The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-03
HOME-RULE
POLICE BILL.
CONTINUED from page one,


tion.
Assistant city solicitor Baker spoke in
favor OF the bill. stating that II was ask
ed for by the city government: ana ne
then sketohed the history OF local ponce
affairs
In 1899. he said. the first step toward
change in the appointment of the commis-
sion was taken. against the opposition OF
citizens
The city solicitor appeared at that
time 10 protest against state interfer-
ence: and his brief contained 20 or more
pages
That protest was successful and no ac-
tion was taken until 1901. The question
then was on the constitutional right OF
the state TO interfere.
Mr. Baker then read parts or the brlef'
showing substantial reasons whereby the
invasion OF the power OF the town by the
state should be abrogated and the con-
troll restored 10 the city.
The towns never agreed TO surrender any
rights when they combined for mutuhl
protection in early times.
The following protest against the bill
was received by the committee:
To the honorable senate of the State or
Rhode Island:
We. the undersigned citizens and tax
payers OF tho city OF Providence, protest
against the passage OF the amendment 10
the Providence police commission bill In
the form I'm which IL now Is before the
assembly. II any change I'm the manner OF
appointment is made we believe that the
mayor should be given the uncontrolled
appointment OF the commissioners, or. II
any restriction is TO be placed on his APP
pointments II should be confined 10 the
vote OF approval or disapproval OF the
board Of aldermen.
Respectfully,
s. O. Edwards. Chas. Dean Kimball. r. /.
Gammel, Wml @. Gammell. Geo. c.
Lyons. Edward O. Bassett II. +. Ar
mold. Chas. NJ Smith. Geo. w. Smith,
Robt. w. Burbank. Louis III. Comstock
Frank II. Comstock. J. c. Pegram,
Robt. knight. Frank w. Matteson,
Edw j. Law. Ed. b. Kelly, Theo w
Foster. Llewelyn G. Henson
. IL reqres very little argument" urged
Mr.. Baker, ito say that this state has
been less centralized In its government
than almost any other. Everything was
left To the town. We may have forgotten
and gotten away from the old Rhode
Island way OF governing and OF home
rule
Let us go back and see the opinions Of
those who were experienced I'm the science
of government"
Mr. Baker then quoted from the writ
ings OF Thomes jefferson. Chief Justice
Cooley OF Michigan. Judge Herrick of
New York and Justice Gray Of New York.
on the purpose and embodiment OF home
| rule.
why is Il. that. despite the fact that
after the city council has been almost
unanimous In voting for II. there should
"The police department Is being admin
istered better than ever before. That is
my belief In Massachusetts the state
| control plan worked well for time, but
! that has changed. one parts of the state
| has declared against IL and has done so at
/ every election since.
Let's look at the act that was passed
| In 1902. a large number of local munich
| pal matters were taken right out of the
| city's control and placed In that OF the
state.
This bill simply seeks 70 restore the
/ rights and 10 retain that which Is right
and true. and To get back those offices
! which belong 10 the city"
Mr., Baker then defined, by request, the
position OF Mayor Dyer. who. he said
approved the action OF the council, We,
would have preferred 10 have seen the
control vested I'm the hands OF the mayor
but, with that impossible and the council
so unanimous on the present bill the
mayor favored II.
There is nothing new about the
method OF appointment. II gives the
power OF selection with the proviso OF
checking the appointment Whatever
may be said Of boards OF aldermen or
town councils. they do represent the peo-
| pie. We know that sometimes there
have been recommendation that have
not been the best, and this check has been
found TO work well
This Is the same plan which is car
ried out by the senate and the governor
| You, gentlemen. know whether the plar
| has worked well or not. That Is your
plan. IL should be allowed in the city
also The mayor may appoint for three
years, yet he holds office for bat one
and thus without check his poor judg
ment might work Ill to the people wht
elected him after he had retired
II am not in the habit Of predicting
but IL those who are here should exercis,
the same zeal In the appointments unde
the mayor that they have in the case o
the state then the act could not bu
work we'll
To question regarding the result II
case Of a deadlock, Mr.. Baker replied tina
the bill provided that the final powe
was vested in the board OF aldermen
This was TO prevent a deadlock
Another question asked was as to TIT
removal OF commissioner: Mr.. Bake
stated that there was no provision made
Ex-Governor Kimball then read "a peti
tion OF a number of citizens and tele
gram from Gardner G.. Sims favorng tn
power being vested only in the hands o
the mayor
"The question: he said. "is In the fna
appointment and there is no case wher
| Ailflf ~ an tAtNuliNt ana n ieElSlatlN
body in which the final appointive powe
was vested In the legislative body.
If the mayor makes tho appointment
the people can get at hom. II I'm tho hand
OF the board ther is no proper recourse 3"
Mr.. Truman suggested that the pla-
adopted In the United States senat
should be followed, allowing the old In
cumbents 10 hold over. The mayor repre-
sents the people and was most likely I,
represent the true sentiment OF the peo
pie.
Mr.. Westiake could not agree 20 this
for the reason that IL would only be q
prolong the agony The only right way
TO give the power 10 the mayor alone
since he represents the whole people /
should not be I'm the hands OF the alder
men because they are not all from IN
whole city. The mayor would simply b
n iigurehead
Rev. A. II. Christy read n petition head
ed by stephen q. Metcalf protestin
against the limiting OF the power OF IN
mayor. He spoke OF the license syster
as he and others had found IL for tho pa :