The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-16
CONSTITUTIONAL REVISION.

Because of the small attendance the public hearing by
the house committee special legislation yesterday the bill
roduced by Representative Murphy Central Falls providing for
the calling OF convention to frame constitution be
inferred that there lessenng support
constitutional revision contrary.a great majority
people irrespective of their political affiliations firmly and dis
tncty in favor of revision time stronger
demand for convention than that which from
ton of the state Lack of interest yesterdays hearing easily
played In the first place. there that such bill Mr.
Murphy introduced the general assembly On three
embodyng similar failed
and the general opinion among the jealous ad
of constitutional REFORM that better will
accorded the bill prepared by the member from Central Falls
The for this opinion obvious The Murphy ignores
entirely the opinion of the supreme given years ago
which held that the changed
than in the prescribed
asserted and be that the opinion many
does with that supreme court-hey contendng
that the people have always right change
make the organic law of they
do be every other
in the Union.
Rhode Islanders conservative. They have
great for the of the supreme
when they advisory only they
not give their constitutional reform that fail
to conform to the courts opinion although sincerely desiring
pee and adequate revision providing
the calling of convection the constitution upon which
committee special legislation gave public hearing
the conservative citizenship find nothing contrary
the opinion of the
This resolution provides way holding of convention
and for the submission of its work the people
conformity with the provisions constitution itself is
that should receive the careful study and the active
earnest OF citizen who believes thorough
ghtened revision Of the organic law of the
desirable and The existing constitution perfect
or reasonably perfect instrument long ago became inadequate
to the needs Of steadily growing
OF its original provisions has been eeded by
whole today entirely untitled the requirements state
with population exceeding 100000.
Indeed because of the inequalities of representation
established that Rhode Island suffering gevouy
rule and corporation domination Prof Mcdonald
within bounds when he declared hearing
committee that Rhode Island this been
tor considerable time state of popular 1t
damena principle Of all American government
municipal that the majority shall commonwealth
this principle through the provisions anquated constitution
wholly imperative and the Union
the anomalous and unAmecan spectacle of allowing
tve OF only eight and oneha per population TO aso
luey dictate and control all legislation.
change imperative. The people demand constitutional
revision that will restore that popular government long
been unknown in this government put an end at
once and forever to rule by rings arrogant corporations
operating through representatives Of insignificant fraction of the
people that will majority and not the
minority and that will administer affairs in the interest Of
the whole people and Of designing rngsters combines of
capital -