The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-02
Questions Right Of Assembly to Pass
it, and Says ii Will Be a Blow
to Local Government.

the country, but did not argue upon
them, simply leaving them for the COM
mittee's consideration.
If the committee goes upon the
ground that the police force is an arm
OF the<state government. then he want
ed to have time to be heayi upon the
point, but he still held that in the mat
ter of the appointment Of the police
officers and the granting OF certain city
licenses. which privilege the city had
always enjoyed, these rights should
not be disturbed.
After reading some further opinions.
including one by Chief Justice Cooley,
more questions were asked by Mr.. John
r. Blodgett who called attention TO the
effect that Chief Justice Cooley had
ruled in favor of a police commission
for the city of Detroit.
Mr. Colwell asked If Mr.. Blodgett was
i'm favor of the Plaisted case in Massa-
chusetts. MIR. Blodgett replied that he
believed that all officers whose func-
tions are state functions should come
under the state law.
Mr.. Colwell said he was glad that Mr.
Blodgett stopped there, for" said he.
introduce the Massachusetts doctrine
into Rhode Island and you Will see, -----
well you may be sure that something
will happen. The Capitalization of gov
eminent is the rock upon which many
communities
Mr.. Blodgett asked Mr.. Colwell IL the
appointment of the commissioners and
the other matters in the bill was left 10
the mayor and city council. whether he
would not favor it, Mr. Colwell replied
that until corruption was shown he
would always be in favor Of local self
government.
Mr.. A. A. Baker. assistant city solicit
tor, next took the floor. but gave way
to Mayor Baker, who wanted TO leave
a q 3 90
Mayor Baker said the bill struck him
as an attack on the dignity Of the office
that he temporarily holds. and he saw
no occasion to call upon the governor
and the General Assembly TO manage
the affairs OF tll city Of Providence. He
had no hesitation in saying. after ma
ture deliberation, that the police force
of the city of Providence was better
than ever ii was before. and he consid-
cred that the class OF men put upon the
force would compare favoraby with the
mon appointed In any community
The method employed in appointing
the men was far superior to any n1eth-
cd previously employed. but even ad-
mitting that the police force can be
improved he believed that the city Of
Providence could do all tho improving
that was necessary, without calling on
He believed that with more money at
his disposal the chief of police could
have a force second to none.
He doubted whether the promoters OF
the bill had found the right panacea for
any evils that might exist i'm the police
force, and he certainly believed that If
the state was going TO take full charge
Of the aellee force IL slfet44a eff4y I'm itts--
tice pay the salaries. The mayor de-
nounced a rumor that had recently
been circulated to the effect that GER
tain policemen had received money for
protection TO certain establishments as
deliberately false and malicious.
If this bill passes it will be absolutely
necessary to increase the tax rate OF
the city Of Providence. for whereas tho
police force has so far cost $350.000
year. the passage of this bill would
make an addition OF SIS. 900 year 10
this amount. He spoke, he said not
for himself. but for the office he filled
and he claimed that IL the bill should
pass the office of mayor Of Providence
would be one Of the most humillatng
I'm the state. He was indignant at the
proposed legislation. and he considered
it n most dangerous thing 90 attack
any function OF "A municipality. even
admitting that the General Assembly
had the right to do SO.
inc G. ctHenS or providence arc not
complaining, and they are not living i'm
terror. and all they ask for now Is 20
be let alone. They will take care Of
the police force and soc 20 it that the
laws are properly enforced
In answer 20 n question from M
Gray I'm relation 10 n statement that II
the members OF the Providence de'ega-
tion would work as hard for other city
bills as thcv had for this bill matters
would be better Mayor Bake. said ~
he did not intend 20 cast any rehectsn
Continued on Page Two)