The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-04-05

There nothing surprising the that the leaders
OF the mso the general assembly taken up the question
OF constitutional REFORM but something much more than sur
prsng in the method by which they propose bring that reform
ABOUT lhe plan they pofer substitute for the
bodied in the resolution offered by Rhode
Island of delay nncerity craftsmanship 1t is not fair
and square compliance liberal intelligent and
just revision OF the organic law but tricky attempt
dude the people belief that they are to obtain
1T is planned they will secure
is plain majority leaders have discovered that will he
dangerous and probably disastrous call for
new and better constitution but providing
ascannien OF the public will through up on
an equitable basis of they dlatoy scheme
which will delay the holding 1909 propose
basis of any constitution framed
by convention constituted almost reputation by the
electors
In the resolution presented by the Citizens provided
tha at the election next November the electors shall
gates to convention whose duty prepare draft of
revised constitution report general assembly that
1t may be submitted to the electors amendment
ne present constitution the prescribed that
One hundred and twelve delegates constitute the
ano y are allotted to the cities
with the population The largest given any one ctv is AT
to Providence but delegate
Inc delegates are to meet in convention Monday
december OF the continue the bsi
ness completed when report print to the general assem-
bly, and this report is to be submitted people in the
form OF an amendment and take amendments as pro-
vded in the constitution approved constitution would
60 into effect in 1908 Here is practical legal way of
securing real constitutional reform but square the
purposes OF the majority in the general assembly
WHAT 40 the leaders or this
tue! FIRST that resolution embodyng amendment providing
tor convention shall be by general assembly and
concued in by the general assembly 1906 Second that in
november 1906 the people shall directly enabling
luton which it receives necessary hree-hs vote will permit
the electors to decide 1908 whether be held
convention to revise the constitution That say that while
under the plan OF the Citizens union could be held
new constitution framed submitted the if ap-
proved become operative majority
would postpone the securing of organic years at
least
Nor that the most obnoxious feature plan They pro-
pose that representation the as the
representation OF the cities and the general assembly
urgo that this viii be fair inasuch proposing
10 increase the membership of the house to
VIII PROBABLY be approved November no certainty
amendment will be down
Inc majority leaders in asking the people con-
enuon with membership based representation the les
azure are SIMPLY planning for perpetuaon the greatest evil
hat exists under the consionte government of the
state by the country towns The country towns in accordance with
constitution and they would pretty sure to see that thew
tne power they exercise with such results to the cities
of the ~
these same leaders proposed present partisan gen
er assembly frame constitution they would not be further
away from compliance with the sentiment of people than they
are in presenting this miserable counterfeit for real
reform.