The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-30
Ex I RA /!
$50 O'CLOCK
LIQUOR LAWS.
Lively Hearing on the Bill
to Amend Them.
CIergymen and Temperance
Workers at State House.
Rev. Floyd w. Tompkins Acts as
Chairman for Petitioners.
Clergymen and Temperance
Workers at State House.
Rev. Floyd w. TOmpkins Acts as
Chairman for Petitioners.

upon the rising OF the House To-Day the
committee on special legislation granted
public hearing to those interested in
the bill TO amend chapter 102 relative to
the liquor Jaws Chairman Root ex-
planned that the hearing was granted in
response to the petitions OF over 5000 per-
sons. residing in all parts of the State.
There were nearly one hundred present
and manv of them were prepared to
speak. Rev. Floyd W. Tomkins acted as
chairman for the petitioners and intro
duced the several speakers after announce
ing to the committee that ne and his as
sociates were not present as Prohibition
lists, hut az citizens desirous of improv-
ing the State laws regardless of political
affiliations and sympathies.
The bill provides for practically seven
-adical changes in the existing laws.
The first provision Is that the electors
" the several cities and towns who are
qualified to vote in the election OF general
Offs ers shall at. each election OF general
Officers cast their ballots for or against
the granting of licenses for the sale of
Intoxicating liquors pursuant to this
cbapter.
Another section is that no sale OF the
liquors shall he made on Sunday, any
election day or l'gd holiday, except by
registered pharm -cist, or reg istered as
sisIant pharmacists
A clause relative to screens reads as fol-
lows: Every person licensed 10 cell intox-
ioating LIQUORS shall cause to be removed
on mis- kcensed premises any screen, and
ell other struction of whatever kind
that may mt riere with clear and full
view of be interior.
One of the most radical changes sug-
gested is that nu sale Of intoxicating
liquor snail bo made between the hours
of ten at night rna six in the morning,
the Of hplHara
druggists.
Another unique restriction asked for is
that no PERSON licensed TO sell intoxi-
eating liquors shall have, m6intGln or
permit to be placed or maintained on the
licensed premises any pool table or bill
Lard table.
Sections and Z are az follows:
Sec. 9. No License shall be granted
for the sale Of intoxicating liquors in ary
building or place within four hundred
feet of any building occupied in whole
or in part by public school.
Gee. z. In all towns and cities whi ch
vote to grant ceoses TO sell intoxicat
ing liquo-s.the number Of places licensed
for the sale of such liquors shall not sx-
ceed- -nne-fnrL ZACH one Thousand of the
population, as ascertained by the last
preceding national or state census, and
any license granted contrary TO or in
excess of the provisions of this section
shal be'yoid.
Rev. .David Blans.ein discussed the
screen clause and frgueu against the pro-
lection Of secrecy for the liquor traffic.
Kew. Mr.. Clifford urged that the distance
between q saloon and a school hcuse
should be at least 400 feet
MIS-. Ellen boles denounced the prac-
tice of keeping billiard tables in connec-
tion with barrooms.
sRev. Mr.. Crane of East Providence and
hev. MIR. Chalmers Of Lonsdale spoke in
favor OF the first section OF the bill ana
claimed that il should he the right of all
citizens 10 vote eyes" or ''no' on the Ii
cense question at every election without
the necessity of getting petitions.
Rev. Mr.. Chase of Woonsucket pointed
out what he considers to be the defects
in the present law, aad Inc tidentally
alluded TO the practice of the court in
his city. Judge Lee was present sat the
hearing and the meeting was enlivened
10y little argument between the judge
and tue preacher. Rev. Mr.. Wesley Of
this city spoke IN favor of closing the
saloons az 10 O'Clock.
Rev. Mr.. McIptvre SAID that he was
present as the representative of the no.
license committee of Providence and dis
cussed the fret section. He stated that,
whether tho bill is passed or not, the
citizens of Providence viii have another
opportunity in 1897 TO vote on the license
question.
Mayor Greene of Wconsocket came in
brought up by Rev. Mr. Chace. Judge
Lee took the floor again and stated hat
there is ALREADY law enough in Woon-
socket 10 prevent the sale OF liquor to
children IL Mr.. Chase and his assoc iates
wou Id enforce IL.
Rev. Mr.. Deming of Psscoag said that
the situation in his sect ion of the State
is SO bad that even the bartenders them
selves are disgusted
Mr.. Scott of the House committee asked
Rev. Mr.. TomlIins il he did not think
that the removal of the screens would
have an evil effect by exposing the iu
teriors to children and by famjiiarizing
them with the barroom practices and If IL
would not have such aD effect why Is
there objection To having a saloon near
school house.
Mr.. 1omkins replied that the two pro-
visions would not conflict so far as re-
suits are concerned and stated tha. an
open view of the inside of barroom
would keep the young men out OF it,
Mr.. Sidney A. sherman took up the
last section of the bill which provides
that the number of licenses shall be linn