The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1908-01-10

TO enable them 10 vote have asked TO be
assessed for the same. This request has
been denied, and they have thus been
deprived OF their vote and the city has
been deprived OF their taxes. on tha
other hand, on number OF occasions in
mates OF the states farm and workhouse,
serving sentences for noL-support.
drunkenness, vagrancy. or some kindr d
charge. have been assessed for 5000 worth
OF personal property, their taxes have
been paid by the political leaders. they
have been released from Imprisonment a
few DAYS before election and have be n
allowed TO vote a full ticket, even for
members OF the city council.
IL is needless for me 20 suggest that
operations such as these nullify the effect
OF the bona fde real estate vote. For in
stance, the 2GO1 real estate votes OF Paw
tucket today are completely overcome ami
offset the personal property voters
assessed for 500 whose taxes are paid
by others interested In holding office lr
I'm securing privileges from the city gov
ernment. II VIII thus be seen that this
qualification deprives the city OF many
dollars in taxes which II might secure
from the bona hde holders OF personal
property. and that 1t destroys the SIP
posed advantages OF a discriminating
property vote
WORKS INJUSTICE
But It works this Injustice 10 the real
estate voter II also works a peculiar in
Justice to the registry voter. II, for eX-
ample. man be assessed for personal
property and does not pay his tax hts
name Is dropped from the personal list
az the hnal canvass which Is held a few
days or n week before election, and he IS
placed on the registry list by virtue ot
his assessment whether or not he has
actually registered. The caucuses OF oil
parties are under the law held sever I
weeks before election. and hence several
weeks before this manufactured or straw
personal property voter Is dropped for
non payment OF taxes. But having been
assessed, he is eligible TO take part In
all caucuses. including those for the So
lection OF aldermen and councilmen even
though he should later neglect or refuse
to pav his personal property tax
While therefore the registry voter
must actually register before the last day
OF June in each year before he can vote
at the coming election. and while every
person eligible TO register and vote must
pay an annual poll tax OF each. and
while even by 80 doing he can not vote
for members of the city council either
at caucuses or election we have on the
other hand the example OF this artih-
cial 5000 personal property voter not be-
ing Obliged to register at all. not being
Obliged to pay any poll tax whatever and
yet privileged to take part not only IN
registry, but also In property caucuses:
afterward neglecting or refusing TO paw
his paltry tax on 5000 and then having
the privilege on election day of voting
the regular registry ballot. In other
words any man having been assessed
for 5000 personal property has super or
rights To the registry voter in all caii-
cuses prior to election day, although he
has never registered and never paid a
poll tax or a property tax and he has
equal rights with such registry voter on
election day.
Such a condition OF affairs Is not only
unjust. but IL Is ridiculous. T. therefore
commend to your consideration a eonsti-
tutional amendment providing for tho
abolition OF this unjust and un-American
valuation. If the legislature can not
see Its way clear TO take this course.
then in the name of common fairness
and common American equality before
the law. I recommend for your enaot-
ment n measure which will prevent the
possibility OF such wholesale jugglery and
manipulation as have taken place In
years and such as is possible In Provl-
dence and elsewhere.
APPOINTIvE POWER.
l renew nv recommendation OF n year
ago. as well as the recommendation OF
certain OF my predecessors. for the enact
OF the state the mower OF appointment
over the administrative officers OF the
commonwealth. The present law, which
allows the senate TO make appointment s.
after laying the governors nominations
on the table for three days is both sin
lister and anomalous. il exists nowhere
else In the American republic. IL Is de-
signed solely to thwart the will OF the
majority Of the people as expressed in
their vote for governor. through a small
minority OF the people-some 10 or is per
cent-by their representatives in the sem
ate.
Regardless OF the political beliefs OF
the chief executive. he Is entitled to real
executive powers, and among such pow
ers none Is more iust or requisite than
the power OF appointment With the
governor exercising such prerogatiyes
there Is then definite responsibility for
the administrative departments: but with
the senate making the appointments. as
IL does when the executive Is OF diff
ferent political party, the responsibility
* not definitely placed,
STATE LAW IInRAny Ann M