The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-27
BILL
KILLED IN HOUSE.
Proposal to Frame New State Con-
StitutiOn Defeated by PartyVOte of
CATO &c. Other Assembly Business

partisan control should cease and the
/ representatives OF the people should be
relieved from undue partisan control.
/ IL the Republican majority have faith
in the people the bill Will pass; IL they
postpone IL, IL viii be a vote OF want Of
! confidence In the people.
/ Mr.. Brown followed and he said that as
| a member OF the committee for special
! legislation and as a member or the minor
\ ity OF that committee he could say that
I the majority he'd called TO its attention
/ the fact that consideration OF this bill
was desired. The bill was one Of the most
important 10 come before the house at
this session and II was the first time he
had known IL was necessary for outside
influences 10 bring the attention of mat
ters before IL.
MAKES A CORRECTION.
Mr.. wilbour. chairman or the commit
tee on special legislation. said he wanted
10 correct a statement made by the last
speaker IN that the committee did not
have any information regarding the mat
ter: he said that what he did say was
there was not sufficient interest mani
tested for any action to be recommended.
Mr.. Rattey spoke briefly and he asked
the committee why II was that 1t did not
give hearing, why the committees dtd
not seek information when IL had the bill
before It,
MT. MdTpneN Tepieu tntt from the COM
mittee IL had "A large number OF import
ant matters before It and no hearing was
requested.
MIR. FITZGERALD'S REMARKS.
Mr.. Fitzgerald spoke at length on the
bill He first took the matter OF repre-
sentation and by figures pointed out that
the matter Of inequality OF representation
is severe and unjust. The senate is COM
posed OF 3S members OF whom % consti-
tute a majority The total vote In 90 OF
the smallest towns OF the state amounted
In the last election 10 5OS7 and this mem
ber OF voters absolutely control the
state
For the committee on special legisla-
ton the chairman got So voters at the last
election, For Lucius II. Stere and against
him 80 votes were cast, for and against
Joseph r. Lanphear 279 votes, for and
against John J.. Moroney 80 votes, for
for and againstGeorge J. Andrews 757
votes. a total OF 1921 votes in all, while the
minority OF the committee VIM. L. Clarke
and j. Stacy Brown received 1867 and 3946
votes a total OF 1921 represented by the
majority and total OF 1913 by the minor
fly.
As regards the senate he pointed out
In l3 towns outside OF the 20 smallest
towns 1426l votes were cast. In the cities
OF the state 52476 votes were cast. The
Cranston cast more votes than did the
20 towns. an IMPOSITION on the Repub-
licans themselves.
lie believed that the proposition was
entirely one proper 20 submit 10 the peo-
pie. The Democrats were willing to sub
NIT any proposition to the people for they
had faith I'm the people. But the Re
publicans were not disposed to trust the
people, they were afraid TO trust the
people.
Judge Palmer raised the point that Il
was the rotton borough system that kept
Mr.. Fitzgerald In a representa- tive's chair
and kept him out OF the chair OF the
chief executive.
Mr.. Fitzgerald stated ne tried 10 get
the nomination and he did not get enough
votes and that was enough for him.
AGAINST THE BILL.
Mr. Rathbun dwelt on the fact that the
inequality OF the present constitution was
due to the fact the Democrats and the
people defeated the proposed revised con
stitution; and he further argued that
there was one legal method OF amend
ing the constitution and Il was not wise
20 take another course.
Alphonse Gauvln spoke briefly I'm favor
OF the bin and then Mr.. Moroney ad-
dressed the house and argued that the
Pi1otiiN SYSTEM US eQulihDle as I re- /
sembled the national government OF the /
country.
Mr. Fitzgerald made reply 10 Mr. Ma !
roney. who has said something rejecting 4
on Pawtucket and then Mr. Mcliugh .
moved 10 refer the bin back 90 the com .
mittoe on special legislation, with in
struction 20 hold public hearings. The
motion was not seconded
Mr. Spoouer made the closing argument
showing that Mr. Maronev's argument
was not well taken and then came the
vote
The motion was 20 indefinitely postpone
the bill and on "A strict party vote the
Republicans defeated tho bnl. the motion
prevailing 30 10 81 Messrs Leslie ana
Mumiord were absent and William p
Dodge "a Block Island Democrat voted
with the Republicans against tho bin
The calendar was 60 be- again taken nm
when Mr.. Kane moved that the house ad-
journ and the motion prevailed