The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-10
"MEETINGS TOO LONG,"
Why the Union for Practical Prog.
reSs Has Small Attendance.

Th, Union for Practical Progress met
in the chapel OF Grace Church last
evening, hut the attendance was very
light.
President Tomkins thought one reason
why mum bers have decreased is because
the meetings have been too long drawn
out. He favored beginning promptly so
they may adjourn by half-past nine orr
quarter of ten O'Clock.
The executive committee recommended
that the bosrn OF delegates be quested TO
meet with the Union Jan. 10; that the
tour recommendation OF the coffee house
committee relative TO saloons be referred
TO that time; also that the treasurer bo
directed to take means to make up det-
cieny of S35 or $40 by circulating SUBJ
scription paper then and there and also
the exclusion OF pool tables from saloons.
The coffee house committee reported thst
l ucian sharpe, Jr., had been appointed
on the com mittee in place of Dr. Cushing,
resigned. The committees discussions
have so far resulted in a beief that II Is
doubtful IL coffee house IL desirable at
present Nothing. however, has be- sn
done or recommended.
President Tomk ms thought the Union
might congratulate ITSELF for lis part in
the overturning at h recent election,
claiming that the Unions first meeting
last June started the tall.
Secretary Williams read two letters, one
from the National Municipal League
stating that their book on Municipal Re-
form had been pubiisned, and the other
from the National Civil Service Reform
league meeting in Washington, Dec. IL
and 13. DIR. Putnam moved that the
secretary re authorized TO furnish cre-
dentisls to all mem bers who desire to at
tend, and IL was so voted.
The special order, the discussion of pro-
portional representation, was taken up
and on motion OF Mr.. Sherman each
frS Or. Garvin), to be allowed 10
minutes.
DIR. Lucius f.. G.. Garvin repeated sSis
weti-kHewB Ideas sPeH { he subject. Rev.
w. ii. Spencer said he couldn't speak
without manuscript, but he faN ored the
scheme Sidney A. Sherman did not ex-
pect any reform he mig Int advocate wou d
make the world millennial place, but
he thought proportional representation
would be a good advance toward the
pure democratic town meeting govern
ment desired.
Robert Grieve was not so much inter-
ested in the proportional representation
as some others, but he considered 1t a
necessary reform.
W. N. =. Pettinger and Alfred Dawson
also spoke. the latter failing to see how
the desired result could be obtained until
the law Is so amended as to give registry
voters the right TO vote for all govern
ment officers and he nlso anted the
whole city government included as well
as the Board OF Aldermen.
Rev. w. IL. spencer presented a resolu-
ton, and IL was adopted, 10 give notice
10 the Board of Aldermen that the Union
will petition the General Assembly at the
January session to have the city charter
amended 40 as to provide for some sys-
aI ntal or for
the election OF Aldermen, and also re-
questing the Board TO take the necessary
step toward that end.
The election of All executive committee
for the ensuing year resulted as follows (:
sidney A. Sherman, A. j. Williams,
Amasa NJ. Eaton, Robert Grieve, Sam
n. Bullock, Rev. Anna Garlin Spencer.
Alfred Dawson. President Tomkins was
elected member ex-ofbcio.
Ii was announced that the municipal
government section wilLmeot tomorrow
evening in room 4, SO Wcybosret street.