The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-01


an instance OF what should be considered
i'm dealing with this problem OF pensions,
find that the accident INSURANCE COM
panies charge double the rates OF insur-
ance to police officers that are required OF
men In other lines OF business. find upon
investigation that thcextra dutyperformed
by officers in the time allotted for sleep
and rest amounted last year TO "a days for
each man. This at the maximum pay
received by patrolmen, If invested yearly,
with compound interest at per cent. per
annum, after service OF % years, gives
half day to each man for Is years, or the
accumulated interest alone would furnish
the same pay for years.
regard the matter of pensioning MEM
bers of the department, after long and
meritorious service, as not only feasible,
but proper. Most Of the large cities OF
the country have adopted measures, by
which aged and disabled officers are re-
tired on partial pay. The nature OF the
police business, claiming the entire SER
vice OF officers night and day, to perform
duties at all times perilous, and sometimes
involving the loss Of life, is soentirely diff
ferent from the ordinary avocations OF life
that some incentive should be offered to
encourage entire devotion to duty. An
ordinance covering this subject and al
lowing half pay after 20 years service is
now before the City Council, and meets
withm my approval.
Tire Department.
No branch OF the municipal service is OF
greater Importance than this department,
and the utmost liberality, consistent with
true economy should be exercised by the
in a
thereto.
The work performed during the past
year has been largely in excess of that OF
any previous year, the number of alarms
responded TO being over six hundred and
twenty. New and improved apparatus has
been added 70 the equipment OF the de-
partment, and, with few exceptions, ii is
now admirably fitted in this respect for
the accomplishment of the work which 1t
is called upon to do. The personnel OF
the force is excellent and comprises men
who take great pride in their dangerous
calling, and on all aecnsions, strive to in
crease the efficiency of the service in
which they are engaged. From know
ledge gained during an experience OF two
years in participation in the management
OF the affairs OF the department, am con-
vinced that the time has arrived
when the force should be composed en-
tirely OF permanent men. At present the
call force consists of fifiy-one men,
and this number should be transferred
TO tho permanent force without delay.
The advantages to be gained by placing
the department upon. permanent basis
have been pointed out, in years past, by
my predecessors, and have also been
clearly set forth by the Chief Engineer OF
the Fire Department in his annual
reports to the City Council.
This city, with population of
moro than 10000, and with increas-
ing fire hazards, has certainly outgrown
the combination system OF permanent
and can force. Our outlying districts are
rapidly increasing in population, and the
concentration of large values in
the business section, together with
the increasing number of fires,
calls for the adoption of the permanent
system, and / firmly believe, that more
effective work can be performed. better
discipline maintained, and the interests
OF the city be much better served il such
system Is adopted The work Of in
| spection, recently inaugurated, by
| which the members of the permanent
force are afforded an opportunity OF fa-
| milierizing themselves with the construc-
| tion and arrangement OF all buildings
within their respective districts, is but
| one OF the many advantages to be
| gained by the adoption of this
| plan, and while the force as at present
constituted, has performed good and
efficient service in the past, yet we should
realize that il is not adapted to the needs
of large and growing city, and / earn
estIy recommend that action may be
| taken at an early date, towards establish
| ing an entirely permanent paid depart
| ment.
Having given the matter OF the manage
ment OF this Department considerable
| attention | am convinced that it is the
duty OF the City Council TO proceed at
once to the election of Board OF Fire
Commissioners. The control of this
department for the past year has been
nominally in the Committee on Fire
| Department, but, according TO the
opinion of the Law Department, this
control has been illegally exercised and
n state of affairs exists that should not
be permitted to continue.
am equally as earnest in recommends
| ing a pension system for the Fire Depart
! ment as have been in urging the PEN
!
fireman arc at all times dangerous and
measures should be taken to elevate the
service. This can best be done by the
City Council providing a pension fund
for the relief OF disabled firemen, as well
as for those who have given the best years
of their lives in the employment of the
Fire Department and have become unfit
ted TO perform duty or TO labor in other
occupations.
our Public schools.
In recent years great Improvement has
been made in schoo, Accommodations, and
the past year has not been behind any
recent year i'm the advance made. The
hne grammar school on Messer street,
in the eighth ward, has been lately
completed and occupied. Extensive
changes and additions have been made to
Arnold and Manning street schools in the
first ward; to Benefit street school in the
second ward; to Sabin [now Bournel in
the fourth ward; TO Elm street and
| I'rfopde hin otropt schools i'm tho fiji N