The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-30
IN THE LEGISLATURE.
A Spirited Debate on the Anti.
Cigarette Bill.
CUMBERLAND IN THE SENATE
DIR. Garvin Wants Time to Prepare Bs-
fore Converting His Fellow Senators
to the Single Tax-Other Matters In the
State Legislature.


The Senate act authorizing the town OF
| lincoln TO issue park bonds to the extent
of 900 was concurred in.
| The act incorporating the Manton Fab
ric Company was continued until the
next legislature also the act incorporatr
| ing the Woonsocket Fruit and Vegetable
Company.
The Senate act prohibiting the sale OF
| tobacco to minors under the age OF 10
years came up for concurrent action, and
splendid debate ensued.
Mr. Brown of Woonsocket said that he
| represented constituency largely made
up of people from Canada. among whom
] the use of tobacco was very ge neral. The
children in those families even of the ago
of s years, puff their fathers pipes, and
are allowed to do so by their parents, aud
| they seemed TO take as much pleasure out
of the practice as did the older people.
| He moved to strike out the clause pro-
! hibiting boys from using tobacco in any
| form on the public streets or in any pub
lie resort under penalty Of s.. He
wanted to know what man was TO be au-
| thoriZed TO pry open a boys mouth to see
whether the lad is chewing gum or to-
bacco. He drew "A graphic picture of big
policeman chasing and catching boy,
and holding him over his knees while he
| prizes open the lads jaw and inspects the
| boys mouth.
| Mr.. Lowe of Providence, thought the
sight of boy smoking a pipe was dis
gushing.
tleman from Woonsocket approved Of the
use of tobacco in any form by a boy 10
| years of age
Mr.. Brown replied that he was not the
censor of his neighbor's tastes and habits.
things which, personally, he did not ap-
prove of. Still he never interfered with
the members and had no desire to do so.
Mr.. Wilson said that tie law was prac-
| tically a copy of laws enacted in twenty
four other States. only the penalties were
not so heavy. The law had been asked
| for by the Women's Christian Temperance
| Union and by thousands of citizens. II
! the amendment proposed by Mr.. Brown
was adopted, the law would be of no ad.
vantage
Mr.. Baker of Providence, conceded with
| Mr. Brown in the view that the proposed
legislation was of n pernicious and obnox-
| ious character. Still the law had been
asked for, and il 1t was TO be passed at all
| it ought to have included in it the pro-
| hibition Of the use of tobacco in public by
small bows. He didn't hope for any great
gdpd from the bill, still ii it would pre-
vent smoking of stubs" by street
Camins, he would favor the bill as a
whole.
Ine amendment was lost Then Mr..
Brown moved another amendment to
strike out the words, under sixteen years
of age" AS amended the bill read that no
person should smoke or chew tobacco on
| the public streets or any public places.
Mr. Brown said that no greater annoy
ance to ladies existed than the smoking
and chewing of tobacco in cars, hotels,
| etc. The next bill to come up would be
that prohibited the chewing OF gum as an
| injurious habit. 1t had been so decided
| by physicians and such a law had been
passed in some of the States.
| Mr.. Perez of Providence spoke seriously
| in favor of the bill and said that no law
could be enacted:which would be of greater
value to the public on which would do
| more to enhance the health of the COM
| muuity
Mr.. Browns second amendment did not
! prevail, and the act was then passed in
| concurrence. and ordered TO be engrossed.
A Joint resolution Of adjournment from
to-day until Thursday, April Z. at IL A. M,
| was presented by Mr.. Wilson of East
Providence. The resolution was passed
! and ordered communicated to the Senate.
The act Of Incorporation of the Bristol
| County Railroad Company was referred
to the next General Assembly, with an
order of notice; also that of the John
| Lowe e. Son Company.
Several bills were reported back as cor
rectly engrossed and as such they were
passed.
An act Incorporating the II. A. &; G.. NJ.
| Church Company was referred TO the
| committee on corporations.
An act for the prevention of blindness
was reported from the judiciary commit
tee with recommendation of passage. The
law is intended to prevent blindness re-
sulting from improper care of the eyes of
infants directly after their birth. The act
was passed.
The Senate amendment to the joint
| resolution of adjournment was concurred
| in, and after several Senate matters had
been concurred in the House was ad-
journed.