The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-02-15
WILL FULLY
REPRESENT
STATE BAR.

Considerable interest centres in the
persons who have been named as mem
bers of the proposed commission TO
arrange for the reorganization OF the
Rhode Island courts the need OF which
has long been recognized. In the blu
introduced in the house OF representa-
fves, the following are named: Chief
Justice Stiness OF the supreme court;
Ellery III. Wilson. Charles f. Gorman'
stephen o. Edwards. Nathan w. Little
field Edward ID. Bassett and william n
Morgan OF these the hrst three were
on the commission which In 1897 revised
the constitution OF the state.
Chief Justice Stiness has been on the
Rhode Island supreme bench since lS'o
and chief Justice since the retirement or
Judge Matteson in 1900 He is Brown
university graduate ana received the
honorary degree OF III. ID. In 1898 ana IN
n member OF the board OF fellows OF the
university He served in the civil war.
with tho rank of second lieutenant ana
was a member of the Rhode Island iegis-
lature in the lower house. from 1864 un-
III 1875, the date OF his election 10 the
| bench In the supreme court he has
| been regarded as one Of its ablest mem
bers. his opinions having been widely
| quoted
Charles r. German served In the COM
| mon council from the Tenth ward from
| May 7, 1874, to January, lo'o, and was al
| derman from the same ward from 1879 TO
| 1882 and in 1890. He was also elected to
| the general assembly from the city or
| Providence and was speaker OF the house
| from 1887 20 1888 under the Democratic
administration OF Gov. John w. Davis.
| He was appointed United States district
attorney by President Cleveland and
served until the appointment OF Gen.
Charles A. Wilson to that office by
President Mckinley He has always
been a strong advocate of the change I'm
the constitution, under which the COM
| mission was appointed and as member
| of the constitutional commission OF 1897
was one Of Its most active workers.
The only man named for the commits
sion not lawyer is Ellery IA. Wilson.
n prominent politician OF East Provt-
dence He Is an official of the Rumford
Chemical works. He was n member or
the house OF representatives OF the state
from 1883 to 1856 and from 1889 TO 1895.
He held the position Of speaker OF the
house I'm 1ss5-s6 and iSs6-s7. He Is men,
ber OF the state board OF charities and
corrections and was one of the board OF
state house commissioners.
II Stephen o. Edwards. of the law Arm OF
Edwards & Angel, one OF the best known
in 1879. studied and practiced law here
after graduation, and was an Instructor
In mathematics and logic at Brown In
1856 and 1887 and clerk OF the house OF
representatives from 1889 to 1891 under a
Democratic administration. Since that
time he has devoted his attention to the
building up OF a large law practice.
Nathan w. Littlefeld Is native OF
East Bridgewater. Mass. He came to
Rhode Island I'm 1871 and was principal
of the high school at Newport, afterward
superintendent of schools and principal
: of the high school at Westerly. When
} admitted to the Rhode Island bar he be
gan the practice OF law in Providence
He was I'm the state senate for one
I year and for two terms was chairman
Of the Pawtucket school committee. re-
ceiving the Endorsement OF both parties
on his second election. lie is referee
i'm bankruptcy. and for several years was
the only referee for this district. He was
also Democratic candidate for governor
in 1901.
Edward ID. Bassett another prominent
member OF the bar. graduated from
Brown university I'm the class OF 1873. lie
was member OF the Providence schoo
committee for six years and represented
the Ninth ward In the common counci
n In 1886. He was a member OF the com
y mittee OF the Rhode Island Bar associa
tion which prepared the amendment e
the constitution.
Y William A. Morgan, who is credited by
g local attorneys az the author OF In,
. amendment To the constitution unde
which these changes are 10 take place
Il studied law with Dexter B. Potter an,
k was admitted TO the bar In 1890. He hai
., practiced here since then and was Unite,
~, States commissioner for several years
Mr.. Morgan was elected to the genera
l. assembly in 1901 and was active Will
member OF the house i'm getting tn
e amendment passed by the body durinl
~ that year
e He has been secretary OF the Rhod
e Island Bar association since its organi
is Zation.