The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-19
Interest in the License
Investigation.
Committee Played to Slim
Houses at 9TH Performance.
General Brennan Appears as an In
vestigator at Large.

held last night Several times it was on
the verge of being sensational, but for
the rest Of the time was most stupid
affair OF no significance. Chairman Fuller
is the only member of the committee
who bad any appearance OF interest left
in the farce, and even he found 1t diff
cult at times to retain his pro bono pub
lico expressions and attituae."
The session opsned with meaningless
general discussion iDstigated by Attorney
Dennis on features Of the liquor business
which had no more TO do with the in
vestieation than with the question OF no
license that is to be voted on next month.
THIS talk was finally interrupted by Cen
eral John nj. Brennan, who appeared as
an investigator at large, not as the repre-
sentative OF anv particular client, but in
the interests of the entire city. He de-
manded hearing, and the following
charges presented by him were read by
Clerk Hayden of the committee:
First Dougherty X Ryan held q
second class liquor license at Weybosset
street, in the said Providence, and applied
for renewal for the same In the year OF
1894. The said store cost the said firm
several thousand dollars and the trade
and good will OF the same was of great
value; that it was determined by Com
missioner Paine that Mr.. Tobias Burke
should have said place, and 1t was ae-
complished in the following manner:
A second-class liquor license was
granted to one Clark, NONRESIDENT and
an employee of MIR. Burke, for another
locality. and after Dougherty d Ryan had
been driven out OF the business, ana their
financial ruin accomplished, the said Ii
cense issued 10 Clark was transferred by
the said commissioners, the moving spirit
teing Mr.. Paine. to = Weybosset street,
Mr.. Burke being the actual owner there
Of II hat this pnmnigginn stated
and over again that no license would be
granted To anybody in said plsce during
the license year extending from May,
1894, TO May, 1895. This statement was
made TO prevent Dougherty Il Ryan from
making sale OF said premises to any
person, and SO that In the end il would
drop into the lap of Mr. Burke. There
are many interesting details connected
with this matter which it is hoped will
be inquired into by the committee.
Second. Lying TO property owners con-
cernlng license on the lower END OF Wash
ington street.
Third. Unjust and arbitrary action,
concerning license on the lower end OF
Fountain street, in the years 1895 and
1896.
Fourth. That the commission con-
ducts its affairs i'm an imprudent arbi-
trary and overbearing manner, subser-
Went to the strong and insulting to the
weak.
Fifth. That the records OF the Office
are not kept in a business like manner
and are allowed TO be kept by the sec
retary. of the said commission for no good
purpose.
Sixth. That Mr.. Paine of the said COM
mission has both given aud received pres
ents from pers ms having business with
the said comm ission.
Other and more serious charges will be
made against the commission, or rather
certain members thereof, when the above
charges have been fully investigated.
After the reading the general said that
he had more serious and direct charges
which would be made later.
Chairman Fuller reminded him that
all charges must be filed last night in
order to be considered.
The general took violent exceptions to
this ruling and declared tnat the COM
mittee would be Obliged TO keep on inves-
tteating as long as any one cared to COM
plain, and that IL they refused another
committee would be secured. General
Brennan had no witnesses present and re-
tired from the council chamber where he
was not seen again for the evening. No
one expected bis reappearance when
he went out 10 hunt for testimony.
THE sAMAsKY CASE.
The committee then plunged into the
Samfsky case and did what they could to
help ont Mr.. Dennis.
Thomas Farrar was the first witness.
He testified that he had been employed
by Samasky as counsel and IN that ca
pacity he had learned that Grimes Broth
ers held a mortgage on the saloon prop
erty in question for S140.
Bradford Pierce, property broker,
testified to practically the same ting.
Harrison A. Mckinney, who was to
have testified in this case, was absent
because OF sickness, and Mr.. Denis said
that he could furnish an a.hdavit but IL
was not forthcoming.
Commissioners Sprague was called in re-
ply TO questions of Mr. Fuller and stated
that second-class licenses are not sold at
prices ranging from S400 to $1,000, and
seven or eight licenses are not granted to
one man.
Commissioner Paine was the next wit
ness and he gave a straightforward ex-
planation of the case. The question be-
fore the license commissioners was on
the petition to transfer the license OF AS
trella to Sanssky,a and it was at first voted
TO grant the transfer. Com missions sr Burn
ham voted in the negative very emphati-
caliy, and asked to have his vote record
ed. 1t was then voted 20 reconsider and
upon.a second ballot il was decided not
to grant the transfer.
Mr.. Paine stated that he believed Mr..
Burnham had good reasons for his vote
and that subsequent acts had proved such
to be the case.
Mr.. Dennis asked ~ Mr.. Paine did not
realize how mucb there was at stake in
the case and Mr.. Paine replied that moth
ing was at stake in his opinion unless it
was the fraud i'm the case.
The money which Samasky was to pay
TO Astrella, s1100, was on deposit awaiting
the completion OF the transfer. Mr.. Me-
Kinney had stated that all OF this money
was not to be paid directly to Astrella,
but 10 Alphonso Cambio.
AIphnnan Air Dof
was one of the worst scamps In the city
and had been refused license for him
self because OF his bad character. IL
was the opinion OF the commissioners
that hesowned the license in question.
Commissioner Burnham corroborpted
the testimony of his colleague, Mr.. Paine
The question OF any financial interest,"
that Grimes Brothers might have had In
the matter was never brought 10 theatten-
tion OF the commissioners and they knew
nothing about II
Adolph SamasKy himself was then cal