The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-31

The judiciary committee OF the House
gave a hearing on the bill. and heard
;She arguments for and against It.
Mayor Baker spoke. and said that IL
appeared to him that Ie act was a
very radical one. and one that should
not be passed at this session. He
thought that an act CT suci imporI-
ance TO the interests OF the city OF
Providence should not be rushed
through. he said that he was opposed
TO the increase In the number OF wards,
because II made an Increase In the
number OF members OF the city council.
at least In the board OF aldermen. and
this, said Mayor Baker. would entail
the rebuilding OF the board Of alder
men chamber. He also called attention
70 the fact that there had been no pc
tition from the city OF Providence ask
ing for the redistricting and he believed
that the city council and the people
OF Providence should be given time 10
study and understand the provisions Of
the act.
City, Solicitor Colwell spoke substan-
tally In the same vein as that Of
Mayor Baker and he was followed by
Assistant City Solicitor Baker, who also
urged delay In order that lie bill might
be studied, and both Messrs. Colwell
and Baker requested that the act be
continued until the June session.
Gilbert +. Whittemore OF Providence.
act. and said that the project TO redis-
tr.ct the city was nothing new TO the
city councif OF Providence, for IL had
been discussed pretty generally for the
past two years.
After some further remarks. the ju-
dietary committee decide, to give a
further hearing on the b u at the State
House in Providence. on Monday. June
IL, at 10 n. m.
NEWPORT POLICE BILL.
There was large attendance at the
state house last evening on the occa-
sion OF the hearing before the mouse Ju-
dietary committee on the bill TO create
a police commission in the city of New
port. Representative Sheffield OF New
port, who introduced the bill at the last
session, spoke in favor of the bill. and
said that II had the support OF the best
citizens OF Newport.
Ex-Representative George Il. Vernon
said the passage of the act would reme-
dy many OF the evils now existing I'm
Newport, both in the license commits
sion and police departments. Henry w.
Clarke. Councilman AIbro, Col. A. X.
McMahon, DR.. Bradley +. Augustus
Ward, Robert c. Bachelor and Rev.
Brewer @. Boardman, all spoke in ia
vor OF the passage of the act.
Mayor Boyle said that he was not
present 10 speak for or against the bill.
a large number of the members of the
city council, who desired that the mat
ter be continued until after the propos-
ed act should have been considered by
the city council. and he asked that the
committee grant another hearing when
the General Assembly meets to elect
United States senator.
Mr.. Michael w. Callahan said that
what was known as "a combine had
possession OF the town. and he consid-
cred that Ii was ample time that mat
ters should be changed. He said that he
believed that large part Of the best
citizens OF Newport wanted a police
commission. and he hoped that the bill
would pass. After some further re-
marks the committee took the act under
consideration.
The committee on special legislation
OF the House gave a hearing in the
Senate chamber last evening on DR..
Garvin's resolution proposing an
amendm UT to the state constitution
giving one-twentieth Of the voters of
the state the right to propose
an amendment to the state constitution
| by filing petition with secretary of
! of state to that eeffct, the secretary OF
| state TO insert the petition into the
| warrants for the next general election
| without any action on the part of the
general assembly. and IL it receives a
come a part OF the organic law of the
state. There was opposition to the bill
and Messrs. John G.. Burke and John J..
Gallagher of Newport spoke in favor.
PAwTUCKET POLICE MUDDLE.
During the late hours of the after
noon the House judiciary committee
gave hearing on the bill to take the
control of the Pawtucket police force
from the hands of the mayor and vest
- Il
also on the act providing that II shall
require the concurrent vote of threer
fifths of both branches of the Paw
tucket city council to remove from Of
fice the commissioner OF public works
OF that city,, On the first act there
was good deal said by City Solicitor
Blodgett and Agent MacColl of the Lor
raine mills, in favor of passage, and
Mayor Fitzgerald stoutly opposed 1t.
On the second act there was practically
nothing said.
.. The following clerks of committees
were elected last evening: OF the
House-Judiciary. Arthur A. Rhodes;
corporations. Isaac III. Southwick; H.
nance. Richard Martin; education.
Thomas Allen: special legislation,
Frederic A.Jones; accounts and claims,
Henry c. Cram: public institutions.
Richard w. Jennings.
or the Senate. judiciary, John w.
Sweeney; corporations. Arthur W..
Joyce; finance, Frederic A. Greene;
education, Clifford s. Tower; special
legislation, passed.
II is now practically decided that Hon.
John T. Blodgett will resign as rep
resentative from Providence TO the Gen.
eral Assembly on the second day of the
June session, which will be on Wednes-
day, June l3. At that time resolu-
tion will be introduced calling for a
special election to fill the vacancy for
second representative. the election TO
occur in November next. and there is
already a rumor that the man to be
chosen to I'LL the vacancy is William II.
SweetIand the present justice OF the
sixth district court. AS soon as Judge
Blodgett resigns his place on the
House judiciary committee II will be
filled by the appointment Of Represen-
tative Elmer Rathbun OF West Green
wich. This will give Kent county a
representative OF the committee. some
thing Il has always had. but has not
for the present. Mr.. Ratbbun Is a
bright young lawyer. and Is the clerk OF
the fourth district court.
THE COMMITTEES.
The following committees have been
a., tho Ganota aud HO.fCa.