The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-19
Ths Common CtuHcil Last Night su-
/ thorIssi The Employment
or TIE CIYY'S UNEMPLOYED
10 work Upon the Development of the
New Pak Lands-an hight Hour
Day at 10 Goats LAY Provided for.
Farewell spsrehes.

sine ulc, aIler Lnc NtSOvihaiy VIZ %
thanks 10 President Seilew ana Clerk
Hayden and the presentation OF the Gavel'
The most important matters included the
adoption OF resolution directing the
park commissioners to devote portion ot
the appropriation OF $4,000 for public
park improvements TO the employment OIL
citizens in need OF work at the rate OF
rs cents per day for eight hours service.
AN effort was made to substitute the
Sums OF II and so cents, but the amend
nents were defeated, the Democrats Nn1=
ing solidly for the larger Gums. lnci-
dentaliy q petition for aid signed by 6o1
citizens OF Olneyville, the majority OF
whom were striking mill operatives, was
presented and communicated 70 the board
of aldermen. An additional sum OF
100000 was added to the appropriation
for construction OF the water works. The
Joint special committee on har-
bor improvement was author
lied TO ask the general as
sembly for such legislation as would en-
power the city council to order the build
ing OF retaining wall from Hills wharf
TO Harbor Junction pier and to appoint
commissioners of estimats and assess
ment upon land damages. The ordinance
prohibiting members OF the city govern
ment from being pecuniGrly interested IN
contracts with the city was amended by
inserting that contracts should be IN
writing to ensure permission from the
city council TO participate IN
snch agreement. The bill seeking
to vest the control and management of
the fire department an board OF COM
missioncrs which has twice passed the
councii and been rejected by the board
was reintroduced with verbal amend
ments changing the date OF the election OF
the commission to January and December
OF next year, and was passed after Wig
orous speeches in support of the measure
and in condemnation of the course pur-
sued by the aldermen.
Dcharred From acrsonal Contracts.
The committee on ordinances reported
bill debarring any member OF the city
government from furnishing security in
any written contract in which the city
was involved, or in which he had a
pecuniary interest, unless by special per-
mission OF the city council. The amend
iment to the ordinance consisted in the
insertion of the word' written" in conform
Nv with decision of the city solicitor, who
subject to the ordinary legal interpretta-
tiOn. The bill as amended Was passed.
The finance committee introduced a
Joint resolution adding 100000 to the ap-
rropriation for the construction of the
Providence water works. Passed.
e30O,ooD f'r Park improvements.
Also, bill authorizing the city treasurer
to borrow $500, 900 for the improvement of
public parks, in conformity with the act
Of the general assembly. The text of the
bill Is as follows:
The city treasurer, acting under the di-
rsction of the joint standing committee
on finance, Is hereby authorized and
directed to borrow from time TO
time a sum not exceeding three hum
dred thousand dollars [300,000), in
accordance with chapter 1890
Of the public laws and to issue the city's
notes bearing interest at rate not ex-
ceediEg six per centum per annum, signed
by him and countersigned by the mayor
and chairman OF the committee on finance.
The money thus obtained shall consti-
tute o special appropriation for the
improvement OF the property ac-
quired by condemnation and purchase for
park purposes, adjoining and TO be added
to Roger Williams park and to Blackstone
park and also for the erection OF a suit
able art museum building at said Roger
Williams park. Provided, that at least
the sum of $4,000 thereof shall be de-
voted to the improvement OF said Black
stone park.
Work for the tiiy's Unrmp Dyed.
Also, resolution directing the park
commissioners 10 furnish employment 10
such unemployed citizens as are desirous
or in need OF work in the improvement OF
the Lcw part of Roger Williams park as
follows:
Resolved, That the park commissioners be and
thay hereby directed Ia grade and % build the
hishweys ia the new part OF Roger Williams park In
accordance with the plans OF the city engineer and
10 furnish employment 30 such unemployed citizens
OF Providence a. DESTROYS ot or IN need OF work
Eight hours 90 constitute a days work aud the
coInpensaon therefor 20 be 70 cents per day Tho ex
pense of said work 10 he charged 10 tho appropra
tion made By chapter ofthc city Otdinancts en-.
titled an ordinance authorizing the city treasurer
70 use the sum OF s5tecto Tor the improvement Of
pabiic parih.
Nr. Nanehen said that this secured tho only pos
sibc plan which had surgcsici Itself in ihc 'm-
provcmcnt OF The park during the winter months.
u vouid ensure employment 20 800 men al a
tNit ItWNatrutlon. lNefc were great
many people out Of work. and there were
prospcctA that conditions would be vorsc
rather Than be,tcs. Hence some provision
BAD 70 b. malo ans must ,Ako definite form in
some SHAPE or othef. The tiae bad been fxcd at
eifht neaia per day and the sam named was re-
fafdsd as snlgient 10 tho nccs series Of ife
49, ihc presenicn cisunerus and desiilatlon.
Mr.. Darcy WAS gratifed shat such action
vas contemplated by the city council.
He was sorry, however, that The rate OF
compensation had 10. been fxed at "A
more generous num. The item OF horse
car fareto those living nj q distance must
be deducted, and would leave o small ball
lance at The end Of the week. especially
10 those who had fsni'iss. and they
couldn't afford TO walk. Hc offered an
amendment to the resolution substituting
the sun Of "a per day. The city should
not act as a contractor but deal for tbs
bet interest, OF the city and its dcserv-
ing poor, and the rnte OF q per day was
the least that The city should pay under
present conditions.
Mr.. Vaughan raid thu. this project was
. no bonanza. II was necessary 10 urovido
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