The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-10-12
QUESTION IS UP
TO STATE BOARD
Hearing at State House Next
Monday Will Probably Deter
mine Whether All Will Obey
Or Ignore the Law-Much Dis
satisfaction Over Present En-
forcement Dating Back to Ac-
ton of Original Commission.

Upon action to be taken by the state
board OF barber commissioners within the
next few days the barber law will stand
or fall
There has been a growing disinclina-
tion on the part OF sanitary BARRIERS
to comply with the terms of the law. 50
long as those who are unlicensed are per-
mitted TO do business without any restrtc-
tions whatsoever.
This feeling found expression some time
ago at a meeting of the local BARRIERS.
which appointed committee to wait
upon the state board and ask IL what
had become of two cases which the or1gi-
nal BARRIERS board instituted, one against
man In this city and another aghinst a
man In Pawtucket Both were hned ana
appealed, II is stated. and their appeals
have never yet been heard, for the SIM
pie reason that majority OF the bar
bers' board got "cold feet and failed
to prosecute the cases any further.
THE CASES IN POINT
The cases In question were said to be
those OF the state board against Michael
Whalen OF Pawtucket and against ons
Angelo Armeno OF Dorrance street, Prov
idence, whose licenses were revoked by
the board. After they appealed, however.
they were permitted to continue business
pending disposition of the appeals. ana
they are said TO be still doing business.
which. OF course, they have the right to
The BARRIERS concerned are not seeking
to drive these men out of business. not
caring to enter into the merits of the fight
between them and the old state board.
but simply wishing to have settled for
! all time the question whether or not the
state board has the rights 1t asserted
when II prosecuted these men. and desir-
Ing the board to carry the cases TO final
conclusion I'm the higher court.
The present board however, Is charged
with the auty OF enforcing the law. and
would be forced 10 act If the BARRIERS re-
| fuse to take out licenses. and continue to
pursue their calling, This action Is con-
| templated. IL is stated.
Thelr grf und for reaching this decision
was stated today by one well-informed
member OF the craft as follows: The
| law is good and should be enforced, or II
is bad ana should be repealed. or allowed
| to remain q dead letter sec no reason
| why the self-respecting BARRIERS of the
| city and state should pay their license
sanitary conditions. with its accompany
| ing heavy cost, while other BARRIERS take
out no licenses and use apprentices in
| unsanitary shops, some OF them running
! what / carl filthy holes and not being
A BARRER's RS PLANT.
II know OF case In point in this city
where shop has about ten, men. at
work. who are mole bootbacks than they
are BARRIERS: but they hold licenses from
| the state board. have to pay my bar
This man can s:r., " 'barbers rb 0 at fro from Sc to to
| 81 per week, though l have difficulty In
getting the right Kind at the higher rate.
| These cheap men must be incompetent;
which licenses them? Why not put them
| through the prescribed tests and IL they
| are found incompetent revoke their IL
censes and grant them apprentice IL
censes and force the man who employs
| them to put up sign stating that he ID
running barber school?"
| HEARING MONDAY.
! It Is stated that the board will give
/ hearing at the state house next Monday
| morning at $50 o'clock to a COMMITTEES
representing the local BARRIERS, at which
the matter will be threshed out.
1t was learned today that II was not
the fault of the attorney-general that the
/ cases were not pressed When he was
ready to proceed the old board. the first
| appointed under the law, no member OF
which Is now on the board, refused TO pro-
ceed Thomas McArdle OF Pawtuckef
raised the question as to whether or not
the board would be liable to be sued as
individuals IL they forced man out OF
business. and said he had some property
which he feared might be attached in such
| an action The attorney-general could
not reassure him on this point and the
board decided 70 pigeon-hole the cases.
BOARD MUST PAY COSTS.
When the new board was asked to take
these cases from the pigeon-hole and push
them TO the end. they said they knew
nothing about them, and had had nothing
10 do with them. They had been Informed
that the cost OF prosecuting the cases
I much be borne by the commissioners, and
as their compensa ton for services rem.
dered the state in enforcing the law n
NOT very large they did not seem TO thin1
that they should bear an expense that
| properly belonged TO the old board, which
! had already received It's compensation
Fred l. Friend. one OF the members Of
the original board. II was learned today,
| has been summoned by the new board q
appear before IL next Friday. The othcr
two commissioners are also alive and well
and may be there to give the benefit OF
their wisdom and experience.
FROM SECRETARY WATHEY.
The letter received by Mr.. Friend from
Secretary william wathey. Jr.. of the
board follows:
"Mr. Fred Friend
Dear Sir
"The Board voted at the last meet.
ing TO ask the Board OF Examiner
Of 1903 and 4 to attend the next meeting
TO be held at state House room on Fri
day oct rs at $50 a. m.
ITO give what evidence that they have
In Dorrance st a Pawtucket cases
cases that was commence by your Boar<
and has fail to proscate In II exeunt. Hop
ing you will come Your Truly
VIM wathey Jr secty."
This communication is taken TO indi
cate that the board has at last beer
stirred up and win act az requested y