The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-04
M AY 0 R PO 7 7 Err.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE IL
BRIDGES.

| has been built and extensive repairs on
Point street, Atwell's avenue and Valley
street bridges have been made. With re-
pairs now in progress and contemplated
for next year, the bridges will be in fair
condition.
Public Education.
Good public schools make good citizens,
and the benefits TO be derived from lib
| eral public school education cannot be
overestimated. Too great attention can
not be given in the selection of teachers.
| They have the moulding OF youth. who
will feel the influence of their public
school training in afer life.
| Liberal appropriations have and should
be made for the construction and support
| OF our schools. i would suggest the ad-
visibility of having less ornamentation in
the construction OF school buildings when
| III Is OF little or no practical benefit thus
enabling us To build more buildings and
| stlll keep within the limit OF our appro-
priations. The matter of the use OF the
public school rooms for evening schools is
a subject which should receive careful at
tention. The constantly increasing num-
Der of scholars that apply for evening in
| struction will soon compel us to furnish
larger and more suitable rooms for their
accommodation, or else abandon the sys-
tenn. Teaching is profession; everybody
cannot teach school. 1t requires an even
disposition, for no display OF anger should
ever be seen in the school room. IL re
quires years of study and training and of
ten considerable expense TO prepare them
| for their duties For this reason the
teachers should be well, even literally
paid for their services.
| The Franchise Act.
| This is one of the most important ques-
| tions now, or ever, before the city coun-
| Gil. Public sentiment should be consld-
| cred. and a careful study and understand
| ing of all the act means before any action
looking towards the making of contracts
under it is considered. Should the exclu-
| siye rights be granted TO any corporation,
| under any terms which do not leave the
most unlimited control of the streets in
| the city councilg IL the sum of 3 per cent:
of the gross earnings sufficient compensa-
tion for the privileges to be granted AS
/ understand the act the city cannot enter
into a contract with the corporation for
| compensation greater than per cent,
| and the corporations are not Obliged to
enter into any contract, or give any COM
| pensation other than such as made under
| this act Is il not, therefore, the duty of
the city council to apply at the January
! session of the legislature for the repeal OF,
| or for amendments to- the act, so that it
| will meet the views of the taxpayers, and
| that contracts can be made under IL which
will besjust and fair TO both the city and
the corporation.
| Rapid Transit.
| The subject of rapid transit is one in
| which all of our citizens are Interested.
Providence, the second city in New Eng
land has not the facilities for reaching
her suburbs which are enjoyed by smaller
| but more progressive cities. We cannot
look for perfection in this line. Improve
ments have, and no doubt will be made
for many years TO come, and If we con-
| tinue 20 wait for something better, we
will find ourselves at the end of ten years
still plodding along with our dimIy
| lighted and over-crowded cars. On many
of the routes leading from Market square
| IL is no uncommon occurrence for per
son living from within a mile and quar-
ter from the bridge, TO walk home rather
than take car, for the simple reason
| that he can, without exertion, walk faster
than the car travels. Let us have the best
that can be had at the present time, and
then, from time to time, as improvements
are made, take advantage of them.
Elections.
The city of Providence has expended
during the last fiscal year for election pur-
poses the sum of S26, 1873 The greater
part of this expense was caused by failure
to elect at the first trial. As matter of
| economy, il for no other reason, and there
are many, we should ask the legislature to
make such changes in the law as may be
| required To elect all of our city officers by
plurality vote. Repeated elections are not
| only expensive, they also disturb the busi-
ness interests, and it is only in exceptional
| cases that full vote is cast at a second or
any subsequent trial thereby men hold
office simply from the fact that the voters
get disgusted and will not go to the polls.
Contl ision.
have touched but lightly on some of
the most important departments feeling
| that with better knowledge of city af-
| fairs, and as grow more familiar with
! the working of the city government, |
| shall from time TO time be able TO make
suggestions for your consideration. |
| wish to give TO the retiring mayor, and all
| the officers of the several departments, my
| sincere thanks for their kind and cour-
teous treatment and assistance.
| Let us hope that the coming year will
| bring TO us prosperity, that we may say in
the end, "Our labors have not been in
| vain"
The routine off GERS were nominated by
Councilman Angel. They were substan-
TALLY the old list. Mayor Potter an
nounced the nominations and they were
confirmed as fast as they could be read.
| The only change which attracted any at
tention was the substitution of Albert T.
Mansfield for Supt. Cottrell in the depart
ment of public buildings.
Joseph T.. Sphinx, Judge of Municipal
Court.
Clerk of Municipal Court, Edward
Field.
Recorder of Deeds Gustavus A. Will
! hanson.
City Auditor, William ID. Nisbet.
Superintendent of Public Buildings,
Albert T. Mansfield.
Superintendent of Lights, Oliver +
| Greene.
Department chief engineer of fire depart
| ment, Olin q. Hill.
Assistant engineer of fire department,
James NJ. Baker and Leander NJ. Wall
ing
Presidents of fire departments, Ira Win
sor, George A. Steere and John w. Til.
| linghast
City sergeant. Edward 8. Rhodes
City Messenger, Edward 5. Rhodes.
Sealer of weights and measures, George
II. Pettis.
Inspector of buildings for two years,
| Spencer B. Hopkins
Commissioners OF North Burial Ground
! Oren Westcott, Caleb G.. Burrows and
John w. Briggs.
Clerk of the market Benjamin H. Child
Viewer ef fences, Jonathan G.. Park
hurst.
Overseers Of the hospital, Mayor and
! Bo rd OF 4 Aldermen