Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-03
Twenty-Five Years Fran
ChiSe Bill Passed.
THE LICENSE LAW CHANGED
No Quorum in the House, But That
Makes No Difference.

today and considerable business OF a
routine mai ure was transacted.
The act incorporating the Pawtucket
passed in concurrence.
The act authorizing the City Council of
Pawtucket ana the Town Councils of Lin
coin and Cumberland to grant Is years.
exclusive franchises to the Pawtucket
Street Railway Company was passed after
vigorous but Intellectual protest was
made against 1t by Senator Comstock Of
Providence.
The House OF Representatives was called
to order by Clerk Lee at II 80 o'clock In
the absence OF Speaker Capron, and Hon.
w. w. Biodgett of this city was chosen
speaker pro tenn
He proved before the expiration OF the
session to be little "Tom Reed" in the
matter of counting quorum, taking his
cue from Clerks Lee and Mowry.
A mass of routine matters was pushed
through with scarcely 20 members pres
ent.
The Democrats found out that Boss
Wilson had an act ready to report abolish
ing the present Board of License Com
missioners I'm the several cities OF the
State, Providence, Pawtucket, Newport
and Woonsocket' and they all left the
chambe except Messrs. Brown OF Woon-
socket and Mccarthy OF Providence.
The act was reported by Mr.. Wilson and
was resting quietly on the Speakers desk
when Mr.. Brown forced division of the
ii Iuse upon an act creating the Board OF
Sewer Commissioners for the city OF
Woonsocket.
The vote was 80 TO refer the bill to the
judiciary committee and 2 against it.
The point OF no quorum was raised by
Mr.. Brown but II would not be enter
tanned as Mr.. Blodgett claimed there were
members I'm the House who did not vote.
Mr.. Brown protested against proceed
ing with any further business In the
absence OF a constitutional quorum but
the Speaker said his protest would be en-
tered and denied him a call OF the House
to ascertain who were present.
Mr.. Wilson then slipped up to the
Speakers chair and after a whispered con-
versation with the occupant the next
matter handed to the clerk was the act
abolishing and vacatiDg the offices OF Ii.
cense Comm issioners In the cities and
In their stead that the City Council
shall in joint convention Immediately
after the passage OF the act elect a board
OF five commissioners and In the month OF
July In every fifth year eject five mem
bers OF said board to hold Office for five
years from the first Monday in August
following their election, the first five to
hold office until August, 1898.
Mr. Brown moved that IL be made the
special order for Wednesday, May
10, and after an elaborate dis
cussion of the bill with refusal on the
part OF he Republicans to reply, it was
voted down by a vote OF 80 to 1, Mr.. Nc
Carthy having left the chamber.
MIR. Brown then moved To amend the
act by striking out section which repeals
cnapter 933 OF the public laws, and on that
Mr.. Wilson moved the previous question
Mr.. Brown raised again the question OF
no quorum, but Speaker Blodgett ruled
that Mr.. Mccarthy was present when the
vote was ordered and consequently he
counted him In making up quorum. lie
also held that on account Of the death OF
Representative Hendricks that 80 was a
quorum.
The acting Speaker was going to put the
question at once in violation of the rules
when Mr.. Mccarthy asked II under the
"Patent Gag Law" ten minutes debate
was not allowed.
The Speaker thought not but was shown
the error OF his ways, even Boss Wilson
saying that there vas debate allowed.
Mr.. Mccarthy then took the floor and
In a seven minute speech. berated the par
tres responsible for the introduction of
the bill. IL was not an act to ameliorate
or benefit the condition OF the people.
II was an act to provide for the subser-
viency OF those engaged In the liquor
trafficto the Repu blican party for i've
years. He defied any man on the Repub-
lican side TO give valid reason for the
passage OF the act.
MIR. Brown was the next speaker and he
pointed out why the bill should not be
enacted, but should not be even proposed,
as the present act was the fairest that
could be devised and was passed at the
time when the Republicans were In con-