The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-10-25

tory inspection law and the weekly pay
mont law were enacted by legislatures
Republican In both branches The week
~ payment law was passed I'm 1891 The
bill was introduced by "A Democrat into
the Democratic house and passed first by
that branch, Augustus $. Miller the pres
ent candidate for mayor OF Providence.
being speaker Of the house.
John w. Davis was the Democratic
governor Of the state and presided In the
senate when the bill was coneurreo IN by
that body
Factory inspection became a law In
April. 1894. II was introduced at that ses-
sion by a Democrat. was passed through
the Democratic house with Speaker
Franklin p, owen In the chair. but was
pigeonholed in a senate committee until
after election
Then "A Republican governor having
been reelected the bill IN an emascula-
ted form was enacted. inspectors were APP
pointed who would not inspect and ever
since. under appointees By Republican
governors. the law has been In large de-
gree "a dead letter upon the statute book.
So IL appears that these two claims
made by the Republican machine are dis
rectly contrary 10 the facts OF the case
Extraordinary as IL seems. the Re-
publican machine takes credit 10 itself
for the passage OF law drawn by the
corporations OF the state, a law which
according to it's terms can never be
amended or repealed by legislative ac-
ton.
Concerning this contract the circular
says: These payments franchise taxes
on street railways OF the state) In the
year 1901 amounted 10 Sli2. .Ooo' and adds,
there is secured to the people OF Rhode
Island a larger revenue per mile OF road
operated than is received by the people
OF -anx- -nther- stately the Ford law of
New York state. passed when Mr.. Rnose-
welt was governor. the franchise value
OF quasi-publlc corporations is taxed as
real estate.
Under that law the franchise value
of the Union Railroad company In the
city OF Providence would be taxed at SIS |
on the thousand and would net 70 the city
treasurer more than double Sli2.000 per
annum, which Is the sum received from
all the street railways In the state.
THE machine platform and circular
also urge the adoption OF its amendment
to the state constitution, which does
away with the lieutenant governor as
senatorial large and removes the COVER
nor from all contact with Legislation, as
he is already removed from exercise OF
the appointing power
THE argument II advances that the
peoples constitution OF the Dorr era
contained this provision Is more than an
swered by the fact that said constitution
conferred upon the governor the veto
power. Under the Dorr constitution.
therefore. the governor was given much
more power and far greater influence
over legislation than he now has, and be-
yond all comparison more than would be
his after the adoption of the machines
proposed amendment.
THE platform and circular also urge
the adoption OF the other constitutional
amendment walch would divide Provi-
dence into IL districts, each electing one
representative to the legislature-and AL
this Is 20 be done solely for the sake OF
the minority party,
or otherwise. not even minority OF one,
ever hslked the general assembly for such
an amendment--an amendment which Is
purely partisan. calculated TO strengthen
the state house machine and to leave
the city OF Providence helpless In It's
hands. with the city so gerrymandered
that the machine can always control a
majority OF its wards as IL now controls
most OF the country towns; not only
Providence, but all the cities and large
towns In the state will be found hereafter
wholly dependent upon the tender mercies
OF the few men who have dictated recent
legislation. Then God save the state OF
Rhode Island and Providence Planta-
tions.
After opposing a constitutional con-
ventlcn the circular adds: The initia-
I tive and referendum are equally at var
lance with the provisions OF tho consti-
tuition The absurdlty OF this statement
shows the folly and falsehness OF tho
| whole circular. The referendum as 20
! constitutional amendments already exists
I what Is now asked for IS the initiative
! to be obtained by means Of a legal change
IN the state constitution"
! Speeches were also made by Franklin
| p. owen. Judge r. " Quinn Of War
wick. Dennis j Holland Edward Sulli-
| van. Adelard Archambault, Frank T.
| Fitzslmmons and Mayor Greene OF Woon-
socket.