The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-24
Prepondsrance Of Argument and
Numbers Opposed Them.
WANT NO POLICE COMMISSION
lanes [. Jsncks and Mayor Higgins Made
Argumsnts-Thoss FavsrIhg CamHIs-
sion Lacked Point, tho Vsrdlct.

hate 10 the city OF Pawtucket, House No.
for n police commission: House 2Ss. for a
board OF education. and House 2S7. for
a board OF canvassers and registration.
Vas continued yesterday afternoon. and
thouxf the time allotted was taken up
not nearly all who desired had a chance
% be heard. II was announced by Chair
man Harris OF the committee on 1uhG-
,ary. which is considering the bills, that
the hearing would be continued next
Tuesday at p IN.
Lawyer Fairbanks OF Boston said OF
the commission that Governor Douglas
IN dis inaugural address presented the
idea that the police commission OF bos-
ton should be abolished.
~Out OF courtesy, a bill was drawn.
referred 10 a committee and tho latter
gave a hearing. and as a result. out
of a population of over 100000. only one
appeared TO speak for the repeal, and
ha was Isaac Hutchinson, VINO had failed
OF re-eaection az a commissioner. Under
the commission. all conditions are GOOD
The Hquor dealers want II continued be-
cause under IL there is no tendency TO
graft upon them.
READ LETTER FROM MR.. CRlsTf.
The next speaker Philip IL Sheldon,
Of Pawtucket read letter from Rev. a.
r. Cristy, secretary OF tho Rhode Island
Temperance league. who spoke in tle
highest terms OF the work of the police
commission OF Providence. Mr.. Sheldon
said that the appointment or the comfnis-
shons would improve the state or al
fairs I'm Pawtucket. and he said that ne,
for one, was willing To sacrifice MS right
Of eo-called self government, provided
20 m
"I am led to believe that good results
Will follow II Governor Utter appoints
men for these positions on tho board or
education and police commissions, who
have the same sense OF fidelity 20 their
oaths and righteousness or determination
as he has. i want TO sec something zone
which will make our main street safe
for my wife and children 10 pass along
without being insulted. 10 provide Tor the
enforcement OF the laws upon our statute
books In regard TO liquor selling. ana all
that goes with st.; TO make more strong
and effective our police system; to pro-
vide the best common school education
that our public schools can afford for
our children. governed and controlled by
the best school board obtainable.
''If the men who oppose these COM
missions. admitting that certain evils 90
exist. will propose some practical way
10 overcome them, which ~ better than
this one. / am free to say that am for
any system of government that will best
conserve the moral and educational well
fare OF our municipality"
FAVORED SCHOOL BOARD.
The school board measure was the only
one Rev. Frank @. Goodwin favored APP
parently, for he said in part:
I'm the discussion In which We are en-
gaging today there are three bills before
us which are alike I'm that they concern
Pawtucket, but which are unlike I'm that
they each have features which make them
attractive or offensive TO the citizens OF
our city.
MY position may be put in few
words The registration commission l
am opposed ito. unequvocally: IL Is ag-
gressive partisan. graspng. unfair A
police commission for any community
may be legitimate IL the circumstances
demand A., and the commission IL calcu-
lated TO correct the evils alleged 10 exist.
The particular bill which Is applied TO
Pawtucket must be proven to be neces-
sary. In the Judgment OF many there
are evils sufficient 10 warrant legisle-
tive interference in the Judgment OF
many others conditions are bad. but not
serious enough 20 demand this remedy.
OF political expediency.
"of the board OF education l heartily
approve and upon that latter subject
wish TO speak
WORST FOR % YEARS.
"The conditions Of our schools are such
that they demand the legislation now
proposed which is before you. The pres
ent administration Of our schools is i'm 10
10 In o~,-adualtxs dac1fpfpC, in
and usefulness. IL has ceased 20 have
the confidence OF those most deeply in
terested In educational matters. The se-
lection of teachers. always difficult 10
arrange. has become. in many instances.
a matter Of pull and~rersonal preference.
! affirm that one of the most expert
enced educators In the city has said that
the last two years has produced more
wsnton disregard Of public sentiment and
more pronounced maladministration of
our schools than can be found I'm the
records OF our school boards Tor 20 years.
Let us come now TO tho remedies.
There are three ways 90 correct these
evils: Reform the present school board and
.ts manipulators and masters. We tried
this once In a public meeting az the time
of the proposed dismissal OF Mr. Heryev.
and we found the cynic's proverb to be
true: "a word 20 the wise II resentedD. .
These two omissions. viz. the failure %
admit any existing difficulties and the
failure 10 promise any redress are very
sIiking.
"The second remedy fs an appeal "a
the general vote % the people. We have
tried this twice. What was the result
o. the popular election? The school board
was sustained. not rebuked: It's insolence
was Increased. not diminished Al the
second election. which occurred last fan
the school question Was only incidentally
an issue. and three strong public spirited
members were elected How was this
cone7 II was not done by the brave and
intelligent citizens of the city rising In
protest against a bad administration. The
real school victory came. however. from
the illiterate. the purchasable. the liquor
vote.
NOT AGAINST HOMIE RULE.
Il come now 20 the proposed new board
% edncation. which I admit IL n drastic
end severe remedy for an aimort hope
>ss end Increasingly distressing ailment