Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1892-07-06
No New Officers Have
Been Appointed.
MEETING Illegally CALLED.
The Partisan Majority "Put It's Foot
in It" Very Badly.

Mayor Carroll arrived in town this
morning from Phenix where his family is
spending the Summer.
AS there is meeting OF the Board OF
Aldermen this evening, a TRIBUNE re-
porter called on His Honor to get his
views OF what transpired during his
absence at the Chicago Convention.
The meeting tonight is the regular one
and the first that has been held since the
Mayors return, and since the newly ap-
pointed police were suspended.
The important things alleged to have
been done in his absence are the passing
OF an ordinance to the effect that it is not
necessary for the Mayor to sign bills, and
an ordinance amending the police and
increasing the force to forty five.
The Mayor said:
'In reference to the payment OF bills of
the city, clause 8, section of the City
Charter reads as follows: Every ordin-
ance, order, resolution or vote to which the
concurrence of the Common Council and
the Board OF Aldermen shall be necessary,
except on question of adjournment or of
convention of the two boards; and also
every order OF either branch involving an
expenditure Of money shall be presented
to the Mayor
"The ordinance in amendment OF Chap
ter OF the city ordinances, which were
passed June %, 1892, conflicts with the
charter. The rule or law is that no town
or city can pass an ordinance conflicting
with the general statutes, and therefore the
new ordinance is null and void. When
ever an ordinance conflicts with the
statutes the statutes always prevail.
"The charter OF the city is a statute law
OF the State and can only be changed by
the General Assembly.
"If the City Council had applied to the
General Assembly at the special session
for change Of the charter there is nc
doubt that they might have succeeded
but in their haste to take advantage OF
circumstances they overlooked the i'm
portant point.
"Clause /, section Of the City Charter
reads that in case of death or absence
from the city or disability OF the Mayor
the President of the Board OF Aldermen
shall exercise for the time being all the
power and duties of the Mayor.
"The law does not recognize any part ot
a day, except in matters relating .to
priority of attachments and service, filing
or recording of legal documents. Tn,
Mayor was in the city on Saturday, lJun,
18th, and the notice of the acting Mayor
was given at 2:30 of the same day.
"The notice was illegal, and, as eact
subsequent meeting was simply an ad
journment OF the first meeting, they wer,
also illegal. Therefore there have been ne
new police officers appointed and the or.
dinances remain the same"
The Mayor picked up copy OF tn,
amended police ordinance and began Il
laugh. He said:
"Why, il this ordinance was any goot
there would not be a police officer in tn,
city of Pawtucket today.
"This Is not an addition to the old ordi
nance, but an amendment. The old ordi
nance would be repealed IL this was any
good, and this ordinance does not stat,
how the officers shall be appointed Of
what their duties shall be.
"rhe whole matter can be summed uy
in very few words. The notice wal
illegal, because 1t was issued on day
when the Mayor was in town, and thu,
all meetings were illegal"