The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-09
LICENSE COMMISSIONERS ACT.
Pawtucket and Newport Representatives
Oppose the Proposed Measure.

hAScNoH SOmmApo1ONcAsS AVAs
Pawtucket aud Newport Represcnt tatives
Oppose the Proposed Measure.
The COMMITTEES on judiciary OF the
senate gave hearing at 1880 D. IN. today
on the proposed license commissioners
act which passed the house ard which
takes the power Il appointment from the
a ayor and which increases the number
10 i've instead Of three com missioners.
MAYOR Brown of Pawtucket opposed
the bill because nett ler br ranch Of the
city government had asked for it and it
was making the license commits toner's
Office more closely allied to politics than
ever.
Alderman O'Rlelly OF Pawtucket. op-
posed the bill. IL woald bring the mat
ter more into politics than ever before.
lie uid not think it right tnat one or two
men should come iuto the general
assembly AMI secure the passage
OF an act whicn taxes away the powers
granted by the charter OF the CITY to
the mayor for at least five years
lie considered that il would
weaken the power of the mayor as he
could no longer appoint the commits
sioners. aud weaken the power of the
commissioners as they Will not dare to
refuse certain licenses.
Councilnan Richard McGuy of Provi-
dence Was In iavJr OF having the license
commissioners elected by the people
VI the Two methods under dis
cussion he favored the present
rstner than tue proposed one. The pro n
Dil!ty being that mach fayoritism would
be shown under the proposed plan. He
WAS opposed TO the bringing OF The liquor
question into politics.
Char.es Acton Ives of Newport ap-
Peafea-as aH attorney for the retail liquor
dealers Of Newport who were oD-
posei to the measure. He won
nve Years and the terms to be simultan-
eous. IL seemed TO be better that the
term OF one should expire each year.
ne did not understand why the
numher OF commissioners Is increased to
hve instead OF three. Tue liquor inter
ests OF Newport were satisfied with
the present number. The addi-
tion of two members would en-
tail more expense on the several
cities which seems entirely unnecessary.
HEIDI not approve Of the provisions for
the summary removal OF the commits
sloners, or Of having the granting of
licenses entirely at the mercy OF license
commissioners. Nobody has been alb
to find out who is In favor of the bill and
no one asks for it, Newport at least
does want the license commissioners
kept out OF politics. Mr.. Ives called it
a parry measure and declared that
II would hurt the party that fosters
it. He reviewed the work of
the general assembly and sta,ei how
passed at the present session.
He wished the bill amended il it must
be Iassed. SO that the mayor may re-
move for cause, SO that there shall be
three ins ead OF five. and so that there
shall be successive yearly appointments.
-.I q L..
posed law would not take the matter en-
tlrely out OF p litics for four years.
Mr. Ives answered that while that
mixht be true there would be grand
scramble OH the fifth year, and politics
would cut or at figure In it then.
Hon. Hugh j. Carroll OF Pawtucket
thought that the general assembly was
wasting valuable time with such Law.
TIE law WAS originally drawn by himself
for friend of his who was afraid that lie
would lose his license. This was several
years ago and IL was not party measure
at that time. it was for a personal
favor and when the dealer got what he
wante 1T was dis, ontnued. He thought
tnat the mayor should still have the APP
pointing OF the commissioner since be
Is the representative of the Ieople, and
the whole people are interested in tl o
matter, wniie the aldermen only repre-
sent the property voters. In the case OF he
proposed act will give TO the commits
sioners an almighty power, as they can
hold threats out over the heads OF tie
dealers for every year o. the five. ana
tn 5 is the way tia it would be taken
out OF politics.
Colonel Walter II. Stiness said he want
ed nothing To do with tue political
quarrels Of PawtuckeJ aud Newport.
lie did not wish to appear in that hight.
The present law Is working well aud the
uuor dealers consider that the matter is
e .irely out of politics aud as purely
business transaction it is for the benefit
OF tue city OF Providence TO have 1t re-
main SO. The liquJr Interests are anx-
ious 10 have it remain So