The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-12
Protest Against Police Commission
Act Made by Lieutenant Governor
KimbalI, Bishop MCVickar, Ar
mold Green and Others.


gathering OF prominent and influential
residents and taxpayers Of the city.
an Informal reception preceded tho
feast OF good things 10 which Il mem-
bcrs and guests sat down and did d'justicc.
Then followed the business meeting.
Secrctary Bickncl reading the records
which we're approved. Eleven applicants
for active membership were accepted and
the following gentlemen made honorary
members; Lieutenant Governor Kimball,
bishop Coadiutor Mcvickar, President
1aunoe. OF Brown university. ana Hon.
Henry b. Metcalf, of PawtuoBet.
Letters Of regret were received and
read from Mayor Granger. Rev. pr
Faunce Clinton r.. Woodruff and Charles
j. Bonaparte. the last two being of Plila-
delphia.
The invitation Ia attend the annual
convention Of the National CIVIL Service
Reform league, in session iu Boston today
and tomorrow. was accepted.
Mr. Brown offered a resolution author
iziug the executive committee TO appoint
n subcommittee OF three who should APP
near before the general assembly al the
session next month and urge either
repeal or amendment OF the police COM
mission act restoring TO the citizens OF
Providence their vested rights. The reso-
luton was adopted unanimously.
PROTEST OF FREEMEN.
Tx Mayor William c. Baker offered the
following resolutions which were laid on
the table temporarily TO permit OF dis
cusson but which, at the close OF the
various addresses. were heartily APP
proved.
Resolved: I. That by the very terms OF
tt,fnv a..
towns and cities OF Rhode Island ever
have had and have now the right 20 gov
crn themselves I'm their own Internal af-
fairs.
ri. That while not objecting 10 the gov-
crnmert OF the police and license affairs
of Providence through a commission ap-
pointed by its constituted authorities. IL
necessity arose, We protest against the
appointment Of such a commission
through any outside authority; and We
protest also against the method through
which, by political intrigue aud conspir-
acy, this right has been taken away from
the freemen OF Providence. We cali upon
them 10 help us i'm preventing the per-
inanent surrender or this essential right
OF every Rhode islander
Theodore l. Green said that in cousd-
Grafton OF the fact that such a long time
would eapse before the next election he
believed that the league should do some
lufuk IN Interim III Oiurf tithi ~
be prepared TO act by the time for the
next election. Accordingly, he offered
the following resolution, which was also
adopted.
That the secretary be and lie hereby is,
instructed 20 compile q reference table
showing the record In the matter OF the
police commission bill OF each city aud
state official voted for by the citizens of
Providence, and 10 send copy of the
table to each member OF the league.
RIGHT or HOME RULE.
The discussion OF the injustice OF the
police commission act and the right of
home rule was opened by President
Amasa VI. Eaton, who saw before him
Republicans. Democrats. Independents
aDd Mugwumps all interested I'm the
tauee OF good government and opposed 10
rncroachment on the rights OF the people.
lie quoted from the late Historian Ban
croft 10 the effect that more ideas becom-
ing MISUNDERSTANDING soul liberty--had
emanated from Rhode Island than from
any other state IN the Union lie even
went further aud at considerable length
demonstrated that the state had no legal
right 10 deprive the city OF Providence
OF its righ 20 home rule.
fJc also protested against The manner
iu which The bill IN question had been
hurried through the general assembly and
ANtlO0UCFU I1FOifn0hi 0nNeTlui hinhHll.
who spoke briefly and effectively and was
frequently appauded.
II WAS pertinent at this time he ass
SERTED TO consider The haste In which this
police bin was passed. iiasty legisla-
lion bs the legislsture is not
alone confined to this police
hll. it frequently passes bills hurriedly.
This police commission bill technically
HAD is origin Ina the city council II has
,rkrf f.ttsK f,r
dencc memb.rs OF the legislature 10 con-
slider thc wishes 81 the city council Per-
SonaliN. the speaker believed tbs city
council approved the bin. The city mem.
bcrs were ia this position. either they
must violate the custom which had
grown up. or they must vote against
this bill He did not know how the
cthers thought and voted. Personally.
- citizen of Providence, he felt that
The common council was mistaken iu
thinking that iho people OF the city de-
sired snSh bill. Again. ne did not thiuk
ihst police matters were iu such a state
~ 90 demand amy such change as has
been made.
ne further believed that the CITY should
have thc kind of government that ths
l,eorie are willing 10 accept The prin.
cirle of self government ~ generally ac.
ccptcd through the country The facts
would show that whatever tho condition
~ the police affair In this city Tho state
laws were as carefully carried out as
they were M any other city or town ir
the state.
THE ACT UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Arnold Green. ESQ. was next intro
duced and be made vigorous and CON
Nincing address. Be said:
''-rhe late general assembly almost al
iss closc passed Law giving into ths
hands of three men appointed by the gov
ernor. She control Of the police depart
Snent. the issue of al rccnscs and the Ok
penditure OF over Sp0c0o per year. OF
money raised from The taxation q th'
elfizens 81 this city. These men ar" ab.
soiutely irresponsible 20 anyone except
fhe Governor. and that means The scrate
and the senate j. not elected py the TAX.
paxers Of providence. This Commissiou
,.n compel any man 70 appear before
them and 10 bring On any papers
he nay have in hls pOssesSion. The ~
premc court OF the United States has dc.