The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-08-11
Rumor That Public Works Depart
ment is Reducing Its Force
DECLARED TO BE UNFOUNDED.
Commissioner Smith Says No men Have
Been Dischsrged-The Rumor Prob
ably Arises From the Order Not to
rut On Any New Men visitors to Hall.

Some thougntless individual, not un-
&c sanding the facts. or IL he did mis-
representing them, set afoat this morn
/ * st' ry TO the effect that the city was
hard up for money and that number
OF men in the highway department
had already been discharged In conse-
quence. Those familiar with the actual
condition of affairs here smiled at the
report. but there were others less well in
formed who we're inclined TO give 1t Gre
adoptei a policy of retrenchment and
had practically stopped nearly oil public
work.
A visit to the Office of the commissioner
of public works this morning showed
that there was no shadow or truth in the
report. The commissioner when asked
IL he had discharged any men from his
department because OF a desire to curtail
expenses, answered promptly that he had
not. 1--WE IRE running our regular force"
he confined, "and expect to do so until
the Gloss OF the season."
No New Men Wanted.
''Can you understand why such a
rumor startsdW
mo, unless il arises from the fact that
orders have been issued not TO hire any
new men. We intend TO keep our pres
ent force at work and apprehend NO diff
Guilty In doing SO. IL was deemed advisa-
Bile 10 give orders not TO take on any new
mon aud doubtless this story came from
that fact"
When asked as To the number Of men
in the employ OF the departing iJ, the
commissioner said the total would be
more than one thousand. This en-
braces those In the highway, sewer and
water service and they would be retained
AS usual as there could not De any ques-
tion as TO the city's ability to pay them
promptly.
In answer to another inquiry Commits
sioner Smith replied that there is a large
number OF men at work on sewers VIII
are employed by contractors but not by
the city. AS to them he could not speak,
hut inasmuch as the city would
make its payments to the contractors
promptly ne saw no reason TO think the
men would be thrown out OF work.
The County JAN.
The number of people who visit the
city hall. especially at this Sc son of the
year. is very large. Tney ars
from the country as rule and
having heard OF the municipal palace
come to inspect it splendors 1t is n GU
rious fact that very large proportion
walk up to the main entrance
that they are about to go into grand
hall. After finding that the big granite
building Is cut up into innumerable
Offices where officials and clerks have to
labor as ordinarymort is do theyare some
what surprised, but when City Mess m
ger Rhodes or his assistant shows them
atcut the building and explains tue
work done in the various dep lrtments,
they are seldom able to comprehend it.
AS illustrating the idea that certain
strangers have of the City hall Chief
Child's experience yesterday fernoon is
significant A gentleman who said he
was u avelling salesman called on him to
ascertain where he could fnd suitable
boarding place for himself aud wife as
they were strangers here and pro-
posed to remain for some time.
With his usual courtesy the chief
gave such Information as was needed.
The inquirer walked out but retu rned in
a moment and calling the chief DO rter to
the big iron gate which separates
the lower rounda from the passage along
the east side of the building and when
is closed at o'clock duly, said $50
that's your county Jail in there,
ehi Well. l must say Provi-
dence ,, ,da takes ;, pretty pretty, &c good care
planned that thers wasn't any Jail In the
building the seeker after boarding
place confessed that although
he was veteran OF the road
he wouidn't have believed Providence
could afford such a fine building merely
for men to do "writin' and figgerin' in."
Notes About the Hall.
City Engineer Shedd is expected back
from Portland tomorrow.
The announcement of the death OF
Fitz James Rice caused much sorrow
among the older officials today who re-
membered h IN when he was a member
of tie city council.
The committe on lamps held meeting
at 4 o'clock this afternoon.
Registration is progressing very slowly
bat the proportion of foreign born citl-
zsns who present their naturalization
papers is much larger than last year.
No Better Way to Ga.
To Chicago than with Church's party Saturday