In Rhode Island 90 hal adwuy
been customary to have q quorum @
both branches present boz order that
quorum Of tn grand commit 80 m .
be declared. Tic believed tnat IN
passage ~ such an amendment woul
not only reverse the entire policy ,
the state. but would rcsult in "a conni,
Of authority. such as is seen I'M time
I'm other states.
CONFLICT POSSIBLE.
Mr. Blodgctt. OF Providence. thoi
ouChly endorsed the statements n NJ
Johnson. bur said that the passage
the amcndmcni offered by Mr Garvi
would probably result in "a direct coz
fict with the present proyIHors N th
conri,tutons of the grand Committe
end tins. ~ Coulse. would b. iu urrf
si son 20 the Nrganic law.
Nj Garyin spoke again upon h
amendment. cpd went back o. Mn,
1892. ~ show that his Contention wa
well "a ~ said. nc claimcd ths
al that time Al also in 1891 20 mem
hers OF the senate controlled 'hs 1ran
rpnimittee. He vas opp sed o. 20 scna
tors having such power. but wanted On
grand committee a. Dc made up "