The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-04-29
NEW DISTRICT.
Men of Prudence Island
Ask for Home Rule.
Weary of Interference From
Town of Portsmouth.
They Will Also Request the United
States for POStOffice.

The Senate committee OH corporations
gave public hearing this afternoon on n
measure that is of peculiar interest TO the
150 people who live on Prudence Island
the year round and TO the 500 or more who
make their summer homes there. The
proposed bill is for an act 10 incorporate
the Island District in the town of
Portsmouth and by its provisions If
passed, the Islands of Prudence, Patience
and Hope, situated in the town of Ports
mouth will be incorporated into district
called the Island District and the inhab-
itants Will continue to have and enjoy
all benefits, liabilities privileges and i'm
munities and be subject TO like duties
and responsibilities as heretofore, except
as 10y this act provided.
A petition for the enactment of the law
accompanies the bill and it is signed by
the Prudence Land Company, Mr.. George
w. Williams and many Of the natives and
summer residents.
AT today's hearing the land company
was represented Ivy Attorney Bassett ana
other advocates OF the bill were Mr.. Will
liams and Mr.. Lewis Herreshotf.
Their desire is 70 have exclusive juris-
diction on the islands SO far as highways
and schools are concerned and not To
subject TO the rest Of the town of Ports
mouth for internal affairs The political
not be changed 80 far as the voting in
national or state elections is concerned.
And furthermore all owners N property
on the island who are taxed for that
property shall be authorized TO vote in the
district on its internal matters without
losing their right TO vote on political ques.
tions in any other town OF which they
may he legal residents.
Attorney Bassett's claim is that the
"Island district" would be analogous 10
the so-called fire districts.
The second section of the bill provides
that all inhabitants of said Island District
that are qualified voters of said town of
Portsmouth, and all taxpayers in said
district shall constitute the qualified
electors of said district, and shall have the
right To vote at all elections and upon all
propositions to expond money and To im-
pose taxes that said district is authorized
herein TO hold and act upon.
Sections four and five which limit the
rights OF the town OF Portsmouth and
coITespondingly extend the rights of the
islanders are
The said town of Portsmouth is hereby
relieved from all duty 10 care for, lay out
ana maintain highways within said dis
trict, from all duty as To schools, and SAID
town Of Portsmouth shall not tax any
real estate in, nor the ratable property Of
any inhabitant of said district except "a
registry tax.
Said district shall have the same power
"a now exercised by the town of Ports
mouth as to highways, to order, assess
aud levy all taxes and as TO schools,
within the said district.
Section eight provides that tile said
district shall be liable for the support of
all paupers, and settlement is gained by
or derived from legal settlement within
the said Island District.
The last sections provides for the rear
rangement of valuation, the apportion-
ment of state aid for schools and the cleo
tion of district officers.
They are:
From and after the passage or this act
the valuation of the town of Portsmouth
as fixed by chapter - of tho general
laws of Rhode Island as the basis for the
state tax shall be 81, $50, $40 and the valua-
tion of said Island District shall he Stj0
$50 and the state tax as provided by
chapter 30 OF the General Laws shall he
by said district paid 20 the general treas
urer. The school commissioner shall caEse
"A census TO be taken of all children under
fifteen (l5) years OF ago within said dis
trict and shall distribute the school
money TO said district and 10 said town
in ratio to the number of children IN said
town as shown by the last state census.
said commissioner census To he taken
nndcompleted ON or before June /, 1897.
: Said district council may elect any
officers authorized 20 be elected by Town
Council necessary and proper TO elect to
perform the duties said district is author
lied 20 perform.
The Islanders not only want home rule
but they have all signed "A petition for a
postoflice which will be forwarded TO
Washington.