The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-26
SIMPLY FAIR PLAY.

What possible harm could come TO the resi-
dents of the smaller towns by giving to the citizens
OF the more populous centres fuller and more just
representation would be a pertinent question for
the opponents of constitutional reform in Rhode
Island if there any such willing to take part
in discussion of this very important matter.
The upholders of the present system of mis-
representation enter into no defence of it. All they
can say is that there is always considerable diff
Guilty found in getting people to give up their pos
sessions but if no harm might come therefrom, il
any rights to which a claim was made by long en-
joyment simply to be put into common
treasury, il would seem as if men might be winning
TO act justly.
In other states the smaller communities man
age to arrange matters so that the cities do not
tyrannize over the farming communities; and the
industries OF one section get advantages over
those of another.
There are certain rights that the large ma jor-
ity OF the people in the cities think they should
have but of which the party whose main reliance is
in the votes in the legislature from the smaller
towns deprivcs them.
The representatives from the city Of Provi-
dence have always been generous to the residents
of smaller communities when il came TO voting
public improvements, like good roads, for instance.
OF course. no part of the state can be benefited
without Providence in some measure deriving
benefit therefrom; but there is very strong proof
that those who reside in Providence and the large
cities and towns do suffer from the present system
of inadequate representation which the towns
seem to believe advantageous to them.
There more offices to give out in the small
towns because of the present system-that is,
u1O me a 10 To
sembly from these communities; but certainly that
will not be urged as proper reason for the con-
tinuance of the present undesirable and unrepub-
lican system Some of its friends say that as every
state has equal representation in the United States
senate, il is but right that each town city should
have equal representation in the state senate
Not all progress has done away with the
original belief that the states arc independent com
munties. At any rate, when the national govern
ment was moulded into shape it was generally
acknowledged that, save in matters that might
have to do with the common defense and general
welfare the states agreeing to the Constitution
remained sovereign and independent, The national
government has gone very far, perhaps in the
regulation of interstate commerce; but no court
has ever declared that the states were creatures of
the United States government, that congress might
do what it wished with them.
The supreme court OF this state-and in the
doctrine it is upheld by most of the courts of the
Union-has practically held that the legislature
might make any changes of government in cities or
towns that it wished and absolutely wipe out home
rule.
AS matter of scf-protecton, change is
needed in the representation of the large manu-
featuring communities of the state; and step
can be seriously considered as reform measure by
the citizens of these communities that does not do
away with equal representation of the towns and
cities in the state senate.
The legislature do what it wishes with the
towns or cities and it is necessary that the big
towns and cities have the right to provide for the
proper collection of the taxes and the further right
of seeing that all citizens have that share in the
government which is their unquestoned privilege
in every other state OF this union.