The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-20
TALKED Of At CITY HALL.
PatroIman Hannaford Will Not Have
to Pace Police Committee.
CHARGES HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN
Mr.. Muephy Called This Morning for
That Purpose-The Special Commit
toe ON Tax Revision-C Changes That
Are Gsestiy Needed-Hail Notes.

Patrolman Hannaford will not have to
stand al investigation by the committee
on police. This morning Mr.. William
Murphy, who had lodged a complaint in
which he asserted that the patrolmar has
assaulted and otherwise maltreated him,
withdrew his charges.
Speaking OF complaints agafnst patrol
men an official said to-day: 81 40 not
believe we have any more trouble in this
respect than departments in other cities.
AS "A rule our mt n are careful d do not
interfere with the rights or prlvile ses of
citizens. On rare occasio Gus q hot-headed
patrolman may be led to do things he
should not do, bat be Is always promptly
punished. Happily such cases are OF rare
occurrence.
1T is very easy to make complai Mt,
but gu te another to prove it, We are
frequently IN receipt of communications
from persons who charge an offic:r with
breach Of duty. but when we
m, to investigate We fnd that
he has done simply what he has beon in
structed TO do. Some people ar. nasty
and resent even friendly admonition of
a patrolman as an insult. Then they
come over here ana assert they have been
badly treated.
"The great majority Of complaints
made have no foundation III fact,
but every one Is invest gated thoroughly.
1T is very seldom inde that C les so
ssri us as that of Walker are brought
are pro, eu the guilty parties are quickly
relieved OF their positions"
The Tax Law.
The special committee appointed t. ex-
anime into the laws governing taxation
has held two or three meetings but has
not yet got down to serious work. The sub
ject Is an important one, and Is as intri-
cate az 1t Is important. The city council
can do nothing to change the existing
laws until the general assembly has
acted. The work Of the committee will
DO confined TO ascertaininR what
changes are necessary to provide . more
just and equitable distribution OF the
bur efs'of axation. It's finding will
probably be presented to the le .islature
in the form of a bill with request from
the cii y council that 1t be passed.
Whether the assembly will act in ac-
cordance with the wishes aud recon-
mendation of the council is not certain.
In matters affec lug taxation the repre-
sentatives Of other cities and towns have
in the past shown dispositiln to oppose
every pr position put forwa by Provi-
deace.
There Is little doubt, however, that
there is serious need of revision. Hun
dreds Of thousands. perhaps millions, of
do lars worth Of personal property
that ought to be assessed now
escape taxation altogether. II the
law can be changed so ttat this class of
property can be reached and made to
bear its proportionats part OF the cost of
government the city's income will be 30
largely increased that reduction OF
the tax rate may be looked for.
Notes About the Hall.
Street peddlers who use short measures
are not ioand very of.en now. The fre-
ouent ra ds of the city sesler has COM
pelled them to be honest in their dealings
with customers.
Tue committee on claims met in COM
mittee room IL this afternoon.
The board Of aldern el will meet to-
m ROW afternoon at 3 o'c ock. Another
effort will then be made to secure
an Adjournment. so as to meet the
common council in joint convention for
the election OF an Inspector OF plumbing.
Oily four names were added to the
registry list yesterday, making the total
number now on the TO ks 623