Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-04-01
DONE IN THE NIGHT.
Names Cut Off in the Still
Watches.
THE OUTRAGE COMPLETED.
The Name Of a Common Councilman
Stricken From the List.

The Board Of Canvassers was In session
all night and 1t was exactly $40 O'Clock
this morning when Mayor Brown affixed
his name to the official lists, after one Of
the most extraordinary and outrageous
canvasses ever conducted In this city.
Naturalized American citizens have
been unceremoniously stricken from the
voting lists who have been voters before
some OF the men armed with little brief
authority by wouldbe Josuny Daven-
port, were born. And more, some voters
were stricken of who imperilled their
lives In the great civil war that the city
and country might have its institutions
preserved, but now find that their patriot
ism is rewarded by being told they are
| encroaching upon the preserves OF one
whose predecessors got an effective notice
to quit these shores about 100 years ago,
but who now step In and overawe our
elected officials who seem to lack the
patriotism and spirit of their forefathers.
Anot her fiagrant decision OF the Board
was In striking off the name of any person
from the real estate list taxed for f75
or over in direct violation of chapter 735
of the Public Laws which Is Gan act pro-
viding for the registering, listing and re-
turning lists OF voters, and OF proof of
their qualification to VOTE"
Section of that act is as follows:
"The several town and ward clerks shall
annually place upon the voting list the
names Of the several persons W no have pre-
viously been upon the voting list, accord
ing to the provisions of his chapter against
whom property tax Of one dollar or up
wards shall have been assessed and such
persons need not register their names
annually as is required of persons not
paying property tax"
The tax rate In this city is s1.331 1.3 on
the hundred dollars, or one and one third
per cent, consequently any person who is
taxed for s75 or over comes within the
scope of that law.
Yet, at the behest of men who never
paid tax, or were ever qualified to pay a
tax, legal voters under that law were re-
legated from their rightful place on the
voting list and put where they are dis
| qualified from voting on certain matters
o which they are legally entitled so to do.
Another instance of unfairness was the
case OF Hugh j., Philip and James L.
Clark. Those three brothers bought a
piece of property In 1885. According to
the Board OF Assessors they sold part in
1889. The remainder of 1t was taxed to
them In 1890 for $500, an increase of f258 In
| 1899.
In the fall Of 1890 Hugh j. Clark was
| elected to the Common Council and In
FEBRUARY, 1891. That year the valuation
was reduced and since then certain par
ties have been trying to work the "dis-
| qualification racket" on him. They have
| succeeded at last, but II Is very doubtful
II they have yet seen the last Of It. AS a
| specimen OF the vaccillating course Of the
Board, the transactions In this case are
amusing. Yesterday afternoon the names
were stricken off; late last night they
were restored and finally the last thing
this morning again stricken of.
The three Assessors were present last
evening and I'm answer to questions
Messrs. Walker and Moroney stated that
cents per foot was fair valuation for the
land In question and that he rate had not
been changed by them since 1885, In face
of the fact that the tax books showed
that this lot was taxed for $500 in 1890 or
almost 10 cents foot.
The action of the Board in removing the
names of the Clark people from the real
estate list has caused considerable COM
ment on account of the fact that Hugh j.
Clark is a member OF the Common Coun-
Gil from the Fifth Ward.
According to the city charter a person
must be taxpaying voter OF the ward he
represents.
In order to entitle him to be mem.
Der OF the City Council. Several OF his
political enemies are already moving to
have him ousted from his seat IN that
body.
Even admitting the assessment of the
Board OF Assessors to be correct, it Is ex-
tremely doubtful II he can be 30 ousted as
at the time of his election he was duly
qualified.
In this connection ii might be well to
state that the charter makes residence in
the ward a part of the qualification as
well as ownership OF property.
IL will be remembered that Lyman M.
Darling was an Alderman for ward In
1883 and that he moved to ward In the
early part of the year. He served the en-
tire year, however, but was not eligible for
reelection.
A similar state OF affairs occurred In the
case OF Fred A. Pstt who was a Council
man In the Fifth Ward. The most that
can be made out of this incident in rela-
tion to Councilman Clark Is to prevent
his denomination or re- election this Fall
unless he increased his qualification.