The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-25
Used Assembly to Get Vote
Of Liquor Dealers
Amendment Silly Rushed Through Under Suspension Of the
Rules Restores Old Conditions Under Which Politicians
Favored by tho Republican Boss Exercised Entire Control
Over tho Liquor Business and Forced Retailers TO Vote
With BraytOns Machine or Go Out Of Business.

Owing to the deal by which the Bray
ton Republican state machine at the last
session Of the assembly rushed through,
under suspension OF the rules. legislation
demanded by the liquor dealers whose sup
port was desired in the present senatorial
campaign. hundreds OF bonds given by
liquor dealers are undoubtedly worthless;
and state. towns and cities concerned are
without any protection at all.
Section 2 Of the law as amended re-
stores the old act. which the late Gen.
John NJ. Brennan drafted and had incor-
porated for the liquor dealers benefit back
In 1889 and which remained on the statute
books until the temperance people had 1t
amended I'm 1895
Ii excludes surety companies from fur
nishlng bonds for lquor dealers. and con-
tains this additional proviso: This act
shall take effect from and after its pas
sage.
The act was passed on April 20; and
good lawyers contend that its immediate
effect was TO invalidate every surety
company bond that had been given by any
Rhode Island liquor dealer
The surety and other bonds were given
TO be liable from Dec. last TO Dec. OF
the present year; but in their eager haste
to do something at the command of Boss
Brayton for the benefit of the saloon
keepers, and the brewers and wholesalers
dummies 10 furnish bonds, and whose
votes were desired by the Brayton ma
chine, hereby enabling the wholesalers TO
control the retailers.tne subservient iegis-
lators rushed the act through without CIV
ing anyhofy else an opportunity TO read
IL. and possibly without reading 1t them
selves.
They seemed TO care nothing for the In
terests OF the state. but everything for
the interests of those whose votes were
sought by Boss Brayton.
The pertinent section Of the old act read
al follows:
Before any license shall be issued un-
der the provisions of this chapter. the
person applying therefor shall give bond
to the town or city treasurer In the pepal
sum OF $1,000. with at least two sureues
which sureties shall be residents of
THIS STATE, OR A SURETY COM
PANY AUTHORIZED TO DO BUSl-
NESS IN THIS STATE. conditioned that
he will not violate any of the provisions
OF this chapter or OF chapters 81 or PSI
OF the general laws of the state OF Rhode
Island, etc.
The following words capitalized above
were stricken OUT This state or
surety company authorized TO do busi-
ness in this state and the following sub
stituted: 1.-THE town or city where the IL
censee proposes TO do business
This excludes the surety companies and
enables the politicians and brewers or
wholesalers again to become potent fac
tors In controlling the license situation In
this city.
The last Brayton general assembly, II
was known. had done several things
which were not approved by the temper
ance people and which were calculated
TO hamper those who were deslrous of
keeping minors and women out Of saloons,
OF preventing gambling machines from be-
ing installed and operated, and OF allow
Ing officers TO get evidence without re-
quirlng bonds.
When Rev A. b. Cristy. superintendent
of the Rhode Island Temperance league.
vas asked today concerning the effect OF
the amendments to the liquor laws adopted
by Boss Brayton's Republican assembly
which has declared II was 90 anxious to
protect the dear name and fame of the
state. he said:
There is no question that one of the
amendments TO which you refer specific
ally was intended 10 relieve the retail
saloon keeper OF any care as to the class
o. persons to whom he sells; and IL was
adopted just after the trouble one dealer
OF this class had IN the city OF Provi-
dence. He was conducting a resort on
Chapel street
'The legislature also struck out the pro-
vision which permitted occupants OF
places within 200 feet Of licensed saloons.
or saloons desiring licenses. TO remon-
strate We nad used the remonstrance
clause, but had always been careful 10
CT tain the names OF property owners as
well as occupants, because We recognized
the danger OF having remonstrance In
validated by the desertion at tn last mo-
uent for pay or other reason, OF one OF
the occupants some OF whom. / had no
doubt. desired to get their names in such
a document In order 10 sell out 20 saloon
epers OF would-be saloon keepers.
ION the bond question, however, the
law that was I'm force up to the closing
days OF the last assembly session had
been on the statute books since 1898. when
"A committee from the Episcopal church.
headed by Rev william Sheafe Chase.
had the old law amended I'm the interest
OF public morality.
"The greatest possible secrecy was pre-
served i'm obtaining the passage of tho
amendments. I went 10 the committee in
charge, but could not get n glimpse OF the
one relating TO the surety company, nor
could | obtain a copy anywhere else.
II never saw any copy OF Il I'm the news
papers until after the election: and IL
was only a recent discovery I'm the town
of North Smithneld that called attention
TO the existence OF the bond amendment
excluding the surety companies.
Whenever I have been before the gem
eral assembly with a proposition OF
amendment have always been told. this
is important and should not be acted upon
hastily and a public hearing has been
held
"Of course, no one appeared at such
public hearings save the attorneys for the
liquor interests, and sometimes I got the