The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-09
LAST EDITION
4:l5 O'CLOCK.
CITY BILLS.
Providence Matters in the
Legislature.
What the Solicitor Will Ask
for at January Session.
A COuncilman's Opinion of the PO-
lice Commission Measure.

The State legislature will resume busi-
ness one week from next Tuesday, and
after adopting the revised laws will prob
ably adjourn for week or two. At any
rate il is not anticipated that there will
be rush TO get Mt the important busi-
ness OF the session.
The city OF Providence has an unusual
amount OF business with the Assembly,
and the city solicitor is under instruc-
tions to apply for considerable new legis-
larion that is OF very general interest.
The city bill which is attracting the
most attention is the one. that IL passed,
will enable the Council TO appoint In
joint convention a police commission.
consisting of three members elected for
one, two ana three years respectively
No one is at all certain whether the Leg
islaiure will grant the right asked for or
not. 1t is pretty clearly understood tnat
tho defeat OF Chief Child for reelection
will be of no benefit TO those who are
most anxious to secure rolice commits
sioh. X member OF The Common CounciT
who wants a commission takes this view
OF 1t and the same member expresses the
opinion that the Mayor made a-most Sc
rious mistake at the very outset OF his ad-
ministration by opposing the attempt to
take the police department out OF the con.
troll OF the Board of Aldermen.
Outside Of the Council there are those
VINO not only believe in police commits
sion but they so farther than that and
oln i'm, hat l,,a
by the people or be appointed by the Gov
ernor OF the State as they are in Massa
chusetts cities. The argument advanced
In support OF the opinion that the cfief
executive OF the State should appoint
police commissioners OF a municipal COR
roration is that the police department ex-
fsts sUtety for the enforcement OF laws
and the capture OF those who violate
them and that ninety-nine hundredtbs
of ell the laws are OF the State and apply
TO all towns and cities alike.
Another bill which the city solicitor
W i'll ask the General Assembly to pass is
the result of the laxity OF present laws
for the handling of crimins Is. As il is
now the police department are handicap
ped at every point by lack of authority
in the statutes which would enable them
10 hold suspicious persons. The City
Councils resolution directs the solicitor
to apply for such legislat ion as will rem
edy this defect, and also for some act sim
liar to the so-called habitual criminal sct
of Massachusetts,. Nothing of political
nature has been discovered on this ques-
tion and the only cause for argument that
can be anticipated will be in the ditjer-
ence OF opinion held by Assem- blymen
criminal classes.
Another desire OF the city, as expressed
by the Council OF Slg5, is for the right 10
appropriate money for the relief OF dis
abed firemen and policemen. This is TO
come before the Legislature.
The city BILL however, which is not
apt to be made a political matter OF is
the proposed legislation by which the
present Board of canvassers and registra-
tion may be constituted as n returning
and counting board. The passage OF
resolt ion TO ask fer sucr authority was
strongly opposed by the majority in the
common council, but it finally went
through with an amendment that would
give any one the right to appeal to the
Supreme Court from the decision OF the
Board.
Among other Providence matters at the
State House is a hill for an amendment
10 Chapter 1929, which will. IL adopted,
authorize the city to use ;3i, 900 Tor the
purchase OF land adjoining Davis Park,
the amount TO te taken from the sum
of 500, 600 which may now only he used
for Davis Park Improvements. There is
also request for such legislation that
throwing refuse matter In any public
throughiare will be misdemeanor pun
isnable by fine. This was suggested by
ex-CouBciiman Duriee Ia his capacity OF
chairman OF the committee on highways.
Tire Union for Practical Progress has
given notice TO the Council that IL wilt
petition the Legislature or an amendment
10 tho city charter by which the mem Ders
OF the Hoard of Aldermen will hereafter
lie elected hy some system OF proportional
rcpre scntai ion.