The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-24
Legislative Mil Has Ceased to Grind
Out Laws.
MATHEWS ANDWILLIAMS PARADE
Many Important Matters VIII Go Over tn
Next session-Hanged by tho Neck
Journalistic Waters Are Troubled
Two New Publications.

yourn the present month. 1 do not mean
that the wheels of legislation will really
cease to move on or before June !, but that
there is a strong feeling that such should
be the case. Viewed from an outside
standpoint there il no reason why the mill
should not cease to turn, for nothing OF
Importance will be ground out IL the law
makers stay all summer. The most i'm
portant matters of the session from a local
standpoint are still awaiting action l adj
mit, but let me whisper to you that they
will be ''awaiting'' when the speakers
gavel falls for the last time or before that
hour have passed on to the great unknown
where dead bills slumber until a new leg
~islature brings them to a new life. The
rapid transit bill, the union station bill,
she New York, New Haven and Hartford
investigation, the gas report, and the
special report upon the penal Institutions
of the state are all in my judgment doomed
to innoceous desuetude.
Not more than one Of these vital inter
ests will be considered In a way to sub
serve the public il indeed one of them
passes the ordeal. Why then should not
the legislature adjourn since an adjourn
ment disposes of such matters just as well
as would negative action. IL Is true that
the rapid transit committee still hopes its
bill or some good bill will pass, but hardly
any one else holds to that opinion, and l
am inclined to accept the popular verdict
The gas investigation and the report. OF the
special committee before which Mayor
Matthews and George Fred Williams have
been parading themselves have ceased TO
trouble the discerning mortal some days
ago. So far rs the mayor moved TO secure
cheaper gas he Is entitled to great credit,
but his further action soon took on the
shape of a personal and political adver-
Using scheme. Let me suggest conf
dentially that Mr.. Matthews desires to be
governor Of the commonwealth and thinks
he is Governor Russell's residuary legatee.
lie thought he saw a chance TO get a little
fame and seized the opportunity. The re-
suit will be no legislation such as he asks.
George Fred Williams pockets a fat fee
said to be $4,000 paid by Boston's tax pay
ers and the mayor will pose as a friend of
the dear PEOPLE.
The movement for a union station is well
directed, for it il just what Boston needs,
but the bill before the legislature does not
suit the corporations, and that means its
death. The public employs no lobbyists,
the railroads have q man at every turn.
Persistent ~buttonholing is very seldom de-
feated by q regard for the public good.
II you have an interest In this and other
measures come here and demand justice
or you will find your hopes p postponed to
the next session.
am aware thai some of these sugges-
tions or predictions may not agree with
surface indications, and also appreciate
the fact that a man is often wrong In
judgment, but | base what appears here
upon the experience OF other years. The
bill hat becomes n law must receive the
sanction of both legislative bodies and the
governor, while either OF the three may
seal its doom. The popular branch is a
more enthusiastic body than the senate,
and the latter often proves a stumbling
block TO ambitious legislation. Don't for
get the different branches OF government
when making calculations as to results.
The newspaper waters are troubled
again. They are always in motion like the
waves of the restless ocean, but just now
the manifestation are very marked. 1t Is
said new candida s for q place in the am
fly circle are to appear. Torrey 4. Ward
ner, who two years ago founded the Boston
News, and while he conducted II, made it
n lively sheet, has another scheme mapped
out and tells me that on June 20 he shall
issue the first number of the Boston Tele-
gram, an eight-page afternoon daily. This
time he will try and cater TO Democratic
taste, and for | cent a copy will serve up
the most delectable diet Of tariff reform
with free trade sauce. 1t will be within
the reach of all, as the price Is on the
ground floor. Wardner is a genius in his
way of doing strange things, and rs an
original idea for this new sheet proposes to
get off the street, away from newspaper
row, out where rents are cheap and there
publish his wonder.
Another new publication is Every Sat
urday, which will appear for the first time
this week. This is a weekly Of the Town
Topics order, SO it is said, and will have
for its guide w. ID. Quint, formerly Of The
News and Advertiser. There is a field
here for just such a sheet, and my knowl-
edge of the men who are connected with
the movement leads me TO think that
Every Saturday will fill the bill. The
follies of society need airing, and people
are fond of reading a bright, sparkling
publication that does not hesitate to do
the work thoroughly.
The feeling against the reckless manner
In which the electric car goes rushing
through our crowded streets has at last
found ex pression In a petition signed by
$500 citizens asking that the runSing OF
ears he regulated so that only one track
shall be used on Washington and fremont
streets between Boylston street and Corn
hill and that cars on these streets shall
run in opposite directions as in a circuit.
No doubt the petitioners mean we'll, but
they evidently do not know the control the
West End railroad has in the board Of al
dermen. An order TO meet the petition
will not pass the present board unless the
West End desires IL and that corporation
has not shown any such n regard for the
public as to desire or allow IL in its recent
operations. When sentiment gets strong
enough IL win elect n city government
that is independent Of the octupus, and
then no cars ut all will be allowed on
Washington street within the limits men-