The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-09


prcfas.or Mcdonald was the hrst to
address the committee and he said ne
appeared IN behalf OF the Rhode Island
Crtizers union. He thouvtt It could not
be denied that the peorIo are now and
for some time have been tD state OF pro-
found disturbance. said he: The state
has been pacaraed far and wide as
politically corrupt ] am not here today
10 speak In a personal way. and We are
not here 10 attack any citizen, reter
10 this popular feeling because II Is wioe-
spread and cannot be safely ignored l
would waive ont Of consideration all idle
reports and would only refer 10 those
things which have caused profound
irritation.
NO POPULAR GOVERNMENT
"Rhods Island Is not at this time ana
has not been for a considerable time
state OF popular government recog-
nize the necessity for parties and Tor
machine. but for many years there mas
been feeling that the machine In power
has been contemptuous regarding the
wishes OF the people
r Authors OF megasine articles Do not
write unless there Is some reason< for
their writing and the failure 10 refute
the statements thus made Is an evidence
that there is some reason for what mas
been said.
~ am not here TO call certain ministers
hars because l believe that what some
OF them have said is worthy OF considera-
tion.
REVISION NEEDED.
Now we come 10 the question OF the
is not a perfect document. In the interval
that has passed the changes that have
occurred have called for revision.
would call first OF all to the restrict ed
suffrage.
n thsre is any principle that has beer
given UP Il II the property quslihca-
fion for voting. IL has been given up ir
the old states and IL has not been adopt
ed sby the newer states.
In the second place we are confronted
BY a larger body of illiterate voters.
would not do or say anything that would
prevent the reasonable right Of suffrage
but can see no reason for voting Of the
3lliterate voters and we would advocate
the idea Of obliging after a time every
voter 10 read and write.
Again we believe that the executive
should have the veto power. We know
that all power has been shorA from the
governor and we believe there could b
no more popular measure 10 he placed
before the people than that which woulc
give the veto power TO the governor.
Tn the next place there is feelinf
OF suspicion in this state for the mem
berp' OF the judiciary. We believe thai
A. is bad system which allows the
election Of members OF the general "a
sembiy by his fellow members and such
\ system exposes them to popular con
demnetion.
UNEQUAL REPRESENTATION.
an
II Is the matter OF representation o
she cities and towns IN the general as
eembiy The present general assembly
Is not responsible for this. IL may bs
responsible for future general assemblies
In this state the conditions are peculiar
In few OF the towns the population Is
very large and in others 81 is very small
! suppose no one would advocate a rep
tesentation based absolutely on popula
sion.
Prof. Mcdonald then went into n con
pideration OF the number of senators NJ
compared with the population IN dineren
towns and cities declaring that the repre-
eei'tatives OF siI per cent OF the population
az tie state have absolute control of legis-
lntior IN the state Continuing he said:
The senate II charged with being 3
corrupt body. ] am not here 10 make any
ouch charge but | do say that any sys
tom Of this kind certainly lends Itself
eipgulsrly easy Cor corrupt practices and
think there Is a widespread feeling that
TIE general assembly of today Is n dis
credited body and that not for many
yesrs has ~ acted IN the line of popular
government
y ne remedy 7 believe "a the change ia the
fundamental law THE is right which
We believe lies with the people. We ask
simply for the right OF The ma sjority %
rrle II three-nfths OF the people decide
81 a. a.fF . /. 49,.
viii accept the result We DO not ask Cor
sLy particular constitution but we DO ask
Tho right 10 talk and express our opinions
fnd freely say that any Legislature that
wcuid put itself between the people and
What they want is doomed"
The speaker then spoke OF the opinion OF
The court regarding the question OF n
constitutional convention and he declared
thar he wanted no amendment which did
not conform 70 TIE advisory opinion oi
the supreme court. He spoke OF the pro-
losed resolutions and the section which
relates TO the representation In the pro-
pored convention and he declared that
this was a most important mattex
He said that the numbe- OF delegates
had been based verl agely on the
question OF population 8rd IA the plan
suggested the small tovrs had not been
given the preponderance. he declared
however that this schedule OF figures was
not altogether insisted upon.
~ the close Of Prof McDonald's ad-
Sress there wns considerable applause
MIR WATERMAN SPEAKS
Lewis A. Waterman also spoke as rep
Fesenting the Rhode Island Citizens'
nnion. He declared that this organiza
ticn hsd only followed out what had
been done before. He said that tho reso-
1n'ion had been drawn on the line ~ tho
fefoiutior which provided Cor 2 cons,t.
fufionsl commission IN 1877 He ey.
phined that b. making tia delegates