Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-04-11
TTLe following Municipal business
was transacted on Wednesday -

] W s@""s' SOiI ShcNtuo, oCOIRt
Bowen, Michael Freedom, Joseph b.
Weaver, Christopher g. Perry and Isaac
Could be and they are hereby appointed a
Committee to enquire into the state of H. e
Treasury, and what means may be adopted,
aside from direct taxation, ic raise money,
and repor. the sum necessary for the sup
port of the poo, and for other purposes,
for the ensuing year. Also to adjust the
tax bills in the hands Of the Collector of
Taxes by excusng tho.s IN said bills who
who were taxed Illegally and to make a
settlement with said Collector. Ii is fur
ther voted that said Committee be lcquest-
ed TO attend 10 the duties assigned them as
soon as may be, and make report to the
Annual Town Meeting in June next
Messrs. Samuel Brown, John Steyene
and George w. Taylor were appointed a
Committee TO enquire into the expedency
of widening and repairing the Bliss road,
which is now SO narrow that it is difficult
for teams 10 pass each other in certain pla-
ces, supposed to be in consequence of en-
creachments by the proprelors Of the land
adioining.
A Petition asking the Town to instruct
the Street Commissioner TO repair Prospec,
Hill street, was referred TO The Street Com
missioner for his considera ton.
The following resolution, after a leng-
thy debate, vas referred TO the School
Committee, with instruct ons 10 report at
the me Meeting -
\ Voted, that in order TO increase the ia
cilites Of education, the Public School
Committee are authorised and directed to
establish, whenever they deem il advisable,
High School, consisting of two Del art
ments one for Masters and one for Misses,
tee be and they are hereby authorised to
procure suitable building for that purpose,
eitherby leasing, purchasing, or erecting,
whichever in their judgment Will most con-
duce to the Interest of the Town, and that
the sum of - dollars be paid for that
purpose out of any money in the Town S
Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
/ The following resolution was passed ::
!, Resolrcd, that the Town Treasurer be
and is hereby authorised and directed to
make and execute deed TO J Prescott
Hall, Esq, Of the Baker-Spring lot, upon
the terms and in the manner recommended
by the Committee TO whom was referred
the question of the expediency Of the sale
Of said lot, provided application therefor
be made before tho first day of June, 1850.
A resolution was offered to sever the
Probate business from the Town Council,
which was referred to MessrS. George Tur-
ner, Christopher G.. Perry and Samuel
Brown, with instructions to report in the
afternoon The ommltlee made the fol-
lowing Report -
The undersigned, who were this day
appointed a Committee by vote OF the
Town Meeting" 70 cODside! the expedleL-
cy of severing the Probate business from
,ha, Of the Town Council Of this Town,
and to report to this Town Meeting" hay-
ing devoted the intervening time TO CON
sideraiion ofthe subject beg permission to
submi, the following Report -
The duties, by law, imposed upon Town
Councils, strictly speaking, as such, en-
bracing their financial, prudential and po-
| lice concerns, if not inconsistent with, have
certainly no necessary relation or connex-
tion with those pertaining TO Courts Of
Probate. The Comnttee are under the
impression that in none ofthe United States,
Rhode Island alone excepted, have these
several and distinct powers and duties ever
been vested in the same body of men. Our
own experience aud observation satisfy
| Us that in many instances individuals, ev-
cry way perfectly familiar with and capa-
! bic Of well-managing the affairs OF the
! Town. will not serve the Town therein,
cause they will not assume the rcspon-
sibiliiy of deciding Probate affairs, which
require knowledge and experience of very
| different character, and Of which they are
! ignorant o,on the other hand, Il is found
! that individuals who by education and ex-
perience are qualified for the discharge Of
| Probate du'ieS, will rot consent 10 serve,
because they will not cmbarass themselves
or the Town by attempting the manage
ment Of the details OF Town affairs, with
which they are wholly unacquainted. II,
therefore, must sometimes happen that the
Town will lose the 6,a qualified nen in
both capacities, because they are unhtcd (;
when they might secure them for both, II
they were entirely disconnected, and the
appropriate duties Of each we're separately
discharged.
II The Committee have no certain means Of
calculating what the comparative expense
q The Town would be, upon such separ-
,ation as is contemplated by the Resolution
or Vote blu, see no reason why j, should
be in any way increased. The Probate
business, Of course, would pay itself by
III Ca,s The Town Council could ptobably