The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-10-02

Last evening occurred the first regular
meeting OF the Pawtucket Business Men $
association for this season. and there was
a large attendance OF the members. There
the association and the discussion OF that
took up the entire time from the opening
at o'clock till well after 10 o'clock
This was the report OF the ice COM
mittee so called. This committee was
chosen at the special meeting held in
August Immediately after the ice com
panies advanced the price OF ice 20 a
price which many people believed 10 be
extortionate. At that meeting consider
able INDICATION was expressed, and there
was no one brave enough 70 stand up ana
offer any defence for the companies.
Last evening. however. there was a lit
tie difference. The committee which had
been selected 10 inquire into the mat
ter OF cost OF an artificial plant made
its report, and II was an interesting one.
too. Then followed discussion and for
the most part the members appeared TO
be fully in accord with the recommended
tions made I'm the report The committee
recommended that an effort be made 10
learn what support would be given by the
public of an artificial ice plant, and there
was a request for the appropriation OF
s25 TO pay the expenses OF advertising in
public prints and for such other things
as the committee believed were neces-
sary.
OLD SPIRIT REVIVED.
II was right here that the old spirit
which has had such a hold on this or
ganization for such a long time began
TO manifest itself The committee be-
iieved that here was n chance for the as
ISOLATION to do something except talk,
but some OF the members appeared TO feel
that IL is not the province of the asso-
citation TO enter into a scheme OF this
character. They were quite content In
the passage OF a resolution which would
recommend that someone do something
about establishing an artificial ice plant
some time, provided some one would
give some money for the purpose.
Secretary James l.. jerks and Vice
President Lellan J. Tuck voiced their in
dignation at this proposition. The for
mer declared that he believed IL an n arti-
hcial plant should be established through
the efforts OF the Business Mems asso-
citation II would be the most satisfactory
thing that organization ever accomplished.
During the entire debate Henry Russell,
whose father is the manager OF the Paw
tucket Ice company. and who himself
s actively connected with the manage
ment OF that concern was present as a
member OF the association. and just be-
fore the discussion closed he rose and ad-
dressed the chair.
RUSSELL'S OFFER.
He declared that he had listened to the
remarks which had been made by the gen
tlemen and he was prepared to make aL
offer to anyone who was engaged In max
ing artificial ice to the effect that he
wOfld sell Qtich "A oil he ipa
wanted next summer on the platform
ready TO be delivered at $3.50 per ton.
provided there was any cut. He did not
say. however what would be the price
II the artificial ice company was not
started and he did not explain why Il was
that IL this could be done after the plant
was In operation, IL could not be done In
past years.
The meeting was presided over by Presi-
dent William p. Dempsey and the records
OF the last meetings were read by the
secretary. James l.. jerks. Immediately
following this the secretary read the re-
port OF the ice committee, which was In
part as follows:
THE REPORT.
The duty OF this committee as set forth
In the resolution by which IL was ap-
pointed was I'm substance to discover, II
possible. and report TO this association
some remedy for the extortionate prices
for Ice which have oppressed the citizens
Of Pawtucket during the present season.
The able report OF the committee OF the
city council has proved the following
facts:
I. That while there was n shortage OF
Ice cut during the past winter. there
Vas still an abundance 10 be obtained in
the Northern states at normal prices In
the early part OF the season.
That consequently the prices charged
10 consumers during the past summer
were uncalled for. unreasonable. and ex-
tortionate
3. That by the present method OF sell |
Ing ice the Ignorance and dishonesty OF
The driver are charged TO and paid by the |
consumer
4. That from the testimony given by /
he ice dealers themselves. the loss TO |
The consumer from the lncapacity or dis |
honesty of drivers amounts to between /