The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-03
House of Representatives.

A bill for an act authorizing the use of
the McTammsny voting machines in the
towns and cities OF the state was intro
duced by Mr.. Ihayer Of Pawtucket and
referred TO the judiciary committee.
The first section OF the bill MAKES the
adoption Of the machine optional with
each town or city council.
The second section materially increases
the authority OF the board of canvassers
and registration and is IS follows:
"Wbenever said voting machines shall
re adopted as aforesaid by the city coun-
Gil of any city, the board of csnvasers
and regis,l ut on in the city of Providence
and tho board of canvassers in any other
city is hereby authorized and empowered
to raako all necessary ard proper rules
and regulations within anu for such city
concerning the printing and arranging
of the names OF candidates or OF such
propositions upon ell official ballots,
and the delivery thereof at the polls, the
preparation and posting of official speci-
men ballots and their delivery at the
polls, the preparations and proper ar
rsngements of suitable polling places and
also for the general conduct OF such elec-
ions and the voting upon such PROPOSE
tions and ell matters and things incident
thereto, including the making Of suit
albe provisions for voting for any person
whose name is not printed upon any of'i-
ciaI ballot, and the returning, certifying,
counting and preserving of the ballots
cast at any such election or for or against
any such proposition which may
be necessary to carry this act into effect.
Any violation of sny such rule or regula-
tion by any election officer or other per-
son shall receive the same punishment
ss provided by Section 46 OF Chapter
IL of the General Laws fer violationsof
the secret ballot law: Provided, however,
that all provisions OF existing law rela-
tive to the matters contained in his act
snail be and remain in full force in said
cities so far az the same may be appli-
cable. unless otherwise provided by rule
and regulation OF said boaro OF canvassers
and registration or OF such board OF can
vssssrs respectively"
The resolution making appropriation
OF 800. OoO for building barn at the state
institutions, and for the purchase of land
adjacent to the land occupied by the
State Institutions in Cranston was re-
ported back by the con- mitiee on chari-
ties aud corrections with recommends
,iou and referred to the finance commit
tee.
Chairmau Blodge;t Of the judiciary
COMMITTEES reported back a substitute bill
for an act relating to the restraint and
cure o. persons addicted TO the habitusl.
excessive, and dangerous use OF alcohol
and other poisonous drugs and moved its
massage under suspension the rules and
IL was passed.
1t is an important measure aud the text
OF the bill Is ss follows.
Section l. Every person who is 50 addicted
10 the hnbitual, excessive and dangerous use
Of alcohol or Of any poisonous drug, as to ren.
der IL necessary for his own welfare or for the
safety OF the community that nc should bo
restrained and cured. may DO resisained by
his next friend, either within his own house
or in the Butler Hospital fer the Insane. dur.
inc such period, not exceeding one year at
any ono time. as may bs requisite to effect
his cure from such habit; but no such person
shall be ~ restrained without certificate
from two practiciuR physicians of good stand
ing that such person Is addctoi to such habit.
unl use as aforesaid and that such restraint Is
necessary for his own welfare or for the safcty
Of the community provided. however. that
70 such pcrsons shall be 70 restrained except
,,,gcr the ,,ssr.ural stfrcrvi.fuu of tho uhvgfr.
ian who T. the supcrintrndont for tho time
cing of the Butter Hospital; and any person
~ committed may b. lawfully received and
restrained in such house or in the Butler