The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-15
HEARING
NOT WELL
ATTENDED

There was public hearing IN room ooz
at the state house today before the mousse
committee on special legislation on the
olu for an act 20 provide for calling
convention Of the people OF this state for
the purpose Of forming a new constitution.
.he attendance was light just dozen
rslne present. Representative Murphy OF
Central Falls spoke at length upon the
matter favoring the measure and after
Going into tho early history Of the state
said there was a growing and very appar-
ent need for change in the constitution.
"The interest is very general, said. Mr..
Murphy "and everywhere have heard
expressions OF approval for the bill Tor
new constitution.
A number Of bills have been introduced
here bv prominent men on this very SUBJ
ject and those measures were lost.
l understand that we can change or
a.cenG our constitution whenever nsces-
sary through some people say IT cannot be
done.
Can YOU conceive OF a Republican form
OF government without the right OF con-
vcution
Poth parties In their platforms have rec
ognized the need OF constitutional revision
and commission appointed 10 revise the
change that suited the legislature but not
sll OF the people
II was approved by lot of them, how
ever and the very fact that a commission
was appointed Is a point that would in
dioate that here could be convention
called for the purpose OF constitutional
revisiou. II have found that the demands
for constitutional revision come about
once in ten years in other states. and so
g. years IL about time II seems. for a
constitutional convention
Incidentally Mr.. Murphy said that the
legislature is controlled by majority
representing a minority OF the people and
either one fourth or one-ffth OF the wealth
OF the state.
From the time Of the adoption OF the
second charter in Rhode Island there has
been an arbitrary spirit existing in the
general assembly. IL has prevented bills
from being reported back and they have
never been heard of again. In Msssa-
chusetts the bills are all reported back
and some disposition Is made Of them.
'If We only got them reported back there
would be little satisfaction for the mem
bers Of the minority" he said
Senator McKenna was also heard in
favor OF the bill and, ike Mr.. Murphy. he
went back into old times TO show the
causes OF the present state OF affairs
under which a minority is IN control.
He spoke Of the early restricted suffrage
when only the father and eldest son were
allowed the right 20 vote. The patriot
ism and earnestness OF Thomas Dorr'
was dWelt upon by Senator McKenna,
who applallded his followers efforts to
secure more liberty
"T believe that for a state of 500 0o0
people this constitution has outlived its
usefulness. This measure cannot be
termed a partisan measure. for the people
OF this state demand A revision OF the
constitution
II will say II this revision Of the con-
stitution had been carried ont the per-
petual franchise of the Rhode Island COM
pand for a thousand and one years would
not have been granted"
Mr.. Stillman said he had notified Mr..
Eaton and Prof Mcdonald that the hear
ing was going on aud that they would
probably be present soon
Mr.. Joseph T Grmshaw Of woon-
socket rather opposed this bill saying
that he hoped that II was the senate bill
This one would rather confuse matters,
he said and would not he operative so
soon Woonsocket particularly would
not be able to participate properly.
Mr. Murphy said he would not mind
n he only had 20 wait year 10 get It
passed, as he had waited three years
already,
There were no other speakers and the
hearing was declared at an end by Chair
man =. a Money.