The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-10
PAWTUCKET.
BUSINESS MEMS ASSOCIATION DIS
CUssEs sHELDON'S RESOL UTIoN.
A Committee Appointed to Ascertain tho
Present Financial Standing Of the
City-Ali Sorts Of Suggestions Made.

At last nights meeting OF the Bust
ness Mems association, Ii. IL. Sheldou's
resolution. offered at a previous meet
ting, Was q scussed. The resolution ad-
vised the people TO vole for aldermen aud
common councilmen who will reduce the
tax rate next year and keep within the
appropriations made.
Mr.. Sheldon thou sht the time had come
TO eliminate politics from city affairs.
He offered another esn!ution. which
later la the evening was adopted. provid-
ing for the appointment OF
a committee to ascertain the
present financial standing OF the city.
especially as regards the mount OF us
floating indebtedness, in relation to the
Limitation rs prescr bed by law, the COM
mittee to consist OF f. l.. Freeman.
George L. Littlefeld. Henry B. Metcalf,
John Il. Adams and George f. Newell
"A Question of Endurance.
Henry b. Metcalf did not believe q city
was justified in running into debt on
account or its running expenses. I'VE
shall never have n good credit until we
show TO creditors that we are providing a
way to pay our obligations when they
mature We are in debt 81. las, 032 2s. and
of this nearly 81. 200, 900 notes. The year
1892 came rs 70 ,r being an ordinary
year as is possible, and the expenses
were $685.. $40 A. not including water and
sewer construction, while the tax levy
was S35s. $50. 6S, and from ! quor licenses
S42, 400 81, which show a deficit OF $751;
SOL. 80. Ii anybody n show me how we
can 20 along without approaching n
ruptcy / would like to have him do 1t. 1t
Is n mere question Of endurance" He
believed in a pay-as-your go policy In pay
ing current expenses. There were Sl,o9S.-
600 In notes which were being continually
turned over. He hoped somebody would
tell him how long the city was going on
without striking q a
Alderman Adams, In reply TO q ques-
tion, said the city bonds had been adver-
Used for the sale, hut az the pric, bid was
n little less than par the committee on
finance had decided to reject all bids.
But he did not think the credit OF the
city was impaired.
think q city can ave Rood credit that
current e~xpens;sf
Aid. Adams-No, sir. l do not. But
Pawtucket Is better of today than Provi-
u0uOC. SnhhOs tS1"y WIN
an engine house or a school house witt
out going TO the legislature for permits
sion to issue bonds TN 1t.
Some Of the speakers thought the tx
rate ought to be increased. Hezekiah CO.
nant said he Thought . retrenchment
could be made In the matter OF the num-
Der of ell, ctric lights used. He thought
from $751; 200 TO so, 600 could be saved il
this was done. All sorts OF suggestions
were made.
Finally Mr.. SheIdon's original resolu-
ton was defeated. aud a substitute, pre-
seiited by Mr.. Lennon, was passed. the
substitute peisg to the effect that the city
council ne TO be elected be asked ito use
their influences to keep the rates at Sl50
aud to keep the appropr atoms for cur
rent expens Q within the amount ther eby
raised"
A resolution was adopted flvoring the
rsi cal of the purchasing clause OF the
Sherman act.