The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-09
Proposed Mccarthy Amend
ment to Rules Jumped on.
AGAIN IN HANDS OF COMMITTEE,
il the Proposition TO Employ Laborers
I'm Park Observation-Disclosures
Authorizing Appropriation Of $780,
600 for the Poor Also Referred.

The session OF the common council last
evening was prolonged till IL o'clock in
consequence of spirited discussion OF
the Mccarthy amendment TO the rules of
order and the resolution seeking to pro-
vide labor for the poor on the Roger Will
liams Park extension at Fl per day for
nine hours work, which the committee
on ordinances reported with recommend
alton of indefinite postponement. The
first measure was defeated by vote OF 25
to IL, the minority, with the exception of
Mr.. Sheahan, supporting the amendment,
and Messrs. Blanchard, knight and Stone,
Repu blicans, joining with them. The de-
bate over the proposition TO employ the
poor at the park took wide range, and
test vote early in the session
would probably have secured its
adoption. But in the course Of
argument, 1t was shown that the bill
which appropriated the sum of $500, 900
for the improvement of the park was de-
fective and must be amended before the
resolution would be operative. 1t was
also explained that owing to the weather
conditions no work could be done in the
excavation OF the lake and that not more
than 100 men could be utilized in grading
the highways as there were only two
sand banks within reasonable proximity
to the roads which could be operated
upon. Several members said that they
had been led into misapprehension by
statements that the commissioner of pub
lie works could furnish employment to
300 men, and consequently they had voted
that the work be proceeded with at the
rate OF 20 cents per day.
They now understood that it
would be impossible to proceed
during the winter season, and
hence they were in a quandary as to the
best course to adopt. The Democratic
members directed attention TO the distress
which had been discovered i'm various
parts OF the city, and asserted that il was
the duty OF the city council to provide
employment or else make a special appro-
priation for their relief. Finally motion
to orecommit the matter to the finance conf
mittee with instructions TO report reso-
luton which would meet the exigencies Of
the situation was adopted. The bill rea-
tive to the licensing OF bootblacks and
compelling them to wear badgts was re-
ferred to the chief of police. Councilman
Darcy introduced resolution appropri-
atiug the sum OF $4,000 for the relief OF
the poor which was referred to the finance
were added to the appropriations for
bnilding the Bowen street school house
and for evening schools.
Mr.. Parkhurst, chairman of the COM
mittee on ordinances, presented a report
from the joint standing committee on or
dinauces on a bill relating to newsboys
and bDotblacks. The ordinance provided
for the licensing OF the newsboys and
f,r><>f nxu nd nj.
shall wear badge furnished by the city.
The report stated that the committee had
carefully considered the proposed bill and
found that ample authority in the matter
was vested in the board OF aldermen, and
recommended the referring of the report
to the chief of police to examine and re-
port therein. The report was referred to
the chief OF police.
The Proposed Rule of Order.
Mr.. Parkhurst also presented report
from the committee on ordinance on a re-
solution declaring new rule OF
order, providing for the laying on
the table of every bill, resolu-
tion or order at the request OF one
third of the members present for "a
hours. The report stated that the com
mittee had given the matter due add
careful consideration and had found that
under the proposed rule it would be pos
sibIe for IA or less members OF the COM
mon council to practically bring about the
indefinite postponement of any measure
in spite Of the wish of the majority to press
1t BY moving TO lay it again on the table
at each subsequent meeting after that
action had been originally taken under
tho proposed vote. That in the opinion
Of the committee the "Eighth" rule of
order OF the common council provides all
the check upon hasty legislation which is
required, under which the council has
transacted its business for up
wards OF twelve years by allowing
notice in writing OF an intention 10
move reconsideration at the next ad-
journed meeting, and that the proposed
rule would I'm many cases operate as n
serious embarrassment in permitting mat
tiers OF great emergency and importance to
be unsucccssfully and unwarrantedly
delayed by small minority.
The committee did not so far distrust the