The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-07-25
LAST NIGHTS HEARING.
ALMOST 4 ROW AT MEETING OF PUBLIC LIGHTING COMMITTEE.

Remarks of Policeman Shields Made Some of the Eaton Street People Mad -He Said That Some of Those Present Didn't Pay Their Rent.
 The committee on public lighting held a hearing last night in city hall and there was standing room only when AL derman Jacobs called the meeting to or der shortly after o'clock The matter that brought the big crowd to the meet ing was the petition of Joseph D. Meyer ana others for the restoration of the electric light recently removed from Eaton street, about midway between DiXWeH avenue and Ashmun street, at a point where the street takes slight bend. This electric light was removed about six weeks ago, and since that time the people living in the vicinity mostly colored people, have been up in arms for it's restoration They claimed that the street was one of the narrowest and darkest in the city and that it was dangerous for pedestrians to walk
 
 there is no light there, and it is the hanging out place of a large number of rough young men.
 The first speaker to favor the restOra- tion of the light was Judge Dow of the city court, who spoke at length on the subject. He said that a light in the block under consideration would not only be benefit to the public at large but that it would greatly diminish the chances for crime. He cited instances in other cities where the institution of a light in place which had had bad reputation had reduced the number of crimes committed in that particular spot to a marked degree, the Five Points in New York being one of the cases referred to, Judge Dow is a property owner on Eaton street.
 Dr. Eliot, another property owner on Eaton street, then said that he consid- cred the light a necessity and that he saw no reason why it was taken down in the first place. Some of the others who spoke, all of whom gave good req sons why the light should be restored were ex-Councilman Rice of the Ninth ward, Constable Bonner, D. H. Ferris, Mrs. Pines, Mrs. Moses T. Rice, wife of the ex-councilman; H. c. Donovan, and several others, nearly all of whom live on Eaton street.
 After all these people had had their say Policeman Isaac w. Shields of the Dixwell avenue station took the floor for few minutes and his remarks al- most caused a razor or two to be drawn. Policeman Shields started out by tell Sy,pr Try1x Ion 4oA o1n o%.,;a 1s1.l,& and why he got up the petition for it's removal six weeks ago. He said that in the summer time when he wants all the air he can get at night he was obliged to close the shutters to keep out the bright glow from the light. He also said that two young trees were killed by the electric light which hung within sixteen feet of the front of his house. The bugs that it attracted was another thing that MT. Shields could not stand, and then he shook his fist at the com mittee and said that he was taxpayer, a property holder and several other things. He said that some of the peo- pie that testified at the meeting last night were not only not taxpayers but he said some of them did not pay their rent. This was too much for the Ninth ward people who let out grumble when the words were said. Two or three of the people present rose and demand ed to know who Mir. Shields meant by the allegation, but they were quieted by the chairman in a few minutes. MT Shields then went further and named one of the gentlemen present who owed him $25 for rent. This was the last straw and for time it looked as though a race war would take place. The policeman finally sat down and af- ter some more witnesses were heard the members went into executive ses- sion They announced that the subject was carefully considered and owing to the uncertainty of the conditions in Eaton street in the minds of some of the committee, it was decided to take trip up there and decide the question at a meeting to be held Tuesday.
 The petition of Samuel Veil for an electric light at State and Summer streeets the petition of Alderman Cor coran for an electric light at Chapel and Gregson streets, and the petition of l.. J. Corrigan for the discontinuance of the gas lamp on East street, between Beach and Humphrey streets were also considered by the committee.