The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-06-18
PHILANTHROPY PAUL.
Anxious to Have Tip Cart Owners
Wages Raised.
THE ITALIAN VOTE IN THE SIXTH.
He Supplies the Carts. Horses and Har-
ness-Takes Mortgages on the Same
Charges 2 Per Cent. Per Month Inter-
est, So Reports Go.

Mr.. Landy commonly known as "Paul," /"
who carries the sixth ward in his hip
pocket, is said to be afflicted with severe
case of philanthropy. Paul is naturally
kind hearted Democrat but this time
his heart is more moved than usual. The
object of his solicitude is the class of un-
fortunate tip cart owners who receive the
paltry sum Of s4.00 per day for their SER
vices, and as usual in such cases there are
various sides to the story.
Not long since the Claimant, an ex-
organ of Democracy raised great hue
and cry over the fact that some tipcarts
belonging to q city Official were being
used for city work. The explanation was
found in the fact that the contractor who
had the work in charge had not enough
teams to do the work within the time
necessary and he temporarily obtained a
loan Of few carts from the city official.
Despite the great noise made over the
matter 1t has not yet been conclusively
proved by the Claimant that the hiring
Of tipcarts from city official by regular
contractor Is n criminal offence, and so
that little matter ended.
But Paul, who runs harness shop on
the corner Of Dyer and Eddy streets, and
incidentally Is said 10 loan money To his
needy friends at the very modest rate of
per cent. per month and even higher, was
interested in the work of the Claimant
and tried to make political capital out OF
the affair. lie thought, moreover, that
those who depended upon the tipcart work
for IA living should have it all, ana that
the city should pay them higher wages.
His business enables him TO fit out
poor Italians with a cart, two horses and
harness for this work and incidentally he
also takes mortgage on their property
n rsQ q in I'M aSf
charges. His pity for the cart owners is
supposed TO arise from their alleged ina
biity to meet all their expenses and in
cidentally to pay him his interest money.
And so he has gone into the philanthropy
business.
1t is said on good authority that Paul
has in hand n petition which IL Is pro-
posed to present TO the city fathers, which
purports TO be only u request, that the
cart owners be paid more money; that
single horse cart owners be paid SO in
stead OF $3.50, and that double horse carts
DO paid "A. 80 instead of "a for ordinary
curtiug. A more careful analysis OF the
petition. however, shows that under this
philanthropic guise is an attack upon the
present city officials, charging them with
various kinds OF improper acts. Since the
matter has leaked out Paul denies all
knowledge Of such paper and many of
those who signed it would like to be able
~
can't, and what Is worse they can't get
hold of it to erase their names. Three
fourths Of them however are non-property
holders and some Of them are said to be
represented by q cross opposite their
names.
One of the gentlemen who was ap-
preached by Paul asked him for an ex-
PLANTATION of the paper. The explanation
showed that after paying for the keeping
of their horses, repairs on their carts aud
two per cent. to him on his mortgage they
had little or nothing left and he wanted
to see their pay raised. An instance was
cited whore a man had had tip cart
built for 500, had paid $500 for his horses,
and SO for his harnesses--a total of $575.
The interest on this sum would be $l3S
Then the gentleman asked Paul il he
intended TO 90 TO the city council and ask
for the increased pay in order that the
general taxpayers might contribute to
his interest account : Paul was highly
indignant and left the place at once.
Another citizen on High street was
also interviewed. The citizen refused to
sign the petition and some angry words
followed. Whether anything more Wig
orous than words were used il question,
at any rate Paul's face was disfgured.
His friends say that his horse ran away
and in the accident his nose was skinned
Meanwhile the petition slumbers.