The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-20
HEARING
WAS A VERY
LONG One
AntI-Spottar Bill tho Subject Of
a Long Argument by Friends
and Opponents Of tho Measure

"a LSaI4ns .4s Ae4a GA lA4S iisaLs "a .---
sonats Ses,erdsy afternoon on tns pro'
posed "anu-spotters' dill, the judiciary
committee room OF the senate being well
hIled with advocates ana opponents oil
the proposed bill.
The bill Iorbids the employment of any
person under Is years of age as spotter
TO obtain evidence by inducing the COM
mission By any other person ot any stat
utory offence and provides for admitting
no evidence obtained in this way in any
case IN court.
There were several clergymen present
at the hearing, as well as several law
yers and several others who apparently
possess some OF the characteristics OF
both professions. Judge Lyman was
about the only speaker IN favor Of the
bill. The opponents OF the bill included
Rev. Mr.. Cristy, Chief Matthews OF the
Providence police department., Assistant
City Solicitor Easton; George ii. Utter OF
Westerly, Rev. h. j. Goodwin of Paw
tucket, Senator 5ullman OF Hopknton
and several others.
The opponents OF the bill put forth
some red-hot arguments.
The question that aroused the greatest
showing OF resentment was whether Mr..
Cristy or any OF his associates had ever
received money for disseminating prose-
cuuons that had once been entered puon,
Mr.. Goodwin was inclined to call the
memebers OF the committee to account
for casting reflections on the course pur-
sued by Mr.. Cristy in the conduct of his
cases. and warmly defended him by say
ing that he was given the fullest conf
dence OF his organization and was clear
and cool In the management OF the work.
Judge Lyman was the first speaker and
advocated the passage OF the act, saying
that its passage would do away with a
contemplate method OF gaining evidence
against suspected places. The employment
OF persons who have not reached the age
OF discretion is detrimental 10 the public
welfare. The hiring OF young men who
had been we'll brought up and possibly
had never been In such places. led them
Into temptation, and had tendency TO
lead them into loose habits OF living. By
employment In this line of work. many
young men might be led into dissipated
career. who otherwise would have led
straight and blameless lives.
Chief Matthews OF the Providence po-
lice department said that he agreed with
Col. Easton's presentation 'of the points
at Issue. IL would be impossible to send
out policemen under the age OF 25 on this
kind OF work. as Is frequently done now
George II. Utter OF Westerly spoke
against the act. and said that the genera
assembly. in considering this act instead
OF tlhUulnk UsiWttU inc DtOpio Ia
lessness, was simply making the detec-
tion OF crime more difhcult One OF the
most difficult things to convict man OF
I'm Rhode Island is the illegal sale OF H.
quor. and this IA largely owing to this
prejudiced view that had been brough,
up i'm the hearing.
Rev. A. r. Cristy agent OF the Rhode
Island Temperance league. said that as
he understood was the purpose OF the
bill. IL was the result OF case under
taken by him, and was introduced fol
the purpose of protecting policy players
rather than Irotecting the youth OF the
state.
BENJAMIN l.. Dennis Of Providence
spoke aaginst the bill and sraid that
he knew OF three places In his imme-
diate neighborhood that kept open and
conducted business every day In the
week and were constant violators of the
law.
The hearing adjourned at 2:30.