The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-26
Investigators Reach the Point OF
Sliding Over Things.
SITTING MATTERS TO THE END HAS ITS TROUBLES
The Chief Prober in the License Matter Wished That He
Wasn't Where He Was Last Night.

There were Sixth Ward secrets disclosed
last evening at the investigation OF the
license commissioners which made more
than one man, OUTSIDE of the commits
sioners, wish that he wasn't where he
was. Ii was more uncomfortable ses-
sion for the inves igators han for the
investigees, and witnesses were repeated
ly interrupted in making their statements
for fear that they would say too much
that the impartial investigating commit
tee, appointed in the interests OF good
government, would prefer to leave un-
said, especially in public.
The meeting recalled the arguments
which the committeeman had among
themselves at the first meeting. At that
time Councilman Waterman asked this
very blunt que tion of his colleagues, "Do
you intend TO he strictly honest in this
investigation and sift matters to the bot
tom, no matter who is hit, or do you
intend TO be honest up to certain point
and when friend is n danger of being
hit, slide over matters?"
Councilman Howard was not present at
the time and so his answer to Mr.. ater-
mans question is not on record. The
Alderman from the Second Ward wouldn't
answer, but laughed at tine question and
rep led that honesty must be inferred. 1t
wa this same Alderman, who, in con-
nection with the Councilman from Ward
Eight, made such a vigorous effort to
have all the hea inss private.
The real answer TO Mr.. Waterman 3
ques ion came last night. The "friend"
Was reached and matters were slid over as
much as the persistence of witnesses who
were determined TO tell the truth would
admit of.
The "friendn that was hit most efec-
lively was Alderman Fuller, himself, the
chairman OF the investigating commit
tee.
One of the witnesses made the startling
statement that a Sixth Ward remonstrant
haU bOasteu trHt ne had Aftcrfnatf Fuller
and the Providence Coal Company back
of him and with that support he could
p revent the granting of a liquor license
to anyone whom he didn't like. This
declaration was 10 lowed by an awkward
silence and the chiet characteristic of MIR.
Fuller's smile at this time was nervous
ness.
Then there was testimony brought out
to show that some of the remonstrants,
who pretended to object TO liquor selling
on principle, had allowed their own prop
that one CT them had carried on the busi-
ness son the sly. - that is, without liz
cense. This discussion relative to illegal
ga les and the renting OF property for inn
proper uses made the Alderman from the
Second Ward vince and at this point AL
dermSn Fulier's smile was natural and
little broader than usual.
Testimony that was given under osth
proved conclusively what has been pretty
well understood all along-that the in
vestigation is nothing more than the re-
sult of cheap corner barroom quarrel
which Sixth Ward politicians hPve seized
as an opportunity out of which to make
political ca pital. The members Of the
committee who really thought that there
was something TO investigate and an ac-
tual wrong that needed righting, now
see their mistake and are disgusted with
the prospect of having to spend three or
four hours twice week in listening TO
cheap talk for the sole purpose of better
ing the chances OF AL erman Fuller and
cx-Councilman Mccarthy at the next city
election. The ret of the town woniers
why the City Council appropriated : 90 for
such q purpose when their war cry last
November was municipal economy" IL
would have been cheaper to have waited
until the next campaign ana then give
Mr. Fuller and MIR. Mccarthy 800 apiece
s'to ger out the vote" That method
would have better accomplished th- pur-
pose OF the "investigation" and saved the
cost of heating and Lighting the Council
chamber twice a week and the extra psy
of ianiiors who work overtime to clean
the floors after the very Characteristic
audience gets out
The story OF the trouble in nutshell
Is. SEINE time age man named Mepop-
ald rsn q corner arroom at Bishop and
Plain streets aud bought his stock of To-
bias Burke. The retail dealer didn' sue
ceed very well and couldn't pay Mr.. Burke
for goods received and the latter .ueo.
That was the first grievance. Later on the
bnilding across from this corner was put
up at auction sale. Mcdonald = father
wanted II and bid for IT, Mr.. Burke wa ted
IL and bid higher. and according to the old
time custom OF auction sales Mr. bu Ike
secured the property. That wHs grievance
number two, and the Mcdonald shut
their teeth, fgurstively speaking. and
dec area Sixth Ward vendetta against
hlr. urke. Dorsev Brothers hired the
lover storv Of Burke's new bui ding wi n
the int ntion OF esta bli-hing a saloon
there. Their application for license vas
followed b. "A remCpfranCp from "A fpvV