The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-01
CHAT AND CHAFF.

| VI eht noTtncfn city.
lie explains that the mayor is him.
self tolerant OF music with beer. but In
delivering his recent trade he was the
victim OF circumstance.
The circumstance was that the law
and order folks up there, having taken
| note OF the crusade on the concert halls
In New York. demanded a similar ex-
ercise OF police authority on the part
OF the Boy Mayor OF their town.
And as the Boy Mayor isn't watching
favorable opportunities To make ene-
| mics among the better element" he
consented 10 deliver the trade.
with the consequnce that you can
now drink your beer I'm Woonsocket
without being interrupted by music.
The whole thing IL as clear TO me
now as the roundless parts Of ladder.
Woonsocket simply doesn't want 10
be behind hand in anything that is go
ing on. that's all.
III YOU know Woonsocket you know
what a fine opinion that town has of
Itself. The civic pride up there is so
strong that II doesn't acknowledge that
any other town can have anything that
can't be duplicated in Woonsocket, not
even vice.
Accordingly when there was cru
sade against wickedness in Greater
New York the woonsocketers promptly
came 10 the conclusion that there ought
10 be "a crusade against wickedness in
their town.
New York could not be allowed to
have monopoly of all the wickedness
and the consequent crusading.
SO when the Tivoli and the Hay
market and the Hole i'm the Wall and
other choice resorts in New York were
prohibited from providing concerts with
their drinkables. Woonsocketers
promptly took the cue and there was a
fine spasm OF virtue based on pride-
full notion Of the quantity OF vice
ahoat in the town.
"A woonsocket man who had been
to New York twice and stayed nearly
week both times pointed out 10 the
committee of investigation a number OF
resorts where music was going on in
reckless fashion which he attested was
unequalled even I'm the Tenderloin pre-
cinct OF the wicked metropolis.
The Woonsocketers raised their hands
in horror as their fellow citizen who
had been TO New York exposed these
places and the demand upon the mayor
to have vice suppressed followed.
Now the Woonsocketers plume them
selves because, whereas their city was
before reeking I'm wickedness. just like
New York. IL is now a virtuous, safe
and decent place Of residence-just like
New York.
l fear there is still necessity for con-
slant vigilance in Woonsocket In one
respect. however.
am told that a Providence man re-
ceived a green goods circular from UP
there recently.
The Woonsocketers ought to look in
to this and not allow simple folk from
Providence to be decoyed into the
rneshes OF the criminal classes who lurk
about the Whitechapels and the Tend
erloins of Woonsocket.
If there is anybody left who doesn't
believe that a grand popular uprising,
such as at least twenty-seven citizens
of Providence have engaged in to pre-
vent the Consolidated railroad and the
Suburban trolley from usurping the
functions of the people by exercising
carte blance rights OF eminent domain.
carries no weight he will be enlight-
ened and perhaps paralyzed by taking
note of the amendment proposed TO the
bill by stress OF many hearings and
much explosiveness OF Indignation.
OF course a good many OF us don't
know the difference between eminent
domain and bottle OF lemon sody. But
that doesn't prevent us from getting on
our hind legs when the outer guard
shouts Corporation and rallies on the
main line of defence.
1T appears from the proposed
amendment that T.. l.. Freeman OF
Central Falls is to be empowered to ex-
ercise the right OF eminent domain in
stead OF either of the souless monop-
oles who have been after it,
Senator Freeman IL railroad commits
sioner and the amendment provides
that all propositions on the part OF the
soulless railroads TO condemn land shall
be referred to the commissioner who
shall decide. III he says yes" condem-
nation proceedings will Immediately
be instituted. If he says mo-" that
goes.
So, under the several amendments to
the much discussed bills, It appears
that neither the trolley corporation nor
the steam corporation will make any
effort to condemn each others property,
and, when 1t comes 20 taking the prop
erty OF the rest OF us. Freeman of Cen
trail Falls shall decide.
This is better.
Most anybody would prefer a tin god
TO a soulless corporation.
Everybody knows that Freeman Of