The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-30
The Indecent Literature
Bill Was. Passed.
Objectionable Pictures Also
Come Under this Ban.
A Bill Amending the Building Law
Passed by Upper Branch.

The first step toward making Rhode
Island laws conform with those of tho
other New England states, SO far as pro.
Viding against indecent literature is con
cerned, was taken today when the House
OF Representatives passed IA bill for an
act in amendment of chapter o8i of the
General Laws of "Offences against Chns.
thy, Morality and Decency.n The bill
was recommended for passage Yesterday
by the judiciary committee and today tho
Huse acted accordingly. Concurrence by
the Senate next week will make tho bill
"a law.
The amendment consists of the insertion
of the words indecent" and "impurc. +"
after the word obscene as relating TO
literature and pictures. Judge Blodeett
explained that there were many things
which are not obscene i'm the legal
sense of the word but they may be de-
cidediy Injurious TO the morals of youth
and for that reason the law had very fire.
quently been found TO be Intellectual.
The amended bill provides that whoever
imports, prints, publishes sells, or dis
tributes book, pamphlet, ballad. printed
paper, or other thing containing obscene.
Indecent or impure language, or mani
Testify tending 10 the corruption of the
Inoralo OF youth, or an obscene, indecent,
or Impure print, picture, figure or des-
cription, inanifestly tending to the cor.
ruption OF the morals Of youth. or intro
duces into family, school or place of
education. or buys, procures, receives,
or has In his possession any such book.
pamphlet ballad, printed paper print
icture, figure, or other thing, either for
he purpose of sale exhibition, loan or
circulation, or with intent TO introduce
ne saiho into a family school, or place
of education, shall be punished by i'm
prisQnment not exceeding two years and
by npe not exceeding one thousand dol
ars, non less than one hundred dollars.
Governor Lippitt was at the state House
Today and presided In the senate for the
irst time since the reconvening of the
Assembly after the recess.
Senate.
Upon recommendation Of the Senate
judiciary committee the House bill for an
lct in amendment of chapter 6SS relative
10 buildings was today passed in concur
fence
This is the bill which was asked for nv
he Providence City Council and its pas
sage will enable TO place fire proof doors
n party walls.
senator Read for the judiciary commit
ee recommended the passage of the bill
regulating the election of school com
nittcemen In North Providence and it
vas passed
A bill was introduced by Senator Fran
is for an act authorizing the Woonsocket
electric Machine and Power Company to
ssue bonds; referred to judiciary COM
nittee
An Invitation from the Colonial Danes
o attend an historical meeting on MAY 4
vas accepted
For the judiciary committee Mr. Stud
ey reported back the bill for an act i'm
mendment of section 8, chapter 100, rela-
i've to the registration off, births, mar
lagos and deaths, with Recommendation
II indefinite postponement and recon-
nendation of the passage of n substitute
i'll. Mr.. Covell for the same committee
recommended the passage of the bill in
mendment of chapter 279 and Mr. Higbce
recommended the passage of the bill for
n act to make the fees of deputy sheriffs
ttending court So per day. All were
laced on the calendar.
Chairman Blodgett OF the judiciary
committee recommended the Indefinite |
ostponement of the bill for an act regu-
lting hearings on writs of certiorari
For the finance committee Chairman
leyden recommended the passage of a
esoution appropriating ST. 800 for the /
revention OF tuberculosis in man; 5000 /
Dr the purchase of humane apparatus for |
he restraint of the insane and for the |
rection OF "a barn for the state institution /
Cranston. They were placed on the I
llendsr.
Mr. Burton for the committee on en- |
rossed acts reported back as truly and /
ghtly engrossed the tenure of Office bill |
lr Cumberland and the resolution au. /
lorizing John Shepard, .Tr., to build n
bnduit under Comfort street. They
ere passed as cngrossed.
An invitation from the Colonial Danes /
accepted in concurrence with the
on o.
. followoing matters were taken
ON the calendar and passed:
Substitute A. An act in amendment
chapter III Of the General Laws, en-
tied "Of Certain Fisheries "
Substitute A. An act i'm amendment of
lapter 2Sl of the General Laws "Of
Fences Against Chastity, Morality and
ecency."
Resolution upon the petition on Harry
evit praying that his name bo changed
Resolution accompanying the petition
Raymond q. Hodges guardian. for
avo 10 sell real estate of ward aud i'm.
st proceeds in stock Of real estate com
my.