The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-19
SEVERAL
HEARINGS
were HELD
Caucus Law, She'll Fisheries
and lO-HOur Working Day
Discussed al State House.

The proposed act In amendment OF
chapter 662. public laws, the act relative
to the holding OF caucuses. came up for
judiciary or the house OF representatives
at hearing held at the rising OF the
house yesterday.
A number OF interested parties appeared
before the committee TO present or listen
to the arguments for or against the
act
Mr.. II. ii. Sheldon. OF Pawtucket was
one OF the principal speakers. and he
said he wanted the General Assembly to
pass an honest caucus law.
I'm a Republican no longer, unless
these honest changes are made. I'll run
as an independent voter. Make the lam
guage plain. There is but one way OF
stating whether on not Democrats are 10
be in Republican caucuses If you can't
make an honest law, don't try 10 make
any"
Mr.. Easton. of Providence, said that
the act was designed 10 prevent the pack
ing OF caucuses, and he thought the rem
edy to the suggested abuse was a politi-
cal one. lie thought that n the commit
tee acted unfairly the people would adj
just such matters at the polls by defeat
ing the party sanctioning such methods
There was more or less discussion, af-
ter which the committee took the act
under advisement.
ABOUT SHELL FISHERIES.
The commissioners OF shell fisheries,
fishermen and others interested in the
protection Of the shell fisheries OF the
state appeared before the committee on
fisheries OF the house at the rising of the
house yesterday 10 present arguments
for and against the acts recently in
troduced to amend the present laws
governing the shell fisheries.
The points most talked upon were the
matters of heavy fines. IL being thought
by some that big fines would make a
jury deal lightly with an offender: the
question of fishermen reporting their
catches to the deputies. opposition to
this being that IL would be impractical
owing to its inconvenience: what should
be done with star fish and the wording
OF the two acts I'm general, IL being
thought that In places one OF the acts
said too little in too much.
John W. Tallman OF Portsmouth said
that the reason why a 30-foot scallop boat
should pay more than an lS-foot boat was
that the larger could catch more scallops
and that he approved the law In genera.
The act was considered in sections.
James c. Collins said he thought the
fines and imprisonments proposed were
rather too severe and that before jury
IL would be hard work to convict a man,
but that fine was necessary for many
people considered that what was I'm the
water is free. not deeming II stealing to
take II.
Several others also gave their views, and
the hearing was then adjourned.
TEN-HoUR WORKING DAY.
An act TO limit the labor of street rail-
way employees TO 10 hours n day was the
subject OF a hearing before the house
committee on special legislation at the
State House yesterday afternoon.
Mayor Fitzgerald, of Pawtucket. said:
Under present conditions the employe
has no time to spend at home. TO better
himself, or do anything. He becomes
mere automaton. but little better than
the cattle on the streets so far as con-
ditions so, simply working and sleeping.
You san see what kind of a citizen he
will soon become. We should make these
men feel that the state is taking an in
terest in them"
number of motormen and conductors
were present and several OF them ex-
plained the conditions prevailing now one
or two showing Instances where a man
was practically tied down for IL hours.