The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-06
BAKER DOUBTS
IF COURT WOULD
SUSTAIN ACT

A hearing was had today before the
house judiciary committee on the bills
giving to permanent flremen in the cities
OF Rhode Island one day off in seven.
There was n large attendance which
practically filed the committee room. At
the opening Hon. Samuel W. X Allen.
who i'm the absence OF Judge Harris acted
as chairman. announced that the hearing
would be discontinued at o'clock.
II all who wished to be heard could not
do so. he stated. an adjourned hearing
would he held
Benjamin r. Harrington, former chair
man OF the Providence fire commissioners.
compared the work now required OF the
firemen to that required OF them * years
ago Today. he said. the fireman must
be man OF Intelligence. courage and
regular habits. The fact he possessed
these qualities. the speaker believed, en-
titled him TO one day of In seven.
He said that in the cities OF other states
the fremen were allowed even more days
OFF In week than are proposed I'm the
act under consideration. Under this act.
he stated. the flremcn would have go days
off during the year; one day n week
and ten days annual vacation.
j. B. S. Brazeal OF Pawtucket also
advocated the passage OF the bill. He
also spoke In favor OF the act providing
for the payment OF $1,000 TO the family OF
a fireman killed or fatally injured in the
discharge OF his duties.
William w. Erspine. president OF the
State League Of Veteran Firemen. said
the endorsement OF the organization had
been given the act giving one day OF In
seven.
Rev Mr. Decker OF Emwood Congre-
Rational Temple. as n representative OF
Al.
able consideration for the BILL saying that
ne considered it a reasonable and humane
measure which allowed a man more lib
ereyt in his home life.
Representative Fred r. Newell OF Cen
trail Falls made an impassioned address
in favor OF the act He said In consider
alton OF the danger they encountered the
flremen were not half paid and said they
felt more like working after enjoying a
day at home
Ira D. Goff OF Riverside a representa-
tive OF the Rhode Island State Firemen's
league called attention 10 certain con-
ditions which exist In the city fire depart
ment.
Assistant City Solicitor Baker appeared
In opposition to the measure. He ques-
toned the constltutionality OF the act.
He said the fire department was a purely
local affair and he doubted II the state had
any jurisdiction i'm matters OF purely
local interest
He said the supreme court Of Kentucky
had rled that IL was not within the
province OF the state TO fix the pay OF
municipal flremen
From some OF the remarks OF the pre-
vious speakers he said there was an in
ference that the Providence fremen had
not been literally treated. while as
matter OF fact they were paid better
than In the other cities OF the state.
The fire department OF Providence.
which he regarded as the best I'm the
country was one OF the few greatest in
cost per capita OF any in the country.
Mr.. Baker said the matter was taken
up In the city council last night. upon the
report of the Are commissioners What
ever the result Is. his point was II was
should be allowed TO settle for rthem-
selves
The question IN other cities. he said.
was mere hsgatelle as compared with
it's Importance I'm Providence. In this city.
he said. there were 2s2 permanent firemen
while I'm the rest OF the state there were
but 81
Leroy Whitman. ex-president ~ the
state league. said he. had been asked bv
number Of fremen 10 come before the
board 20 urge tho passage OF the bill. The
hrcmen were at tho stations, where they
could not come he said. and n they were
of they could not appear before the COM
mitteo because Il would not be policy
He asserted that men OF the depart
ment had been punished for claiming tho
right OF petition and that those who hap
pcned 10 he OF did not dare come before
the committee. lie said nc had been
member Of the Providence lre department
and it was n dogs life The confine-
ment. he said. rendered the life very
monotonous.
Mr. Whitman did not think the bill Civ
ing $1,000 10 the family OF a fireman Killed
or fatally injured IN the discharge of
duty should be passed
John ]. Mullen Of East Providence also
spoke IN favor OF the act.