The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-07-05
TALKED Of At CITY HALL.
The Streets Dir,ier Than Ever After
Yesterdays Celebration.
GANGS At WORK CLEANING UP.
Chief Doesn't Believe I'm Fire Crackers
Are = Danger to Property and Mem
ace to Peopie-General State Law
Needed-special Committee Asked For.

The streets this morning were in pret-
ty much the same condit ion as q dead
game sport after a nights bat. There
were evidences the city had
gone on jamboree and had come
The mountain of litter in the principal
thorougbfares was a mute testimonial TO
the enthusiasm with which Providence
had honored the nations natal day.
Commissioner Smith of the public works
departments said that never before IN the
history OF the city had the streets been
In such condition after "a celebration.
He acc united for this by the fact that
there was larger number OF visitors
than ever before in the city and
that no limit was placed upon
the sale of fireworks. The
number OF fire crackers. large and small,
Id in Providence during the past two
weeks was unprecedented and the result Is
that the highway department Is out with
a double force OF men trying To get the
streets into reasonable clean condition.
This evening the sweepers will be put at
work and by tomorrow smorning Com
missio Smith expect to have removed
all signs or the recent revelry.
They are Tired.
There are probably no tireder men
in town today than the members
of the police and fire departments.
The two hundred and fifty policemen
had practically twenty-four hours of
duty, and the frequency OF fire alarms
gave the firemen very little rest. In the
ole days the policemen received double
pay for their services and dinner
was also provided them. but the city has
grown less liberal, as it has grown big
ger. :aDd 1t don't think 1t necessary now
to reward extra service vita sandwich
or n sardne.
Chief Child said, however, that taken
all in all the crowus were easily controlled.
They were noisy but In good hum
ored way and very seldom was there
any evidence or indication OF viciousuess.
The greatest source of annoyance came
from the fire crackers. These not only
menaced the property OF the city but the
reckless way in which they were used
threatened the limbs IL not the lives oil
the people.
The chief doesn't like the fire-crackers.
In fact be Is very much against it and II
he had his way would Danish IT. al
loVetbet. .
II licenses to sell fire works had not
been granted by the board of al iermeD
il IL possb BILE some people would have
been called before the court TO answer
the charge Of unlawfully dischArgini
fire crackers. but permission to ssh nav
ing been granted 1t is assumed that per
mission TO fire is implied, so The polio,
did no interfere.
1t is doubtful, however. the chief says
whether an ordinance would be effective
in suppressIng the 10 aud use OF fir,
crackers, For instance, IL the sales wer,
stopped mere and p p.rmitted In Pawtucket
or other Lear cities or towns. young
America and old America as we'll would
he pretty cei t ,in TO get scpDiy.
t.E a l..
raj statute which prevents the sale OF fire
crackers throughout the state WI b
such law there would be less no se
fewer fires an probably q lite as much
enj ,yment.
Why shouldn't the City Pay.
Speaking of the police department ther,
is one matter which has been dis
cussed for some time and which
may be brought to the attention of the
city council again. 1t is that when pa
trolmaL's clothing Is torn in the perform.
ance Of duty the city should make good
his loss. This seems only fair and just.
1t Is pretty hard on an officer to nave d
forty dollar coat DESTROYED by al
the loss himself, and there Is
good deal of truth in the
chiefs statement that IL the officers felt
that any looses oc .urr,d d in this manner
would be made good there would be
greater efficiency and more activity on
the part of the men.
The chief proposes TO request the city
council to app int special com
mittee Of. which the fire mar
shal shall Re member co examine.
aud report what LEGISLATION Is necessary
to prevent the dangerous practice OF
slowing paper, sweepings. and other In.
fiamable materials in business houses.
Many fires OF late have been caused by
this practice. and it is the chiefs desire
to secure, IL possible, legislation which
will reduce the danger to thr minimum.