The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-12-31
NOWCOMEST The CAUCUS
Whatever 1t Does 1t Will Not Elect
Fire officers.
THE TWO BOARD PRESIDENClES,
Alderman Burrows and Alderman Bal
lou Talked OF I'm the Upper board,
and the Same Three Candidates in the
Common Council.

The City Council caucases will be held
at the City Hall this evening. This year
the caucus is confronted with more per-
picking problems than usual.
Since City Solicitor Colwell gave his
opinion that no fire department officers
should be elected owing to the passage or
the act by the General Assembly which
| provides for the appointment of fire
commission aud repeals the present laws
constituting the City Councils authority
| for choosing n chief and other officials.
there has been a great deal OF discussion
among the members OF the two boards
and the people generally.
It seems TO be decided that the caucus
will not recommend. nor the City Coun-
Gil elect, any fire department officials
but that Chief Steere and the Others will
be allowed 10 hold over until such time
as the aldermen and councilmen can
agree in the matter of an ordinance The
the commission elected by a joint vote of
the two boards, because there are only
ten OF them to forty councilmen and they
feel that they cannot hold their own ia
the department that wav.
The aldermen and councilmen are jeal-
Gus OF each other in the matter of fire de-
partment appointments, and il the alder
men lose control OF the commission by
the greater number Of votes of the coun-
cilmen they are afraid that they will also
lose the patronage and also that their
wise and conservative advice will not be
sufficiently needed. They wanted the
mayor to appoint and themselves to CON
hrm the commission.
There is q deadlock aud when it will be
broken nobody eau say. Alderman Bal
lou said to-day, that although he had
not read the cisy solicitors opinion as
Dre9euta6 la hot
Hre department. officers would bs selected
either at the caucus or by the City Coun-
Gil In official session next Monday.
The chances of the other candidates
where there are contests are about the
same as they have been. For the presi-
dency OF the board OF aldermen President
burrows ana Alderman Ballou are
talked or at present aud no one else seems
To be contemplated. Mr. Burrows has
served as president with excellent salts
faction and Is dignified acting mayor
when His Honor Is away.
Col. Ballou Is also considered an excel
lent man for the place but many people
would regret to see Mr.. Burrows dis
placed.
Clinton ID. Sellew, George T.. Barstow
and John w. Angelic are all mentioned for
the position OF president of the common
council. Mr.. Sellew and Mr.. Barstow
are presumably the leading candidates,
although Mr.. Angell's long membership
makes HIN strong man. in case of dis.
agreement among the adherents Of the
other candidates, which will not admit OF
the election OF one OF them
In the case of the superintendent of
buildings, A. q. Coates is strong candi-
date Tor the position, although tue pres
ent occupant has not given up the contest
and hopes to be reelected.
Capt Thomas Manchester is a candi-
cate FOR city gauger to succeed f. G..
chester Is regarded as a very good man
Tor the place, but nobody can tell " het her
he can beat Mr.. Farmer or not.
Then there Is the police court Judge
ship, which George A. Littlefield, Isaac
ii. Southwick aud Henry j. Dubois all
want. All of these men are so compe-
tent that IL is of little consequence to the
public which of them gets it.