The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-20

Acting under call issued by Acting
Mayor Wood both branches OF the Paw
tucket city council met I'm special session
Saturday evening and started movement
for a full investigation OF the ice ques-
tion In this city
When the announcement was made
earlier In the week that beginning today
the rates OF the Pawtucket Ice Co. would
be increased just 100 per cent for families
and very nearly that for whosesale users
IL caused a feeling OF Indignation every
where The manager OF the company Mr.
Russell declared at the time that he did
not say just why the price should be ad-
vanced while that supply lasted and ac-
cording TO his own statement IL will not
have been used until the end Of the pres
ent week
But another feature OF the situation
developed Immediately There are other
concerns selling Ice 10 the people OF the
city. No one had heard that either of
these was short in It's supply AMI up 70
the time of the announcement OF the Paw
tucket Co. no announcement OF raise
had been made by these other concerns
But at once when IL was learned that
the Pawtucket Ice Co was going to in
crease its prices giving as a reason
therefores a shortage in supply. the other
companies at once followed with a raise
which while IL is not as great as that
made by the Pawtucket company Is still
beyond all reason and makes the price to-
day as high that II is practically pro-
hihbitive for very great portion of the
people.
or course II is denied by all OF the deal
ers that there is any combination or
agreement. but TO the public which is
called upon TO suffer II looks mighty like
It, and there was therefore considerable
interest in the result of the meeting of
the city council Saturday night.
On being called 10 order a communica-
tion frors the acting mayor was read in
which he called attention 10 the condi-
tions which confront the people. He ad-
mitted that the unusually open winter
had probably caused a shortage in the ice
crop, but SAID mat III mis- uptutor
schedule OF prices which had been adopted
early In the season was sufficiently high
10 give the dealers fair return for their
investment. He expressed the belief that
the new schedule was entirely without
Justification and without reason.
He called attention TO the fact that the
high price would result I'm great distress
among the poorer class OF people especial
ly ard he believed that II was time the
facts relating to the condition OF the ice
business were laid before the public. In
closing his communication Acting Mayor
Wood said:
And IL our citizens, through a lfxit OF
law. can be held up and told 10 stand and
deliver, without there being any redress
therefor. then ! believe IL is within the
province OF this city council TO recommend
certain remedial legislation which will
prevent a recurrence of IT,"
Following the reading OF this in the
council the following resolution was Of
fered and passed:
Resolved. That a joint special commit
tee to consist of two members OF the
board OF aldermen TO be appointed by the
president thereof. and three members of
the common council TO be appointed ~
the president thereof. be and the same
hereby Is appointed for the purpose OF in
qulring into the ice question insofar as It
concerns the citizens OF this city, with
view to ascertalning II any combination
exists to control the price of ice 10 con-
sumers and to determine. II possible. II
the price being charged for ice to con-
sumers is exorbitant: said committee is
empowered to use what methods IL may
desire. as may seem best TO determine
the questions involved and 20 make its
report to this city council as soon as pos
sible and 10 make such recommendations
as TO IL may seem proper
in the work OF this committee shall be paid
out OF the contingent account, after be-
ing properly audited and approved by the
city auditor"
This resolution was at once communi-
Gated 10 the board OF aldermen and pass
ed after which the following were 1rs-
pointed on the committees Aldermen
Alanson Thayer and Edward Fifield and
Councilmen Charles w Greene. F. +.
Halliday Jr., and F. Eugene Barker.
CONCERT AT THE PARK.
There was another big crowd out at
Slater park yesterday afternoon 20 listen
10 the concert which was given by Fays
Second Regiment band. These concerts.
which have been given here each Sunday
afternoon. have proved very popular and
they have been attended by great num-
bers OF people
The only dlsagreeable feature connect
ed with them lies in the fact that while
there are many who go out there because
they enjoy the music or because lying
around under the shade OF the trees they
md relief from the heat OF the city
streets. they are also attended by gangs
OF young rowdies who putting themselves
IN the most desirable places. conduct
themselves in a manner which calls for
the utmost censure. One ~ these gangs
was lDuilu NfNitEuhN AFTERNOON on lnf
north shore Of the pond and their Ian
guage and actions for fully two hours
was most disagreeable and disgusting
IL is probable that II uniformed police
had found their way 90 the spot they
would have been quiet for the time being.
only 20 have broken out afresh when the
officer left II would be n good idea 10
send out one or two officers I'm plain
clothes next Sunday and after few ar
rests had been made II would be likely
10 produce a different condition OF affairs.
Ladies' and children who passed this
gang Of young toughs were insulted and
others who remained In the neighborhood
found their afternoon of pleasure de-
etroyed.
HORSE KILLED BY ELECTRIC.
A horse owned by man who said his
name was Fuller and who claimed
residence IN Providence was driven onto
the eastern end OF the tresue which
spans the branch road that crosses Brook
street near Newport avenue Saturday
evening and before II could be extricated
from between the timbcrs into which u
fell an electric car came over the top and
down the incline at a rather fast speed,