The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-17
MORE LAW.
Now Considered Necessary
for This City.
An Exhaustive Report of the
Committee on Police.
The Habitual Criminal Act is Rec
commended for Adoption.


the city OF Providence to hold and pros
ecute the criminals arrested by it's police.
Last night the committee reported the
result of its investigation and made some
interesting suggestions.
The committee reported as follows:
That they have considered the same and
ind that in order to protect the public
from the evilly disposed and criminal
classes relief must be obtained from the
General Assembly.
There is too much law TO protect and
not sufficient TO punish the evilly disposed
in this city. well organized police
force must have laws that can be
OF criminal laws such as are ia force in
some OF our neighboring states there
would he no occasion for criticism OF our
police service. The department itself is
composed of capable officers, and while
! il is dou btless true that greater efficiency
would be obtained by placing its manage
ment under one head, yet IL should also
be the aim of the city council TO secure
IL possible at the same time that Is done
a revision of some OF the old laws
so as TO make them applicable to the
needs of the present day. For example,
there is no law today by which man
arrested with full kit OF burglar tools
| in his possession can be locked up in
Rhode Island. This was demonstrated,
greatly to the amazement OF our citizens,
last summer, when q somewhat notorious
burglar was arrested with complete out
iii of burglars tools. quantity OF dyna-
mite and a revolver in his possession. In
| the absence OF any direct proof of rob-
berry against him, all he could he held for
under Rhode Island laws was for carry
ing concealed weapons. Upon this charge
he readily obtained bonds in a very small
amount and easily escaped while the po-
lice were engaged in endeavorIng to OBJ
tain some evidence that would warrant
his detention.
Another feature of our laws that aston
ished your committee was that the max
ing and passing OF check upon bank
where no funds are on deposit for the
payment thereof is no crime in the eyes
of Rhode Island law, and in this way
many people are swindled without any
opportunity for redress or punishment OF
the swindlers.
Sneak thieves reap an abun dant har-
vest here because our laws are so lax that
they can easily dispose OF stolen clothing
to dealers in second. hand articles. These
dealers are not obliged to keep the goods
so purchased en- hand any definite time, or
to give apy description OF them to the
police, as are the pawnbrokers, ana this
by the immediate disposition of stolen
goods can easily escape detection. An
examination OF the number OF arrests
made and the convictions secured will
also disclose the fact that IL is very diff
cult under some of our criminal laws 10
properly mete out punishment that fits
the crime TO wrongdoers.
An habitual criminal law such as New
York and Massachusetts, have found SO
efficacious in ridding those states OF
large percentage of law breakers, is very
much desired in Rhode Island. This
city, at certain seasons of the year, has
been the resort of the most notorious,
depraved and worthless characters in
the country; yet they easily evade punish
ment, IL arrested.
Upon consultation with the chief OF
| police whose report upon this subject is
attached TO and made a part of this re-
| port, your committee has almost arrived
at the conclusion that a complete revis-
ion of the criminal laws OF Rhode Island
should receive the early attention OF the
| General Assembly 1t is not much en-
couragement to the guardians OF tho law
in this or any community to find, as
they have in one notable instance, man
convicted receiving stolen goods not
only walking the streets. but also apply
ing for license to set up business as a
dealer in secondhand articles, and such
a license might have been granted, as
the police have 10 jurisdiction in the mat
ter as the laws are at present framed.
While your committee agree that il is
| desirable TO relieve the chief OF police OF
| the duties of court work and prosecuting
officer now imposed upon him by ordi-
nance. and that this duty properly de-
wolves upon the city solicitors depart
ment, which should be enlarged for that
purpose, yet your committee are con-
| vinced that what is of paramount import
! ance TO the citizens is a revision of our
| present laws so that we may have a
| criminal code that can be rigidly
enforced for the preservation OF
the lives and property OF all our
| inhabitants. With this object in view
! your committee recommend the passage
| OF the accompanying resolution: direct
| ing the city solicitor TO apply to the
| General Assembly at its January session
| for such revision of the criminal laws
| OF the State as he may find upon conTul-
tation with His Honor the Mayor and
! chief OF police To be necessary.
Respectfully submitted for the com.
| mittee,
(signed) JOSEPH II. KENDRrcK.
Chairman.
The following resolution accompanied
| the report and was passed:
Resolved, rhat the city solicitor, His
Honor the Mayor, and the chief Of
police be and they are hereby
requested TO make application
| to the General Assembly for the passage
| OF such legislation ns in their opinion Is
deemed TO be desirable and necessary for
| the better protection OF the public from
| the acts of the evilly-dispoeed
and criminal classes, and to secure,
| IL possible, I'm addition "a certain
| necessary amendments TO the
! criminal laws OF Rhode Island, the prss-
sge OF an act similar to the habitual Grim
inaEeat-now in force in Massac husetts,
and said committee Is directed 10 report
to the City Council copy OF said pro-
| posed acts.