The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-25

amendments and sometimes did not get
them
when the liquor dealers in the closing
hours OF the last assembly wanted sweep
ing aud revolutionary amendments passed
they were politely accommodated and no
notice given to anybody else at all In
fact. the amendments were put through
both branches under suspension OF the
rules
THE chief trouble about the bond
amendment is that under the old law.
which Is thus restored, the law drafted
by Gen. Brennan I'm the interest OF the
liquor dealers. politics dominated the
bondsmen. who were chosen generally for
their political pull. so that when a retail
liquor dealer got into trouble for violating
the provisions OF his license he could call
upon his bondsman. or bondsmen. gener-
ally politicians. brewers or wholesale
liquor dealers dummies, to get him on.
Finding this difficulty I'm enforcing the
law. the police commissioners in this city
hogan to, insist that surety companies
should furnish the bonds. We urged this
upon license commissions all over the
state and were informed that for a time
at least I'm this city only surety COM
rauies were accepted on retail dealers
bonds, and that In. Pawtucket from one
half to two-thirds and in Woonsocket
quite a number were furnished by surety
Comr ranies The same conditions prevail
ed In many OF the towns
This amendment restores the old con-
ditions, With all the corrupting influence
which the political pull OF tho bondsmen
! means. The bondsman become factor
| for lawlessness instead OF for decency.
because the private individual doesn't
care and takes no steps TO protect him
self while the surety company usually
looks out for itself. as IL II fails II can
not rely upon sympathy TO save IL from
the consequences OF It's own carolessness
as can the individual. who usually Is a
dummy and knows he can't be hurt while
he has politician with a pull behind
him.
Il 90 not know In all my experience cf
more than one town in which an indiyid-
ual bond was forfeited in this state; and
that was In the town OF Tivertou.
I'VE have repeatedly in this city, Paw
tucket and Woonsocket urged suit under
section IL OF the present law; and the re-
ply invariably has been: 1T is not practi-
cable and will not stand a suit So we
got the police commission to ask the city
solicitor to draw up a bond that would
stand a suit. 1t did so, and the form of
bond that was drawn up has been dopt-
ed I'm this city and in many other places.
1t has worked very satisfactorily.
THE result of this amendment Is to re-
move an influence that was watching and
guarding against infringement OF the llq-
of low politics as a barrier between the
lawless saloon keeper and the penalty
prescribed
1T even goes into the courts, affects
the choice OF jurors and may touch even
the attorney general, whom individual
bondsmen will seek TO influence to have
cases against liquor dealers nolled be-
cause OF this personal element.
I'VE haven't had any difficulty at all
with the surety companies. and had al
most forgotten that there was such
thing as politics in connection with this
bond question until the last legislature
took it up and undid the good work
of the past eight years.
Under the law before is was amended,
IL we found noisy, quarrelsome. lewd or
indecent conduct in the saloons these
things came under the nuisance chapter
and the bondsmen could be proceeded
against. Likewise, gambling and mmor-
ality would also put the bond In jeopardy
THE old law in fact, made the bonds
man conserving force: and II worked
excellently with the surety companies on
bonds The reason IL did not work so
well with the individual was that too Of
ten we found that the bondsman was a
close personal friend OF the saloon keep
er or the license commissioners.
II went before the Pawtuckct license
commissioners once with Rev Frank j.
Goodwin and asked that a certain bond be
forfeited. Commissioner Keenan, took up
the cudgels In behalf of the bondSman,
arguing in this way: Now this bonds
man has only n little money and home
he has acquired by thrift and industry.
He's a good. kind man. who has been I'M
posed upon by the saloon keeper, and &c
take his home from him would be an
outrage The same arguments were put
up all over the state then and will be
again. You can't attack them without ex.
citing sympathy OF license commission
ers or juries.
1T was entirely different with the sure
~ companies. which make a business OF
furnishing bonds and which cannot ap.
peal TO sympathy.
THE amendment 10 section ~. which Il
the most atrocious one designed TO ham
per prosecutions and prevent raids reads.
Provided. that such officer may before
taking any action at the request OF any
taxpayer. demand that the said taxpayer
requesting such officer to act give a bond
| TO secure 20 said officer reasonable com.
pensation for his services and 10 protect
him from all costs and damages that may
| arise from such action
This has already been discussed AZ
some length; and It's purpose IA too OBJ
vious TO require any comment"
At the affair OF the police commission n
was stated this afternoon that since the
passage OF the amendment no surely
company bonds have been accepted. snc
the commission will now nnd II necessary
to have its own form Of bond printed