The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-27
JOHNSTON TOWN COUNCIL
Special License Board Appointed After
Much Debate.
OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED.
Town Votes to Buy Additional Apparatus
for the Fire Depsrtment-Meeting OF
the Probate Court Other Matters OF
Interest to Oineyviile Resdera
HER BUSINESS TRANSACTED.

The Johnston town council met In the
council chamber yesterday, there being a
large number of the leading politicians
and principal ratepayers Or, sent. The
meeting was a very long and at times
noisy one. The question In which most
interest centered was the one Of appoint
ing license commissioners, and although
the council has appointed three ratepay-
ers for this purpose. it Is doubted by
many whether the result will be much
better than at present The friends Of
the town sergeant especially assert that
il would have been better to leave IL in
the hands OF the police force.
At the last meeting OF the council four
men were nominal ii for the Office by the
promoters of the movement, viz, w. A.
Carroll, j. N. Smith. George A. Bates
and Martin Mann. Mr.. Stephen Bud
long said that these men would qualify
IL they were appointed by the council ami
he thought they were all good mem. hav-
ing had previous experience in police
work. Mr. Budlong was then asked by one
of the council IL he would accept the Office.
as he seemed to have taken as mucn inter-
est In this matter as any one. Mr. Bud
long promptly replied that he would not
as he had no experience in such work.
MIR. w. A. Carroll then addressed the
council in very excited manner, and
said the council dared not appoint any
ore except he was acceptable to the
liquor interest; he himself had never
sought the Office, but was willing to
work with other citizens to put down
this illegal sale Of liquor, both Oh Su n
days and at other times. He then stated
that he and another officer were the only
two who ever did enforce heliQuor laws
as they ought to be enforced. Mr.. Carroll
then withdrew his name from the list
aud refused to accept. nomination.
After a good deal OF wrangling the
council app inted the following persons
to act as license commissioners: Frank
w. French, George w. White aud George
A. Bates.
Electric Lighting Franchise.
The council then granted a franchise
for twenty years to the Narragansett
Electric Lighting company. Herbert B.
Wooi presented form OF agreement
which he said was the same as was In
force in the city OF Providence. The
town desires lower rates. but thes can
only be obtained by granting the electric
lighting company the s1me privileges
which it has In the city. "A lower rate is
being negotiated with the city, which is
not yet fully decide upon; but whatever
Is done for the city will also be given to
the town; but IL this be unsatisfactory
there is a clause inserted by which the
town may have the rate fixed by arbitra-
tion. There is also n clause whic pro-
vdes for a change of rating every three
years.
"The company agrees to pay the town
"one-half per cent upon the gross earn
ings'' of the company in the town.
The council voted unanimously to
grant the franchise.
The questiou OF widening William
street was indefinitely postponed. Sew
eral ratepayers were opposed to the town
laying out any money upol the proposed
alteration at present, u the owners of
property abutting on tie street desire
that tue Union Railroad company shall
bear the whole OF the expense as thew
will be the parties directly benefited
thereby.
Other Business.
The matter OF laying out the new roa a
from Thornton TO the old Sciiuate road
was Continued till the September meet
ing.
The long pending dispute between
Joseph A. Lapham aud the town council
for the layout of Plainfield pike which
has been pending for two years, was
settled by the council agreeing TO pay
ti10. The original bill was S20i 20
william III. Arnold aud "A. f. Potter.
who apple a for hotel licenses, were both
given Ieave e. withdraw their applica-
lions. There is n strong feeling in the
town against granting iicenses OF this
kind because II 10 believed they are used