The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-08
SENATE HEARINGS.
Election of Sinking Fund Commits
sioners of Narragansett,

The Senate Committee on Judiciary
gave a hearing on the proposed act in
amendment of an act providing for the
election of the commissioners of sinking
fund of the district of Narragansett The
proposed amendment provides that the
commissioners shall be elected by the peo-,
pie of the district instead of by the dis
trict council as heretofore.
Nathaniel G.. Peckham appeared in be
half of the amendment
Lawyer Robert Thompson appeared for
the district council and asked that the
hearing be continued to give time TO the
council as one of the members was i'll and
could not be present. The hearing was
continued for two weeks.
The Reapportionment Bill.
In the hearing on the reapportionmcnt
bill before the Senate committee on judi
ciary Senator Wilbur opposed the bill at
present, and asked for "a postponement in
order to give the District of Narragansett
IA chance to be heard on the claim TO be
made a separate town.
Nathaniel G. Peckham presented the
claims of the District of Narragansett,
saying that when the people had applied
for creation as a separate town the Legis-
lature had asked them to wait till the
next apportionment when their claims
would be considered. Now, then, IS the
tiiuts W Hch oho PAcPosto pAAA -
before the committee, to give to
Narragansett their representation In
the General Assembly. Mr.. Peekhan
quoted figures Of population and valua-
ton. showing that Narragansett has more
population and more valuation than many
towns in the State. He asked for con-
tinuance Of the re-appointment bill till
hearing could be had on the question of
making Narragansett separate town.
Thomas G.. Hazard also spoke for Nara
gansett and said that If the bill is reported
back IL practically shuts out Narragansett
for an indefinite time. He also asked for
a continuance of the hearing.
Senator Bartlett of Burrillville, asked
that the hearing be continued as the
census reports of Burrillville and Bristol
were wrongly taken.
Ellery Wilson. of East Providence, said
that the justice in the case demanded that
"A town OF 5::47S inhabitants should not be
represented by twice rs many representa-
tives as a town of 8, 400. He asked for the
immediate passage Of the bill. Narragan-
sett, he said, should not enter into the
consideration of this bill, but the legisla-
-ture can Mt any time make NarragaDsett a
town and will at such time be obliged to
makeanother apportionment, so that Mar
ragansett would not be shut out In conse-
quence.
At the close of the arguments the COM
mittee voted TO close the hearings and to
report the bill favorably Wednesday,
March g.
woonsocket Railroad Crossings.
Frank S. Arnold appeared to-day in be-
half Of the New York and New England
railroad before the Senate committee on
judiciary, to oppose the proposed act CIV
ing the city OF Woonsocket authority to
regulate the time that trains shall remain
on grade crossings. He states that the
larger part OF the crossings in Woonsoc-
ket were opened after the railroads were
built.
Gates did not protect the public, rs fig
ures show. The railroad desires TO ac-
commodate the people of Woonsocket.
Mr.. Arnold stated that his objection
was to the granting of power To the city Of
Woonsocket TO prohibit the trains from
stopping at all.
Senator Pond said he was perfectly
willing that the committee should insert
n clause to limit the power of the Woon-
socket City Council.