The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-22
Common Councilmen Vote to In
crease Their Salaries.
VERY LITTLE OPPOSITION.
Investigation Committees Report Tabled
for q week-City Property Committee
Will Make a Reply to it-Resoiution
to Increase the Salary Of the Recorder
of Deeds.

night concurred with the board OF alder
men in the amendment to the ordinance
fixing the salaries of the aldermen at $500
per annum and of the councilmen at
500. The report Of the special investi-
eating committee of the methods of the
city property committee was laid over un-
till next Monday evening, when it will be
made the special order. These were the
principal matters attended to, and in ad-
dition to them considerable routine bust
ness was transacted.
Mayor-elect Potter occupied a seat at
President Watson's left during the greater
part of the meeting last evening and re-
ceived his first lesson in the transaction OF
municipal business.
The committee on ordinances reported
back several bills, all of which were
passed upon according to the recommen-
dation Of the committee. The title to the
Tillinghast burial ground was released:
The resolution to purchase additional
land for Hayward Park was indefinitely
postponed. A resolution was passed
authorizing the committee OH ordinances
to report bill governing the obstruc-
tions of highways and limiting the length
OF time that team can stand ON the
street.
The following petitions from the COM
mittee on claims were granted: Patrick
I.addy, compensation for damages to
property; G.. II. Spicer, refunding Of sewer
tax; William Scattergood, Jr.. remission
of personal property tax; Thomas H..
Rhodes and wife, remission Of tax; Hattie
Il. Potter, compensation for damages to
property: Booth q Hntchison and
Christopher T. Keith had leave to with
draw their claims against the city.
Resolutions were adopted ordering
sewers in Hammond, Sprague and hyatt
streets.
Mr. Lansing, for the committee on po-
lice, reported back on the resolution
directing the city solicitor to apply TO the
General Assembly for the necessary
authority to create pension fund for the
police who have served a certain length
Of time in the department. This resolu-
tion was indefinitely postponed and sub
stitute resolution was adopted, making
provision for pension fund for policemen
and fremen who have became perma-
manently disabled while in the discharge
of their duties.
Resolutions were adopted directing the
board of aldermen to define the grade Of
Curtis, Alleppo, Julian and Saunders
streets and the petition for defining the
grade of Delhi street was indefinitely post.
poned.
The committee on city property present.
ed a report accompanied by the report of
Police Surgeon Palmer, on the present
physical condition of Orrin S. Mowry who
was injured in the Barnaby fire year
ago, accompanying the report was reso
luton to appoint a committee TO inquire
into his case further and to make necess-
airy provision for him. Messrs. Batchel-
der, Ira Winsor and Kelly were appointed
on this committee for the council.
The special committee on the Johnston
boundary line presented its report and the
committee was dismissed.
Then came the business from the Board
of Aldermen and first on the list was the
report of the joint special committee to in
vestigate the committee on property, with
the accompanying resolution directing the
committee IN ordinances to prepare an
ordinance regulating the department of
public buildings.
Mr.. Batcheller objected to the receiving
of the report until the city property COM
mittee had had chance TO make a reply
to II. Mr.. Mclaughlin said the committee
had had plenty of time to examine the re-
port and Shere was no occasion for any
delay. Mr. Joseph kendrick said that
there were two classes in the community
which would not be satisfied with the re-
port anyway. One was the class which
thought nothing should be said against
the city property committee, and the other
was the class that thought the city prop
erty committee should be hung. The spe-
ciaI committee had tried TO be fair in this
matter and there was no occasion for lay
ing the matter on the table as had
been moved.
Councilman Burton said number of
the charges in the report were very mis-
leading One in particular, that in which
il was stated that the committee audited
their own bills. People had the impress
ion that all the committee did was to au-
dit it's own bills, go to the City Auditor
and get the money. Then the charge OF
favoritism was not true regarding the
manual training school. The committee
threw out bids and then awarded the con-
tract for 800 less than the offer of the
lowest bidder. / Tor one want a chance to
vindcate myself. Many here have not
read the report and don't know what they
are voting on. i want what Is right and
fair. have done the same by the city of
Providence as would by myself, and to
be censured tor so doing don't think it Is
right hope we shall have the privilege
of defending ourselves.
Councilman Angel said he made the
motion, and il seemed to him that 1t was
no discourtesy to the committee of in
vestigation. He considered it right and
reasonable that IL should lay over He
referred to the report, where IL made men,
tion Of $50 paid 10 member OF the COM
mittee on city property for expert testi-
mony on the cost Of the Manual Training
school. He was a member OF the special
committee on the school, and they asked
the gentleman in question TO do the work.
He did il reluctantly, and reported that
the building could not be done for the sum
Named and the plans were modified.
Councilman Read said: "As member
of the committee on city property, wish
to say that whatever is printed about the
amount have been paid as an architect
Is correct. But do not think the com
mittee on city property has been treated
right In this matter. III they have had
ample time l would like to know when IL
was. We were called as witnesses. We
were not allowed 10 have counsel before
that committee rhe committee individ-
ually and collectively were totally igno-
rant OF what caused them to do the way
they have. There is no way they can
know. SO far as the gentleman's state
ment that IL Is wrong, or at least the re
part that IL is wrong. deny from begin
ming 10 end. | hope, Mr. President. that
the committee on city property will not
be left with this stigma upon them, but
will be allowed to explain more fully to
the Council
Councilman Vaughn said: 81 don't
want 10 be understood as critizising the re-
port OF the committee. Possibly their
iinding was correct and proper. Person
ally, don't know anything about this
testimony. / am not willing to accept a
t.I In