The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-19
SENATE.

"a
The senate came to order at 11:20
O'Clock this morning.
Immediately after the roll call Senator
Freeman called for the special order. the
bill providing that the board of license
commissioners OF each city shall be
elected by the city councils.
senator Comstock asked what objsc-
tion there is To the present law aud what
good reason there Is for 81 Is great change.
Senator Roman protested against the
bill. He believed that 1t was purely
q political gu stion.
Against One Man Power.
senator Freeman said the measure was
looking toward the taking away from
the mayors the tremendous one man
power, which the present law gives him.
The present law was pushed through by
the same party that had taken away the
right OF twelve electors to ask
for voting on license or no license.
He ridiculed the idea OF bringing the
liquor interests into politics. "Why"
said he. sit Is In 1t 10 \ up to the eyes
and cannot get in any further" The
pow O. was almost incalcuIab Q at that
time and for that reason the police and
fire department were taken out of the
hands OF the mayor. The sewer, public
WORKS aud other commissioners are ap-
pointed by the city council aud
ers be 80 appoiu tedf He should vote for
the reform because he thought
IL was very desirable. He vas
informed by a Democrat that one
of the Republican mayors OF Proyi-
dente had securei his re-elec ion
by the appointment Of a certain mar rs
license commissioner. and that was just
xuhas ha rlatn.aH IN Ina tina aHael nj fha
act at present. He was also ia favor o. it
as a political measure. II it is one.
Only Taxpayers Have q Voice.
Senator Champlin said that the under
s'ying point of the act was hat it al
lowed only the taxpayers to have a voice
in the selection OF the comm ssioners.
Senator Comstock did not believe that
the appointment of a license commission
er had ever affected the election of any
mayor. He moved to amend the bill by
city OF Providence tue mayor should APP
point and that there should be three of
them. Lost, IL to Z.
Senator Comstock roved TO amend by
inserting an amend nent providi q that
the mayors should suspeld any license
commissioner who had violated his duty
unit! his case be Investigated by the city
CAuuCll duu hC bc ItlbStdt@u OF re-
moved. Los.
Senator Roman stated that he was op-
posed to the act from principle and not
from political motives.
Senator Baker said he was In the same
boat with the Woonsocket senator re-
garding the liquor traffic. He lived in a
dry" town aud was between the devil
and the deep sea. Of the two evils, how
ever. be considered the proposed law the
least.
SENATOR Comstock moved to amend by
making the number of commissioners
three tor each city, instead OF five. l. ST,
10 to II.
Senator Comstock moved to amend by
making the term OF Office OF the com
He thought that five years was too long
a term.
senator Freeman said the desire was to
Keep the matter out of politics for five
years at least.
Senator Champlin saw that there must
he some politics in the bill, when, as an
important matter, 1t should be consid-
cred without reference TO r~olitics.
Senator Freeman moved the previous
question, which allowed the opposition
ten minutes.
Senator Champlin compared the bill
TO n dynamite cartridge.
Senator Comstock hoped the Republi-
cans would repent before II WA too late,
( II he WAS sure they were street HUG their
consciences to pass the bill
Senator Roman was very much amused
as he had hoped TO see the previous ques-
ton in force II now had an oppurtu-
nj y.
The Bill Passed.
On the passage OF the act the vote was
a strict party vote; % ayes and 7nays, and
the bill passed.
The committee on engrossed acts re-
ported the judiciary act for iinal pa. s tee
accom- panied by u joint res )lution to sus-
pend jJiut rules Z, s aud 9, regarding the
engrussing COMMITTEES, SO hat tue secre-
t ~ OF stat shall nave The act enero sed
and kept on file in his Office. PISSED.
Senator Freeman introiucsd An act
providing hat the Judiciary act' shall
not be published ia the newspapers of
the state and exempting 1t from being
numbered. Passed.
Sew raj other matters were disposed of
before the adj luTnmeut.
Senator freeman introducst an act to
| erase tie safe tax from Is 10 20 cents
on 500. Made "A special order for Tues
day.