The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-19
BLOCK GAME
Mayor Honey Baked in
Every Direction.
HIS STRANGE ACTIONS.
"Monkeying" With the City's Sink
ing Fund Yesterday.
FOILED BY A "FLY" CASHIER.
The Question of Newport's Bonds Is No
Longer "a Political One e-The Action of
the Senate To-day on the Bond Bill
Referred to the Engrossed Ac:s Com
mittfe. Found Rightly Enarlssed IN Il
Pass d, tie lie nocrats Not Voting.
ESPECIAL TO THE SEws.l


NEWPORT, X. l., Feb 19-The "block
system" seems to have prevailed pretty
generally yesterday, and before the night
closed something was heard to drop, much
TO the discomfort of the present city gov
ernment, who seems determined TO gobble
up the entire city, its treasury, its Offices
in fact, everything, hook, line and sinker.
This matter is becoming so serious as to
get out of the line of politics altogether
and TO become purely civic affair.
Seeing that Mayor Honey appeared be-
fore the Legislature in opposition 70 the
bonds bill passed yesterday, it seems TO
the ordinary observer that he would be
bound in honor to await the result; but
not so, the bonds must be issued ana
though tis startling. yet tbs true, the
sinking fund must be gotten out of the
banks for the extraordinary purpose or
meeting the overdraft when 1t was well
known that this sinking fund was on
deposit TO pay bonds already issued by the
city, il was for this specific purpose only,
and If the attempt had succeeded it would
have made the holders of those bonds feel
very blue and would cause a flood of that
paper in the market.
This fund was on deposit in two places
the Coddington and the Newport Savings
Banks, and the city treasurer was or
dered TO withdraw these monies and de-
posit them in the Union National Bank
for the purpose above alluded to. At the
one bank $4,000 was withdrawn, but at
the Newport Savings Bank the cashier
promptly demanded the customary two
weeks official notice, Block No. |. The
action of yesterday meets with general
satisfaction, and Is considered huge
block and safeguard TO the present reck-
less method of procedure. Block and
the Senate are expected TO etfectually put
the stopping block on to-day.
In the Senate.
1t was 1880 before quorum could be
obtained in the Senate this morning. Gov.
Ladd presided, and the first business was
a communication from the House of Rep
resentatiyes announcing the passage of
several acts, one of which was substitute
act incorporating the Pascoag Fire Dis
trict. Passed in concurrence.
Senator Wilbour called for the special
order which was the charter of the Inter
state Railway Company. IL was passed
without opposition.
The act restraining the city of Newport
from issuing bonds or other securities
without the vote OF the people on the
question, passed yesterday in the House,
was presented, and Senator Pond moved
its reference To the committee on judici-
AIRY, as the mayor of Newport wished to
be heard. He also said he was not well
informed on the subject and wished for
more time.
Senator Burdick said he hoped the act
would be Immediately passed. There had
been hearing before the House com
mittee on judiciary and Newport was well
represented.
Senator Woods said he also had received
a communication from Mayor Honey TO
the effect that the city of Newport wished
TO be heard in the matter. but he further
stated that he understood that the bonds
ha for 10
ing haste was the reason that the act
should he Immediately passed.
Senator Pond said that he hoped Sena-
tor Burdick gould have chance to com
municate with Mayor Honey aud satisfy
himself that the Mayor had requested the
delay.
Senator Burdck said that he was well
ncuuainted with Mayor Honey, and that
he was "a very smart man, i'll fact too
smart, and his smartness had led him to
use up all the siuking fund of Newport,
and IL was proposed to saddle the city
with more debt. The boadS of Newport
had previously brought a premium OF 10
per cent but these bonds would have to
be sold in order 10 get rid of them.
Senator Woods said that as no assurance
had been received from anyone that there
would be delay in issuing the bonds,
there was S23. 900 drawn from the banks
Yesterday TO add TO the sinking fund, and
he thought vote should be taken on the
act ut once.
senator Pond asked how the city Of
Newport could raise money il this act
cutting off the right to issue bonds was
passed.
senator Burdick said the credit Of New
port was very good and they never had
any trouble in raising money, as the pco-
ple were very ready To vote To eXpend
necessary amounts.
Lieut.. .tiov. Stearns asked why the usual
method of referring the matter to the
people was passed.
senator Pond said he did not kno,'
whether the usual method had been
passed or not.
senator Burdick said this was not the
usual way.
Senator Garvin said he did not see any
reason why the matter should not rest for
a short time.
senator Bartlett asked whether tho
bonds would be legal il issued contrary
To the city charter
senator Burdck said the city would
have 20 bc responsible for them
senator Pond said he had the assurance
of Mayor Honey that no bonds would be
issued il n short delay was granted.
Senator Burdick said that Mayor Honey
also said yesterday that no bonds had been
issued, whereas sI1,OOO OF bonds had been
issued.
senator Pond said that he wished for time
in order 90 vote understandingly on the
subject.
senator Burdick said he wanted the peo.
ple TO have "a chance TO vote on the sub
ject.
Senator Garyin moved in amendment to