The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-18

Gil. He took his seat jan /, 1883. He has
become by natural ability and experience
one of the safest and best legislators that
ward has ever given the city. Since his
election TO the City Council Col. Watson
has served the city on some OF the most
important committees and commissions.
He was at one time member of the
committee on accounts, the committee on
railroads, chairman of the committee on
lamps and chairman of the committee on
finance. He was also commissioner OF
sinking funds.
His services as chairman of the joint
special committee appointed TO investigate
the Municipal Court of this city in 1884,
won for him respect and praise. lt was
during that painful investigation that
Col. Watson showed IN the highest degree
that tact and firmness that have marked
his public career.
As chairman of the committee he could
have so directed or embarrassed its move
ments as TO eXonerate the men under in
vestigation or TO let them off with mild
censure.
Col. Watson Mt that time was n very
young man. On his committee sat vet
erans in city legislation, and men friendly
TO the men on trial.
Col. Watson, however, saw only what
was Just and right, what was best for the
ing investigated had long held power, they
had friends at court; they numbered
among those some of the best and strong
est leaders in the State. Col. Watson
weighed all that at its time value. But
IL that court was not to be investigated he
should not have been put upon that com
mittee. The work went on; the court was
cleaned; the guilty punished; good men
put in their places and Col. Watson's con-
duct applauded.
His record in regard to the laborers was
marked by the same broad, liberal spirit.
Aristocratic by every association of birth
and life, Republican faithful to every
principle of his party's best leaders, prac-
tical by his business training, EN- employer
and capitalist, with no motive 10 solicit or
seek votes, representing a ward nine
tentbs of whose inhabitants are fairly
wealthy, with no possible chance of gain,
when Democrats who talked loudest
of their sympathy with labor and
the working people absented them
selves from the council chamber and
Board of Aldermen, when bill was up
giving the city laborers sl.15 day Col.
Watson not only on hand to vote, but
flung his powerful personality with the
scale and helped to carry the measure
through the city council. II stuck in the
Board of Aldermen, and failed of passage
because Mr.. Brennan then alderman from
the Tenth neglected to be on hand and
vote for il.
Col. Watson was n member of the joint
special committee appointed to get up n
grand celebration of the 25Oth anniversary
of the founding of the city of Providence
and acquitted himself in that position
with the same skill and ability that
marked his work elsewhere.
Jan. /, 1891, he was elected president of
the City Council and has been reelected
TO that Office every year since. BY the
very necessities of his Office in choosing
and making up committees the mans
personal influence, even more than the
mayors, has gone out into shaping the
city's progress and legislation.
The splendid work done in advancing
parts, education and other public meas
ures is due in large degree to the wisdom
of President Watson in selecting good
men for the different committees. AS n
presiding officer, Col. Watson has won the
esteem of both parties and all the men
who have sat in the councils or commit
tees over which he has presided
Besides serving the city faithfully in n
political capacity, Col Watson has identi-
fled himself with all the clubs, the object
of which is To advance the city's interests.
He is the president Of the Commercial
Club, director of the American National
Bank. director in the Nicholson File Com
pany, the largest concern of its kind in
the world, besides being director In half
dozen other important business concerns
of the city.