The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-19

ASbtuDty WJtuOut huy WISH oI request IOr
such action on the part of the city of
Providence The Legislature gave them
discretionary power in license matters;
but they are servants of the city OF
Providence although created by the State.
1t Is the money OF the taxpayers OF this
city that pays their salaries and the peo-
pie OF Providence have right TO demand
from them an accounting OF their stew
nraship."
This declaration was received with
quite lively demonstration on the part
OF some OF the auditors and man named
James Murphy, who had taken q seat
within the rail, TO the left OF the commit
tee, was particularly forceful in his APP
plause, which he accompanied with re-
marks not very complimentary TO the IL
cense board, Mr.. Burnham being APP
parently particularly obnoxious TO him.
Quiet was finally restored, and Mr.. Nc
Carthy proceeded with his remarks.
"When this board of license commits
sioners conducts its business in such a
manner as TO be the subject Of comment
ana criticism, when its actions create
public scandal, aud i use the word de-
liberately, 1t is time for the taxpayers to
petition for an investigation and for the
City Council To grant their request ia
whatever form Ii sees III TO do SO. This
resolution authorizes, but does not direct,
the committee to confer, and it is discre-
tionary with IL as TO do SO or not, just as
II Is discretionary with Ii as TO whether
1t will hold public hearings. IL may hold
this conference In public or in private and
II may hold Ii first or last as II chooses.
When the gentlemen on the other side say
that the powers of this COMMITTEES are
limited to comforting with the license
commissioners they say what is absurd.
The object of this contention is TO keep
public servants from showing, by their
own records, how they have performed
Lot mo ook
has accused the license commissioners?
No one has done so. These petitioners
have asked for this Investigation for the
purpose OF getting the reason for granting
transfer Of license, against which they
had protested. The petitioners. come
here, not making any charges. but to get
the reason for transfer in the face OF
strong remonstrance. We simply call on
the board to show its record. Is that an
accusation? We ask the commissioners to
open their books and show us how they
have been doing business. Their clerk
has explained the records and out of their
own mouths and from their own books
we find they have done that which justi-
hes this investigation. The commission
ers have right TO defend themselves and
to object to showing their record, hut
would public servants, conscious they had
done their whole duty, deem it necessary
TO employ two eminent doctors of the
law TO come here and beseech you 10 stop
this investigations" With a few further
remarks MIR. Mccarthy concluded and the
expected applause. was accorded him.
Jimmy Murphy made another demonstra-
tion and wanted II do some talking,
but was suppressed temporarily.
NOT LOOKING FOR APPLAUSE.
General Wilson followed Mr.. Mccarthy.
j don't expect any applause, he said, +" and
don't want any. / am here to protect
such legal rights as my clients may have
in the matter and in doing that shall be
careful to avoid showing any reference to
politics or resort to the methods of de-
magogue. My colleague and myself APP
pear for the license commissioners, men
who have spent their lives in this COM
munity, men who are known to the reo-
pie and whose record as public officials or
as business men is unimpeachable. They
are men whose official acts have been as
pure as those of any official in this state,
and in appea ing here we feel il our duty
10 repel the insinuation that these com
missioners under some circumstances
have done something that Is radically
wrong. Mr.. Mccarthy says that all he
desires is 10 have the commission show
their books. Those books are public re-
cords and are open to me public at all
times, TO Mr.. Mccarthy, TO the people
he represents "a well as TO all othet citi-
zens OF Providence. But because of the
political resentment of some persons is
1t reasonable or just that these gentlemen
should be drsgg,d d into an investigation
and publicly scandslizedP'
JIMMY MURPHY BOUNCED.
Mr.. McCartny here interrupted General
Wilson TO protest against the introduc-
tion of politics into the matter. Jimmy
Murphy again became demonstrative but
this was his last display of partisan feeling
and personal rancor. for Detective Parker
was on hand and seizing the voluble
Jimmy ty the shoulders hustled him
out of the chamber in short order.
Another individual who had previously
shown disposition to initiate Murphy
took warning from the summary manner
in which that trouble 'oms individual had
been "fired," and thereafter held his
peace.
When the momentary excitement caus-
ed by Murphy's enforced and not alto
gether dignified Withdrawal had su uhsided
Gen. Wilson continued his remarks. "Upon
a resolution authorizing this committee
to confer with the license commissioners
for any one TO report that anything that
has been disclosed or has been concealed,
which is disereditable TO those gentlemen
Is TO say what is absolutely unjustihable. -
mir. Mccarthy: 81 haven't said any
such thing"
Mr.. Wilson: "You have said that-enough
had appeared to warrant what has been
done by this committee. And what has
been done, let ne ask? Why, have read
the proceedings thus far and ! must say
never encountered more complete bosh.
his resolution, / take it, was introduced
In good faith and it provides for a COM
m ittee of conference Ii was never in
tended for the purpose of creating scam
dal; il was never intended TO give every
one who wanted to make a noise
chance to do so, and it was not intended
to afford an opportunity of testlfying
against these commissioners by inuendo.
The purpose was to have a conference IL
at that conference anything wrong was
found then the committee could ventilate
1t. And let me say right here that we
are not present for the purpose of stop
ping any inquiry into the doings of the
license commission. They are ready for
a full and thorough investigation when
ever the CITY Council shall order such n
hearing. NV purpose in rising was TO
obtain ruling on this matter and when
we get that we shall submit cheerfully.
As TO our attempting to stife this inves-
tigation Mr.. Mccarthy las no right TO
make such a charge" 4"
but ! do charge it," remarked Mr..
Mccarthy.