The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-22
THE ZEBRA BILL
GIVEN HEARING
BY COMMITTEE

The "reapport rtionment zebra" was trot-
ted out this afternoon for the edificatiOn
OF the senate judiciary committee and
divers interested citizens. and cavortcG
around In lively fashion.
Senator Horton and Judge Palmer
patted the beast lovingly. while Sena-
tor Arnold Representative Crafts and
President Peabody Of the Westerly town
council belabored IL with clubs stuffed
with facts, flgures and constitutional
questions. As result the air was filed
with mathematical calculations and hair
splitting computations, which, II they
ever get before the supreme court, will
necessltste thorough review Of the
whole course Of study from the addition
table TO the higher calculus.
The committee, Senator Anthony pre-
siding, gave a hearing on the bill by
which Cranston. counting as 'inhablt-
ants" within it's confines sundry criminals.
paupers and other state dependents, seeks
to gain one representative at the expense
OF westerly and the committees room
was too small for those who desired TO at
tend, neccsSitating adjournment 10
larger room Comparatively little
developed differing from the discussion OF
the question before the house the other
day; and the air was beaten on both
sides 20 about the same apparent pur-
pose and In practically the same man
ner.
Senator Horton OF Cranston made
brief plea for the bill, figuring out the
financial pre-emience OF that Gran
ston and the inconsequence of Westerly
az had Mr. Bliss i'm the House, and claim
cd that even deducting the number In
the state institutions. the former still was
entitled 10 the privilege given by the
proposed act.
No one else appearing In favor OF the
bill Senator Arnold OF Westerly, defend
ed himself against the slurs and ar
rows Of the unkind fate that had followed
his introduction Of the resolution provid-
ing that the opinion OF the Supreme Court
be asked relating to tho constituiionality
OF the act.
Senator Stiness OF the committee
thought his colleague was shooting an
other wide of the mark. and that his
argument would he more appropriate In
the senate: and Senator Arnold apparently
adopted the suggestion. leaving to Mr..
Crafts tho burder of the fray. for which
he was fully equipped.
Mr.. Crafts modestly confessed his ina
bilty to state how the apportionment
should be made frankly saying that he
was "all at sea-. but argued strongly that
the proposed act was al least open TO 50
much question I'm view OF the varying con-
structions OF the constitution assumed In
past years that II would be dangerous TO
by the supreme court He contended that
the last state census was notoriously
faulty and therefore unsafe as basis
for reapportionment. That IL was known
i'm important respects TO do injustice to
Westerly. and that as the inmates Of the
state institutions were already enumera-
ted 1 nthe towns from which they came.
TO count them as inhabitants OF Cranston
for the purpose OF reapportionment was
wholly improper and illegal
President ePabody OF the Westerly
town council said that his constituents
not only desired the opinion or the su-
preme court, and would ultimately find
way to secure u II not now afforded IL
hy the senate. but that they would be
entirely satisfied TO abide II In any event
He thought this course should be follow
ed by the senate. and thus settle the
problem once and for all and avoid the
deplorably hard feelings that otherwise
surely would result
Mr.. Peabody discussed the constitu-
tional side of tho question at some length.
and citesd an array of facts and figures
quite as formidable "a those presented by
cranston's representatives. and one by
one dissected the latter and endeavored TO
show the fallacy of the arguments based
upon them.
Both Senator Stiness and Sena tor Nor
gan of the committee interiescted ques-
tions during the hearing and several OF
those propounded nv the latter 10 Senator
Horton appeared TO be something like
''posers" as the Cranston senator seemed
uncertain why Providence should not be
included In the hrst process ot the mathe-
matiCal computation 10 secure a basis OF
reapportionment