The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-08
SAMUEL M. NICHoLSOF,
BDvEkIH 8, LAKB,
HENRY yLUrCHBR,
A. j. GUSHING,

SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION.
Resolved, That the city solicitor b'
and he is hereby authorized and directed
to apply 70 the general assembly Tor TN
passage Of such legislation as VIII au
lhorixe the board bf police commission
ers of the city Of Providence 10 charge
and collect a fee for the manufactu and
sale OF Intoxicating liquors of $1,000 pei
annum for a wholesale liquor license
and of $3.50 per snnum for a retail liquor
license.
Printed copies Of this report were
placed on the members desks prior to
the meeting and when the opposition
developed to the recommends ton sew
eral members claimed they wanted more
time to look into the matter as they
were not familiar with II.
Mr. Rawson said he aid not think that
the gentleman was In touch with the
matter as thoroughly as his statement
would indicate. He said also That he did
not think the police commission was so
much in favor OF the increase In rate
and In fact did not make any statement
regarding II.
q vi do not think the liquor trade Is In
favor OF this measure, as the words OF
the chairman Of the ordinance committee
would Indicate. IL is In the case OF the
working men n matter OF necessity but
-
The liquor business Is very bad at pres
emit" he said.
Ne referred 10 the business depression
which caused his manufacturing com
panies TO release from employment many
Of its skilled employees. Places which
have always till now kept the help along
have temporarily, at least. laid or men
This is not the time at all TO take this
step. and II would only Increase the load
the men are carrying.
PLACED UNDER OBLIGATIONS.
1t is certain that the result Of thi,
measure would be one OF two things
The dealers would either have TO &c
down In the TIL OF cash register a little
deeper or place themselves under obiige
tions 70 some brewer or from outside
source.
He then graphically pictured some OF the
poor liquor dealers who had already to
deny themselves and families some Of the
necessities Of life In order to keep their
heads above water. He said he thought
that the bill would drive many men 10
the wall and cause than 10 lose all their
savings OF years. which were invested IN
their various establishments. He re-
fefrcd TO member who was empowe cred
by the police commission 20 mahe q state
ment for them.
Mr. Pasons said that though he had
talked with one OF the members OF the
police commission who had stated that
he favored the increase Of cost OF IL
cense, the gentleman from me Fourth
ward would have you to think. or un-
derstood, that he meant that he was the
accredited messenger Of the police com
mission.
Mr. Coffee said he thought the retail
dealers were paying all thoy could shord
10 pay at this time and he said he would
oppose the bin for that reason.
The brewers and wholesalers might
AFFORD n, but the retailers could not
The gentlemen who put the police com
missioners onto Us let the dealers open
UP Sundays In their own towns on our
borders. and as a result we have just
as much drunkenness as before from
those sources.
He advocated the going out and assess
ing Of more taxes on buildings and cor
rorations that are not taxed as much
as they should be. instead OF taxing a