The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-02-24
PAWTUCKET.
How the Exchange street Bridge Crusade
Is Being Carried On.

Is Being Carried On.
The crusade against the thoughtless
drivers of vehicles. who forget to pull up
their horses upon approaching Exchange
street bridge is being actively pushed. and
all classes of citizens-professional men
and laymen, prominent and prospero us
business men and Italian peddlers-alike
fall before the strong arm OF the law. and
meet on common level before the bar OF
justice as violators of the law and ordi-
nances of the city.
An ordinance which has been in opera
tion three months without any attention
being paid to il either by the populace or
the authorities, cannot be expected to be-
come suddenly recogniz aud then and
thereafter thoroughly operative without
the fullest exercise OF authority in the
premises. Thus it is that the representa-
tive men of the city who are "held up
Tor driving across the bridge in their
usual manner, find that their excuses, 1n'
variably given, that they didn't notice
the signs" 'forgot all about it." 'didn't
Think chad no intention OF violating
any law" ETC., have little weight with
the officer on duty at the bridge. or even
with the higher authorities. Tneir names
and addresses are taken u they are re-
quested TO appear ut the police stat Oh at
gwen time and answer to the charge
AKalQSL tncUl. ENGTJ OHc uSbcCtSu ia
the violation OF the ordinance is treated
alike, and the effect OF this is apparent
so soon. People are getting onto" the
thing, as the saying goes, and many who
heretofore drove over the bridge at their
own speed, now bring their horses down
to walk. Others who start across on
the trot, more from force of habit than
anything else, are brought TO a realiza-
ton OF their danger on seeing the officer,
aud quickly pull down their steeds with
| "a good-natured laugh.
There are still plenty who take no mo-
tice OF the warning signs, however, and
| fall an easy prey TO the officers vigilance.
Yesterday afternoon four drivers were
stopped and given the customary notice
within an hour. The first of these was "A
son of a well-known merchant In Trinity
square. The second was colored driver
for Providence stable, whose great as
tonishment at finding himself under
arrest was depicted is the unnatural ex-
pansion Of his eyes and mouth. Another
was driver for a well-known business
firm. who got out of reach before he
could be stopped, but who is known.
One peculiarity in this connection
| which attracts attention Is the unfamil-
iarity of business men and other law
| abiding citizens, who have no connection
| with the police authorities or the courts,
with the mode of procedure in these in
stitutions or the statute governing their
| operation. Yesterday morning three OF
| tue best citizens in many ways That Paw
| tucket can produce were fned Tor this
| offense. One of them could not under
| stand where the costs came in, and was
| told that a man who was nned had To pay
| the costs of the court. lie said he didn't
| want any court; he wanted TO settle. He
| was then told that part OF the costs were
| incurred in making out the warrant
| against him. He didn't want and war
| rant didn't need one. He was told
| to come to the station. and he came down
ready to settle. He finally paid the full
| amount Another one paid his fine and
| then went TO the mayor and complained
| that he had been charged S260 for costs:
that he didn't make any costs and came
| down without being sent for. Another,
| when stopped by tue officer at the bridge,
said IL was all right, he knew the chief
| and he could explain the matter to him
satisfactorily. IL not TO the officer. He
had To pay his fine with the others.
In addition TO the three above referred
| to James Judge Of Providence, A j. Gle
| ments, "A milkman, and James Peltier
were iined s. and COSTS each later in the
dav yesterday.