The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-05
WIDE TIRES.
House Passed the Bill Re-
Quiring Adoption.
The Baby Farming Act Will
Be Taken Up Tomorrow.
Movement to Investigate Number of
Abandoned Farms in State.

The first debate of this session occurred
to-day in rho House Of representatives.
it was on the substitute biz for an act 20
regulate the width Of wagon tires, which
was lnally passed with slight amendments
by vote OF l3 to IL
The debate lasted two hours and after
the disposal of the special order and the
Introduction Of new business the House
adjourned without taking up the calendar.
The bill for an act 10 prevent baby
farming VIII be taken up tomorrow.
Senate.
For the judiciary committee Senator
Freeman recommended the passage of the
resolution to transfer the interest on the
proceeds from tho sale of the : tate House
bonds To the general fund and To author
iLe the general treasurer TO use the same
in part payment of the interest on the
coupons as they become due.
a substitute bill authorizing the Wonn-
socket Electric Power Company to issue
bonds for $3.50, 600 was passed.
Senator Freeman called from the table
the bill for an act authorizing Catholic
church socie les TO hold real estate in
trust for the maintenance of burial
grounds. Senator Kenyon wanted the
bill To go over until next Tuesday, but
Il
passage of the bill 1t was not passed.
The Senate then adjourned.
House of Representatives.
Immediately after the roll call Of the
House today Mr.. Studley called for the
special order of the day. which was the
substitute bill for an act TO regulate the
width of tires upon vehicles using the
highways of the state.
After the reading of the bill Nlr Stud
ley said that 10 was necessary TO make
speech in the interest of good roads, in
asinuch as their desirability had long
since been admitted without any ques-
ton by previous Legislatures.
In relation 10 the bill itself he said that
il was not proposed to make every wagon
a road rolling machine, but to require a
reasonable concession on the part Of
owners of teams for the sake of preserving
the roads already built and decreasing
the cost OF repair lie also referred 10 the
IA ct that narrow tires are one of the re-
suits of former high prices of iron, when
IL was an object 10 save every pound.
Now that excuse no longer holds good
The bill, Mr.. Studley continued, had
been very carefully considered by the
judiciary committee and it was signifl-
cant that In the public hearing no one
had appeared 60 oppose it on principle
although there was difference of opinion
as TO the details.
Ii was also significant that among the
strongest advocates Of the measure were
the farmers themselves, who came from
the more progressive towns Of the state
where road Improvement Is believed in.
These men, he said, have already known
by actual experience the economic benefits
of a smooth surface and are III sympathy
with any further legislation along the
same lines.
The original bill which was rejected by
..sa.
appear TO he practicable for several rea-
sons. Ii called for the creation of "a lot of
new officers In all the towns for wheel
inspectors which were not necessary and
il also provided that the width of the tire
should be determined by the weight of
the load on the wagon. This was rejected
as unpracticable for the reason that the
weight of the load is not fixed quantity
The substitute bill provides that the width
of the tire shall be determined by the size
of the axle according TO the following
schedule:
size of Axle. Minimum Width Of Tire
l 3-S inches. 5-S inches
~ inches. Ia inches
| 5S Ia inches 219 inches
rs ,. ? Is inches. 31s inches
2lI,23 S2la.2 5-S inches. 4 inches
23{, , rs, inches inches
Larger than 3 inches 8 inches
An Amendment Offered.
Mr.. France OF Woonsocket offered as
an amendment that 31 inches as the
minimum width of tire De made to cover
pa inches for the axle.
Mr.. Studley had no objection TO this
amendment and IL prevailed.
Mr.. KmDall of Providence said that
the measure was the most important
which had been introduced In the Begis-
lature for the last five years. He con
graduated the judiciary committee on the
fairness with whicn the bill had been
framed, but he questioned the advisable
ity OF passing it because the enactment of
the bill into law would impose upon
many of the citizens of the state an extra
expense which they cannot well afford To
meot.
Before taking final action he said that
there should be clear ana undisputed
evidence that the change would result in a
great public benefit and not prove 20 bo
merely visionary scheme.
MIR. KmDall claimed that similar law
in Connecticut could not be enforced
and no doubted very much whether it
could be in this state.
In conclusion the obiecting mem ber
from Providence said that other states
are oXperimenting along the same lines
and it would be good judgment for
Rhode Island to wait and get the benefit
of experience Of Others.
Passage Advocated.
Mr.. Scott Of Woonsocket. advocated the
passage OF the bill and said that H. would
be an absurd inconsistency for this state
and the towns and cities To 90 on spend
ing money tu improve the roads unless
thorc Is some supplementary provision by
law 90 preserve the roads when built.
Mr.. Blodgctt discussed the bill on
general principles ana said that the fun
damCntal objection made by Mr. Kimball
on the ground that the Legislature shoud
not interfere with the private business
Of the people was a most important one
But i'm this case Mr.. Blodgett ella med
that the proposed legislation was fully
Justified. Enormous amounts are ex-
pended for the building Of highways for
the convenience aud profit OF private citi-
zens. IL il therefore the right of the state
90 say how these roads shall be used for
the greatest good of the greatest number