The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-28
THE FREE PARLIAMENT.
The Warwick Council.

To the Editors of the Ns,Ds:
1t is not the object of the writer Of this
article TO offer an apology for the Town
Council of the town of Warwick, but he
does believe i'm rendering unto C@sar's.
IL is beginning to be understood and
appreciated that as soon as man becomes
a candidate for or an incumbent In office,
he becomes at once a target for all the
shafts that malice, envy and jealousy can
hurl against him.
1t matters not how conscientiously,
with what purity Of motive he enters
upon the duties of the Office to which he
is elected, he must expect at once To be-
come the object of attack from some per
son or party opposed to him in politics or
envious of the Office he seeks to fill.
The present town council is not an ex-
ception To this rule, but while, perhaps,
not without its faults, it has made q
record upon which 1T can Justly look back
with pride. We have no hesitancv in de
claring, and we challenge proof to the
contrary, that never in the history OF the
town of Warwick have its affairs been
managed upon more economical basis,
its finances more closely watched nor It's
welfare more carefully guarded than dur
ing the present administration.
While jealous of the dignity OF ana the
respect due "a town of the wealth and i'm
portance of this il has ever shown spirit
of arbitration and desire for an amica-
BILE settlement of the many and disturb
ing questions which have arisen. and IL
can be cited as a matter of congratula-
tiop and pride that there never has arisen
n question that has not been arranged by
mutual agreement or which, If compelled
to be settled by II court of law, has reflect
ed dscredit upon the town.
Let us see what the council mas accom-
plished in financial way. At the begin
ming of the present administration three
iron bridges had been built at River
Point, Clyde, and the old iron bridge at
Natick. During this time iron bridges
have been constructed at Centreville,
Compton, Phenix, Pontiac and half of
the bridge over the river on Elmwood
avenue, all costly structures and at an ex-
pense of over S40,00 An addition has been
bull. on the town asylum at an expense of
81. 6.00O and new voting hall at Lakewood
costing over $1,000 exclusive of the lot
upon which il stands. The interest upon
the towns debt has been paid and the
debt itself reduced.
When we view the amount OF work ac-
complished, aud that too upon fifty cent
tax, a. tax which has not been raised aud
than which there is none lower in the
State, it surely cannot be alleged that the
council is actuated by motives Of extrava-
gance and waste.
Now, a word as to Mr. Lapham, the
president Of the council. There is, proba
bly,, no man in the State ever elected To n
public office who has been more unjustly
and unfavorably criticised. Beginning
with the insolent and contemplate at
tacks made upon him by the mugwump
organ, and seconded by the equally sense
less and untruthful statements OF the
would-be democratic standard bearer, he
has been made an object OF ridicule and
contempt and held up to an overflowing
measure of scorn and contempt, and this,
too, OF "A man who, from the lower walks
of life has by strict integrity and an un-
tiring devotion to business, arisen to
position of honor and respect, man OF
whom not one derogatory word can with
truth be spoken, whose ear is open to the
cry of distress. and whose hand is out
stretched at every appeal for aid.
Mr. Lapham does not offer up the
prayer of the Pharisee. He does not thank
God that he is not as other men are. lie
does not announce through a trumpet
that he gives aims. but he does give 1t
nevertheless, as many we'll attested case
could show were ii known.
The writer we'll remembers a case before
the Probate Court OF this town when one
of the attorneys from Providence in
arguing the case spoke slightingly of one
of the parties in question MS simply n
working woman The rebuke admins
tered by Mr.. Lapham was severe and
stinging, but deserved, and the ATTORNEY
returned to Providence with different ideas
as to Mr.. Lapham's sentiments regard
ing working people in general and women
in particular. and while speaking Of the
Probate Court, IL may not be out of place
here to cite the fact that during this ad-
ministration of the council which also
has probate jurisdiction. not one decision
rendered by the Probate Court has ever
been reversed on an appeal to the Su-
preme Court.
And this is the so-called 'Lapham
Council" 1.-The Ring Council" that cor
rupt and extravagant body of men that
must be defeated at any cost" aud Mr..
Lapham is the man to whom the Hon. u.
III. Quinn deigns to oppose himself, and
whom, relying upon his spotless integrity.
his long and varied experiences as a town
officer, the devoted love or the Democratic
party and the aid of disappointed Office
seeking Republicans (self-styled) he ex-
poets to defeat. +.