The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-20

N. Dow, Is connected.
Last evening The Expresses, both local
and editorially. printed what is denomi-
mated as "a startling expose of alleged
bribery and blaclSmail on the part O
Republican officials in Cumberlan,
county" and demanded a legislative in.
vestigation which, the article states
would divulge a worse condition O
affairs in Portland than in New York
If the difference in the population ant
wealth Of the two cities are taken into
account.
Not only are charges of bribery and
blackmail made against the sheriffs
but members of the last Legislature are
accused of accepting large sums ol
money for voting to repeal the provision
IN the prohibitory law making the
punishment Of liquor selling optional
with the judge as regards fines or i'm
prisonment.
The Express further charges that:
Permission to carry on liquor selling
Is secured by regular system or pay
nents to those who have it in their
power to the sheriffs.
"The nature and extent Of the pro-
.ection said to be arranged and paid for
differs In different cases. Sometimes IL
is understood that regular payments
must also be made to the court: some
times that they shall not be troubled
save when outside complaint is made.
OF which ample notice is to be given.
so that the resulting search may do no
harm sometimes that fines will be ex-
acted only when the court is short
sometimes that, when q public or po-
htical exigency requires a seizure. only
enough shall be taken to make out a
case, the balance being left undisturbed.
and the owner politely advised to step
around to the court tomorrow and pay
$l05. ~
Sometimes this protection, it is said,
is afforded for certain line of business
beyond which the protected person is
not to be permitted to go, as that would
interfere by way of competition with
some other person who is also said to
be paying for protection and demands it
from competition as we'll as from the
penalties OF the law. The regular exac-
tion for this protection is said TO range
from 5000 q month down, according to
the nature, locality and extent of the
business carried on.
"Nor is this all. The victims of this
system are expected to assist the candi-
dates OF their extortioners and black
lnallers politically in caucuses and other
wise, and thus aid in perpetuating the
power which oppresses them.
Some liquor dealers complain that
their profits are cut down by the compe-
'itlon OF shops allowed to exist in the |
vicinity or their own places without the |
'egular collection Of protection money |
being made from them"
The Express has simply put into cold
ype what has been matter of gossip
or years and which has been allowed to
because the county was Re-
'ublican and the officials naturally were
eading members of the same party.
here isn't a single charge save that
rought against the members of the
legislature that couldn't have been
lade any time within the past ten years
nd supported by facts equally as strong
$ those undoubtedly in the possession
The Express. at3
But why has this matter been left
ndisturbed until the eve Of the con-
ention at which a new sheriff is to be
and for which position one
tie present deputy sheriffs is the
aiding candidate, while his nearest
val is ex-Postmaster Barker. the SON
Law of Ex-Governor ROBBIE?
The result of the exposure will nm
be felt in the convention
morrow, and after the convention is
er, interest in the affair will dwindle
to insignificance.
Ii is to be regretted, if this is q genu-
reform movement, that it was sprung
such time sthis, because anyone cog
zant of the political situation in Cum
rland County will look upon it merely s
political move. There is hardly a il
70 in the whole exposure that does not n
rry significance to the politicians. y
several things are to be borne in mind. G
mberland CO unity is the first district Il
Maine, and the proprietor and editor {,
The Express is the collector Of the b
It over whose nomination Mr.. Reed "
1 his bitter quarrel with President fl
rrison, and the sheriff of Cum berland T
lnty certainly hasn't trained with the SC
W element. His successor is to be h,
minated tomorrow and no chances Sc
re to be taken over his successor. o
leading candidate was not dow" in
n while his nearest rival was. m
'ut an honest investigation into the al
Tor dens of Portland would be n pr
elation that would shock lots of peo- w
and would hit where a blow would
least expected. "
heres lots of soiled linen waiting TO
cleansed, and The Express proposes
get Its wash out on the line first.
THE SUGAR SCHEDULES. str