The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-21
CONTINUED From Page one)

contradicted or denied that the people OF
the state. irrespective OF party. oeneVs
said allegations to be true therefore Do ~
Resolved That n special committee OF
the house or representatives, coinprlslhs
three members OF the majority ana Two
members of the minority be appointed 10
fnvestigate said charges. with authority
TO send for persons to attend, ana TO re-
ouire the production OF books and papers
At sessions OF said committee, and report
20 this house within Is days from the
adoption thereof
A MOTION FOR REFERENCE.
Mr.. Mccarthy arose TO speak and Mr.
Rathbun moved the reference OF the reso-
luton TO the committee on rules and OF
ders.
Speaker Buriingame said the question
was upon the question OF reference.
Mr. Mccarthy asked II he could state
his reasons for presenting the resolution.
The speaker sair that Mr.. Mccarthy
could speak II he confined himself TO the
question OF reference.
Mr.. Brown moved 10 amend the motion
for reference by referring the resolution
TO the committee on special legislation.
Mr.. Mccarthy stated that his reasons
for presenting the resolution were that
condition had existed in Rhode Island for
many years. which had been tolerated and
even encouraged by the Republican party,
20 the prejudice OF the legislation enacted
IN the interests OF the people. The State
House had been, with the knowledge and
consent of the Republican party.
THE SPEAKER INTERRUPTED.
There Mr.. Mccarthy was reminded by
the speaker that he should confine him-
self to the main question, which was OF
reference.
Mr. MCCARTHY continued and stated the
tn ha
cfai committee. The matter was one or
fmportance TO all the members OF the
legislature and II was certain enough
should be inquired into. The committee
to which this resolution would be referred
had a duty TO perform and that duty
should be performed without delay. III
the committee performed that duty the
house would be relieved of the despotic
rule of the boss and the minority would
be relieved OF the despotism OF the ma
fority He asked II the committee would
consider the time limit fixed In the reso-
luton.
Speaker Buriingame stated the commit
tee would not consider the time limit, but
simply the resolution as whole.
Mr.. Mccarthy stated that IL was COM
mon knowledge that the house was under
the influence of the lobbyists The office
of the sheriff OF Providence county was
made the headquarters of the lobbyists,
Republican National committee from
Rhode Island, the chairman OF the Re-
publican State Central committee
Mr.. Ogden rose TO point of order.
A RIGHT AND PRIVILEGE.
In stating his point OF order he argued
that any man had the right and privil-
eye 10 visit the State House and that IL
was an attack on the personal privilege
OF any man.
The speaker ruled the point well taken.
Mr. Mccarthy asked Mr.. Ogden II he.
making inquiry through the speaker, did
not know that the house was beset with
lobbyists and with men who came to in
terfere with Legislation OF all kinds.
Mr.. Ogden stated In reply that he had
been elected to represent his town and
the people thereof and many OF the dem
ocrats knew how ne stood on matters Of
public interest ond importance, but he
dfsclaimed all knowledge Of who was ut
the state house lobbying.
Mr.. Mccarthy stated he would accept
the gentleman's word for hts statement.
He continued and stated that whether
or not the condition was known 10 oil o.
the members of the house IL certainly did
oxist and not only 10 the knowledge OF the
members of the general assembly. but to
me knowledge OF the people generally. The
condition must be changed. The menu
bers were representatives Of the people
and IL was the duty OF the members 20
conserve those interests as best they
could
LOBBYISTS AT WORK.
Mr.. Brown stated in support OF his
amendment that instead q being re
ferred to the special committee propose
in the resolution II should go to the
committee on special legislation. Mat
ters OF great importance, sucn az const!-
tutional amendments. liquor laws, wo-
mans suffrage and Others, went 10 the
COMMITTEES on special legislation. The
resolution was important. He did be
1jeve that Mr. Ogden d,1 not know OF
the Legislation that was being affected by
the lobbyists. for that gentleman has
oftentimes voted with the minority OF
the house on questions which had beer
brought before the members by the e.
forts OF the lobbyists. But the lobbyists
were In the state house and Il was a
matter that affected the fair name oi
the state.
IL was something aside from the usual
matters considered by the committee on
fhe judiciary. and as such should go "a
the committee he had named lie asked
the members to wait until later ia the
session and they would soc men who went
20 and from the office OF the sheriff OF
Providence county. who got their orders
and who obeycd them. and they would
see the men who hurried about amonE
the members seeking 90 bring all OF tn,
Influence they could 10 bear In the IN.
terest OF certain legislation.
While Il was true that men had ths
right TO 30 and come 90 and from ia,
stafe house, Il certainly meant something
when men remained IN one office daS
after day That one man should seci
that special privilege was indeed unusual
This man wrote 70 Dr Garvin after 2
certain proposition 70 amend the state
constitution had been before the people
Ind had been defeated boastinR that h'
bad accomplished the defeat of this pro
posed constitution. lie asked how many
days this man came 60 the state house
T when the general assembly was not ir
session. Seldom. n ever but when ths
general assembly ~ In session he devotes
q great deal Of time 90 the doings or ths
members. He urged that hh amendment
prevail
Nv fudge johnson couid see no objectioa