The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-21
What Mr. Smith Has Done the City Government and the General
Assembly Councilman and Senator.
Lookat W.
GreaP Time How
a what Did He HeidTh
Charles Sydney Smith.


III one were called upon TO characterize
the record of Mayor Charles sydney
Smith, which has extended over period
of twenty years, he would say it has
been the record of a successful man OF
business, the record of a man Of deeds
rather than words.
Mr.. Smith began his public services in
the Common Council in 1868, and he
served in 1871, 1872 and 1873 from the
Sixth Ward, and in 1888 from the Seventh
Ward. His career in the General Assem-
bly, began in 1877, and was continued In
the lower branch during 1878, 1879 and
1881. and in 1888 he was elected State
Senator from Providence.
Dates, however, are but a small part OF
the story OF any mans career. Mr.. smith
became an active working member OF the
House during his first year. He was Sc
lected as member of the committee on
corporations which, together with the jul
dietary committee, is confessedly the most
confining committee in the General AS
sembly. The work is largely routine work,
exacting, and in many cases, technical,
always requiring not only care. but at
times extended study. Nevertheless, Mr..
Smith did not shrink from the work. He
was as incessant in his zeal then as now,
and won not only the respect of all his
fellow members but also made reputa-
tion as a leader and an aggressive tighter.
The work during those days, how
ever, was not of its present character, the
General Assembly was strongly Republi-
can in both branches, and bills were scru-
tinized not for their political effect but for
their value TO the peoples interest.
1t was not until in 1883, when Mr.. Smith
was sent to the state senate, however, that
his powers as an organizer and leader were
made especially prominent. That was
the time when the state was agitated over
the question of the resubmission of the
prohibitory constitutional amendment.
The bill for resubmission had passed the
lower branch and had come to the senate
judiciary committee of which Mr.. Smith
was chairman. Senator Smith realized
that the citizens of the State were i'm favor
of esubmission, and that Prohibition had
proued itself failure, but the Senate was
about evenly upon the question For days
the battle with on, each side working TO
get the upper hand AT last a vote was
had and the bill was passed by two major
ity. That Senator Smith was right is
shown by the large, majority which the
amendment received when put TO a vote
before the people.
In Common Council Mr.. Smith was
member Of the COMMITTEES on Highways,
Claims and Railroads. From the outset
he took great interest in the question of
Terminal Facilities and at all times he
has insisted that the earliest possible COM
pletion of some kind of improved facili-
ties was one of the absolute necessities of
the city's growth. But at all times he
also insisted that no grants should be
made so the railroad companies until
they had given positive assurance that a
railroad station would be built. That
station is now begun and two years more
ought to see some practical results OF the
building.
Ii seems scarcely necessary to recall the
record of the Mayor during the past year.
Being business man himself he has
always looked straight at the business re-
suits TO be obtained by any measure pro-
posed. Every bill signed by him has been
carefully read and its special provisions
examined Within the year he has taken
special interest i'm all those Improvements
which are awakening the people to the
fact that Providence is n city with splen-
did possibilities, and that public expendi-
lures which are necessary should be made
as quickly as possible, because every day
that necessary work is deferred entails
additional expense upon the city
when it is done. 1t is impossible to give
i'm detail ali the numerous improvements
which he has favored, but to put it briefly
there have been more lineal feet OF curb
ing laid and more new streets graded In
the city under Mayor Smiths administra-
tion than any other year. More sewers
and water pipes have been laid than by
any other mayor. The school houses are
being pushed rapidly to completion. The
extension of the parks has met with Mayor
Smiths approval and he is using every
effort to have the extension made rapidly.
Mayor Smith is progressive, buslness-llke,
energetic and Conscientious. More than
than that need not be said.