The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-17
BAY STATE BEGIsLATURR.
Old Colony Lease Declared to he Legal
A Matter Interesting to Bicyclists.


Old Colony Lease Declared to He Legal.
A Matter Interesting to Bicyciists.
BosToy. March IA long opinion was
received from the attorney general In re-
ply to the request of the legislature in re-
gard to the legality OF the lease Of the
Old Colony to the New York, New Haven
and Hartford railroad He decides that
the lease is legal.
The committee on cities has reported a
bill to regulate the use of bicycles on
public ways. The bin provides, in section
1, that whoever without q permit, pro-
vided for in the bill, rides . bicycle or
tricycle. at rate Of speed exceeding 10
miles an hour, or rides on sidewalk, or
rides machine without bell or gong,
or fails to sound the bell or gong when
ever necessary to give reasonable warn
ing of his approach, shall be punished by
a fine not exceeding $50 for each
offence, and shall be further liable for
all damages occasioned to any person by
such unlawful act. Section defines the
meaning of the word sidewalk" as used
In the bill, as intended to cover any side
walk laid out as such by a city or town,
and any walk In village which, is re.
served by custom for the use of pedes-
trians or specially prepared for their use
1t is not to include footpaths on portions
OF public ways lying outside of the
thickly settled parts of cities and towns,
which are worn only by travel and are
not improved by such cities or towns or
by abutters.
Section provides for the issuing of
special permits by town and city author
tiles. to persons to ride machines during
specified time, upon specified portions
OF the public ways at any rate of speed.
City and town authorities are also allowed
to permit the use of velocipedes by chill
dren on sidewalks. BY section 4, pro-
ceedings for the enforcement Of the penal
ties imposed by the act are to be insti-
tuted within 90 days from the time the
offence is committed.
The committee on liquor law reported
against the bill removing the liquor
license limitation from the city of Fall
River; against n bill providing that the
number of liquor licences shall not ex-
ceed one to every 500 inhabitants in cities,
and one to every 1000 inhabitants in towns;
against bill to restrict the number of
liquor licenses In Boston to one for every
1000 inha bitants: against n bill abolish
Ing the limitation Of licenses for the sale
Of intoxicating liquors; against a bill re-
moving the Limitation on the number Of
licenses granted In cities, and fixing fees
for licenses; the committee reported leave
to withdraw on numerous petitions of
mayors OF cities for the removal of the re-
striction on the number of liquor licenses
to be granted.
The committee on education, Senator
Green and Mr.. Tolman : dissenting, reported
a bill appropriating not exceeding 100000
for a state normal school at North Adams,
the town to pay So, 600 Of the sum appro-
prated.
The committee on manufactures re-
ported leave TO withdraw on the petition
that no arbitrary charge be made for the
use of electric light meters also on petit
tion for the appointment Of inspectors of
electric meters: also on the petition for
f.,.