The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-03-01
HEARINGS
: AT STATE
HOUSE.

The house judiciary committee, judge
Harris. chairman. gave public hearing
this afternoon on several measures OF
Importance, and the standing as well as
seating capacity OF the committees room
was tested by the large number OF In
terested spectators In attendance.
The first matters taken up came from
Pawtucket and were FIVE in number.
as follows: An act authorizing the city
OF Pawtucket to borrow $4,000 for build
ing a new fire station; an act 10 borrow
100000 for bridge purposes: an act TO
borrow $4,000 for water works improve
ments: an act 20 borrow s250,ooo for
highway improvements; and an act au-
thorizing the city OF Pawtucket. In order
TO meet the foregoing exigencies, to issue
an additional $1,000 in bonds. making
an aggregate Of 100000 to fund Its
increasing Indebtedness.
City Solicitor Blodgett OF Pawtucket
appeared In favor of the acts and, after
a few questions by Mr.. Fitzgerald OF the
committee, and there being practically no
opposition. the committee voted TO recon-
mend them favorably.
The next bill taken up is designed for
the protection OF merchants and aimed
at the Tobacco trust.
Section ! provides that no person, firm,
corporation or association OF persons, or
corporations. doing business in this state
shall by itself. agents or officers, make
II condition OF the right or permission
to sell its, his or their goods, that the
dealer therein. either as Jobber or re-
taller, shall not buy. sell or deal In the
goods OF any other firm, corporation or
association of persons.
Section . specifies that whoever as a
principal or agent directly or indirectly
violates any OK the provisions OF this act
shall be deemed guilty OF a misdemeanor
and for the first offence shall be punished
by fine OF not less than 80 nor more
than $500; and for each succeededing Of
fence shall be punished by hne or not
less than 800 nor more than $500: or by
Imprisonment for not more than one year
or by both such fine and Imprisonment.
Section 3. This act shall take enec'
Immediately, and all acts and parts oil
acts inconsistent herewith are hereby re-
pealed.
Representatives Galligan and Lyon OF
Providence and Representative Moran OF
Pawtuoket and Mr.. r. II. Rebold. Local
representative OF the United TOBACCO
company, all spoke I'm favor OF the BILL
Judge Harris intimated that inasmucf
as it's general application to all mer-
chants would make II OF sweeping char
acter the question OF constitutionanty
might be raised. II enacted into legisla-
ton. To further inquire into this aues-
tion. adjournment was taken to the
rising Of the house.
There will probably not be given q
public hearing before next week by the
house judiciary committee on the protes
OF Lincoln taxpayers against the tive
measures introduced by Mr.. Veitch o
that town. One proposes the holding o.
| future town elections In June. instead o.
November; the other authorizes the towr
| council to elect five tax assessors for hvt
years, next month. IL was for Mr.
| Gauvin OF Lincoln. who. today. presented
| the preamble and resolutions OF protes
passed by Lincoln taxpayers at a mass
meeting held In Lonsdale last evening.
The house committee on education, Rep
resentativs Walsh chairman. gave near
ing this afternoon, lasting nearly two
hours, on an act amending the charters
OF two Newport corporations, the pro
moters OF both being oolored people. ~
Colored Union church wants all persons
affiliated with the Colored Union society
to become church members. the society
thus losing it's identity, there being but
the future. and that organization control
ed by the Colored Union church. The pas
tor, Byron Gunner, said he was author
ized 10 appear and advocate the conso
dation by vote OF both church and So
ciety.
Fred II. williams a deposed church Of
ficer, but still member OF the society.
offered such vigorous opposition that the
committee concluded II would be best to
have the factions come together and
agree on some measure. which, as sub
stltute. the committee could favorably
recommend TO the house.