The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-23

ingly as long as they could hear what was
going on
The arrival OF Mayor Higgins and John
J. Fitzgerald. strong opponents OF the
three bills. was signalized by bursts OF
applause. but when CITY Solicitor Blodg
EFT of Pawtucket. who has favored the
bill. appeared 81 was different. One or
two people IN the back oven started 10
hiss The bulk OF the big crowd was not
prepared 10 go that far but there was
very little doubt on which side the ma
jorlty OF them was arrayed. They were
against the bill
Two or three hundred people were hned
up around the doors before the committee
came In and al 2:20 tnere had been very
little accomplished
ON motion Of Mr Fitzgerald. Judge
Harris announced that Is minutes was 70
he the limit for each speaker to talk on
each bin. and one hour each for each side.
FAvoRs THE BILL
City Solicitor Blodgett OF Pawtucket
said as solicitor and a citizen Of that
city he was heartily in favor OF the bills.
He devoted his time chiefly 20 the Police
Commission bill as a particularly good
measure. and said II was a well-establish-
ed fact that the legislature has the power
20 make such an act and that II would be
perfectly proper for n 10 do so. 1T is
the duty Of the legislature 10 pass this
act" said he
The legislature which creates n mu-
nicipal corporation can. II IL chooses.
revoke the charter OF city II II so de-
sires. and consequently the control OF the
police can be put under a state appointed
police commission. The courts have de-
cided upou the constitutionaity of the
act. when the contest over the Newport
police commission came not long ago"
Mr.. Blodgett went on TO show reasons
why the measure was not only p lawful
one bat one that had well grounded
principle back Of H.
POLICE RIGHTS.
He referred 10 what he claimed were
the police rights. declaring that shese
rights came down from the old English
law. which gave the general power and
control I'm the hands OF the geuerol or
state authorities. He gave az an example
the metropolitan police system OF London.
which. he said. was the best regulated
police force in the world, and the COM
mission which was in charge ofthe de-
partment was appointed direct from the
general government He said that here
tho power OF the police did not come
from the municipality. but from the
state
He said the Pawtucket charter granted
in 1885 tho aldermen have the power 10
make ordinances to govern the police de-
partment and this continued up 10 1900
when FOR the FIRST time in the history
OF the city the mayor took direct control
OF the police. He said that as a result
of this tho Legislature gave the control
ling power into the hands OF the board OF
aldermen This was unsa tisfactory and
then the legislature passed another law
placing the control directly in the hands
OF the mayor.
SHOUT OF DERIS1ON.
II this po,ice commission act is passed
I venture the prediction that the police
force will be taken directly out OF politics.
sald he There was u shout OF derision
from all over tho hall and the chair stated
that il this disturbance was repeated the
hearing would he adjourned TO a smaller
room The speaker continued, saying
that this was exactly what had occurred
IN Boston and Fail River and he believed
that IN Ave years there would be no poll
ties In the police Department in Pawtucket
n this act was paSsed.
A THOUSAND READY TO TALK.
When the question OF allowing Mr.
Blodgett 10 continue was being discussed
hy members OF the committee. man
in the crowd complained OF his talking
all night on that side There's a thou
sand men out here waiting 10 talk
Although Pswtuckets city solicitor said
he could not arrange TO make any agree
ment that the men I'm favor give up their
time he was allowed to continue.
Mr. Blodgett continued by referring 20
past failures on the part of the police, de-
claring that under the present system the
members OF the department appeared 20
have rule never 10 nothe anything He
referred specifically 10 certain alleged
breakers of discipline. and he also de-
clined 20 answer question put 70 him by
Mr.. Fitzgerald. saying he had no time.
He then gave. as ne claimed, a dis
cription of a raid made by the police on
a drug store on a certain Sunday after
noon which was intended to reflect on
the police, but the story had very little
point.
He referred 20 tho feeling IN Paw
tueket over the bill declaring that the
meetings had been held TO denounce the
bills. but he said- there was a large un-
dercurrent OF feeling In favor of the bills.
but these we're the people who did not
have anything 20 say. IN closing he said
that 81 the bill was passed he believed
that On ive years the people would won
der what All this turmoil was about
The next speaker was an attorney
named Fairbanks % Boston. who was
announcoa 10 sneak on how well the