Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-09-30
REPORT.

Inc coHlHIttce appOlnleu by the Modera-
tor of the town meeting held Saturday, May
18th, lS47, under a resolution adopted by that
meeting, "to consider and report what changes
are necessary in the Government Of the town,
to secure an efficient and economical admin.
is,raton thereof, and particularly the establish.
ment Of an effective police, having re-
ported, in part, to the annual June town meet
ing sundry changes and amendments IN our
town system, which they considered it expe-
dent to adopt and the said report having
been recomntted to this committee with view
to further action thereon, at an adjourned
meeting to be held in the month of Septem-
ber further respectfully report:
That, by the terms of the resolution recon-.
mitting this report, in addition to the implied
power Of revising and amending it, they were
- authorized, in connection with the town
council to petition the General Assembly, for
such powes TO be granted to the town as may
I be necessary TO carry into effect the reforms
II the town affairs contemplated" AS the
report presented by the Committee at the
Junc town meeting, was necessarily a very
imperfect one, aud did not embrace many sub
jec;s Of reform contemplated by our citizens
when The committee was instituted, they have
Thought it best before acting on the authority
t. petition the General Assembly, to ascei-
tain distinctly what powers are now vested by
law in the town, or town council, for our mu-
nicipal government how far those powers
are adequate to the attainment Of what all
deem essential, viz well regulated munich
pal government of some kind; and, if addi-
tonal powers were thought necessary, then to
enumerate and define them. Or if the defect
should be found to exist in the want of a prop
er executive authority to carry the laws into
effect, then to create such executive authority,
or confer it on some existing officer, and limit
and define its duties aud powers.
The powers, and privileges, duties, and liza
bilities, of the towns in this State are conferr.
ed and defined either by the provisions of the
State Constitution, or by acts of the General
Assembly passed prior to, and subsequent to
its adoption. The provisions of the Consttu-
ton which have any reference to the munich
pal administration of the towns are few and
unmportant, and need not be taken into con
sideration in an inquiry of this nature. But
the provisions by statute are complex and
plenary, and cover, to a very great extent, the
powers and duties which are considered the
most important in that form of government
The Committee have examined the Digest of
io22 the acts in relation to towns, and to this
town in particular, passed by the General As
semby from 1922 to lo44 the Digest of lS44 !;
and the acts Of the Assembly passed on those
subjects since the establishment of the Di-
schedule ofthe acts above named specially re-
lating to this town, as well as of the acts of a
general nature containing provisions, which
have reference to, or connexion with, our
municipal institutions. All the preceding
named acts, which confer any powers and
privileges on this town and arc n.niained in
the Digest of 1899, and all Ul..a ol tie same
nature, passed by the Conceal = ssembly sub
sequcnt to that Digest and previous to the
Digest Of IS4i, the rDrmlttee are Of opin.
ION are now in fore, d." "'r'ue Of the 10Th
section Of the "dct de- Irm 10 be bodiss
eorporote, and prescribing M u,ansr II reeorering
deJts due from towns." See Digest Of 1874,
page 800. As to the acts Of the General As.
sembly, in relation To this town, passed prior
to the Digest Of 1899, as no reservation, with
respect to the powers and privileges conferred
by them is contained in that Digest, which
expressly rcpeals all public statute laws there.
tofore made and published, and not contained
therein, the committee are Of opinion, that
they cannot now be considered in forcc-ac,s
of a general nature like those relating to
towns, or their government, having always
been deemed to be public acts, which may be
declared on, and given in evidence, without
specially pleading them.
Ifany one will take the trouble 10 examine
the several s,atuics, whose titles arc onumera.