Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-01-01


cupied In executing the varied details OF
school work, but is based entirely upon
the theory that the cost OF maintaining
the public schools is greater than 1t should
be. i do not understand that the people
desire anything that is actually necessary
and essential should be taken from the
public school system of today, but am
led to believe that they ate OF the opinion
that too many supernumery spe ,ialties are
being added to the public school curricu-
lum.
Street Light Department.
This department renders important SER
vice to the public. The people are contin-
ually demanding the extension OF the
street lighting service. 1 am led to believe
from observation and experience that ac-
tion on petition for street light 10 not
always determined by sound judgment.
i am OF the opinion that the approprla-
tion for the street department should be
materially reduced.
Highway Department.
The management OF this depart ment re-
quires both skill and discretion, and
Loren q. Ladd, highway commissioners,
has given abundant evidence OF possessing
both Of these desirable qualities.
firmly believe that under the present
unfavora BILE business conditions less
money should be expended during he
coming year in highway Improvement.
Water Department.
The annual report oftne Board OF Water
Commissioners is a document worthy OF
your careful consideration. They recon-
mend an appropriation OF $4,000, and
think that this amount will be sufficient
to satisfy all reasonable demands for ex-
tensions during the present year The
board also state that the general depres-
f..h ha.ui a a la na RI nf
year has had tendency To decrease tho
revenue Of the department. The iuperin-
tendent's annual report, submitted at
the same time, recites in detail the work
OF the year. He states that during the
past year there has been the largest ex-
tension OF street mains that there mas ever
been iu any one year, except when extern
sions have been made into other towns, or
special appropriations have been made for
extra extensions. The extension OF water
mains In the city during the past year
amounts to A miles.
| recommend that no appropriation for
the const ruction account of this depart
ment be made at present by the city
Council owing to possible change In the
administ rative feat ures of the department ,
which IL adopted will change the entire
system OF management.
Sewer Department,
Sewer Commissioners is document
worthy OF your thoug httul attention, aud
| urge each member OF the city Council
t. carefully examine the same.
Hoard of Public Works.
The met hods OF conducting the affairs
of a growing city like ours must be inn
proved upon from time to time as expert
ence NAV indicate. The glsring need at
this moment is that of a more economical
and business-lik method, not only OF
making pu blic improvements, but of ex-
pending public funds which come direct
ly within the province of the highway,
sewer and water departments. The vast O.
ful extravaganza OF the present system Is
a matter OF general knowledge.
| recommend that an appropriation SUI
tictent to meet the current needs of the
three departments before named be made
by you, but that no appropriations for the
annual maintenance or construction ac-
counts of said departments be made as
heretofore until an ordinance shall have
been adopted by you creating said board
public works.
Fire Department
Under this head Mr.. Tiepke recon-
mended a station for Fairlswn.
The Police Department.
The chief in his annual report recom-
mends the appointment OF a police sur
geon, and presents in advocacy OF his rec
commenda lon some excellent arguments.
1t seems to me that the duties of the
health officer and the police surgeon
might he performed by one officer with.
out additional expense to the city. While
the suggestion made by Chief Perry IS
excellent in many ways, yet 1 do not feel
that the taxpay ers viii endorse the recon-
mendation, and sanction the creation of a
new Office at this time II 1t is going To add
additional expense to already over loaded
expense account.
Inc chief OF police estimates that the
sum OF SiS,Si0 will be needed to maintain
the department for the current year as
against siS, 900 appropriated last year.
urge the JOINT standing committee on
finance to consider carefully every item
contained in the estimate relative to this
department.
The Poor department.
Misfortunes In life frequently compel
deserving individuals to seek the aid Of
charity. Poverty is not crime, but a
misfortune. 1 invoke your thoughtful
attention to the needs of this depart ment.
The overseer OF the poor recommends that
tue sum OF S1I, 900 be appropriated for the
support of the department. You will
find in his annual report a series of timely
recommendations, two OF which strongly
appeal to my support. First, that relat-
ing to the use OF Kerosene lamps In illum-
mating the building. / believe such a
system to be fraught with great danger
to the inmates, and l recommend that
some Improvement be promptly made in
the lighting service before some terrible
catastrophe makes us morally responsible
for the loss OF human lives. Second, the
Improvement OF The hospital accommoda-
tions should appeal to your generous con-
-ideration. The discharge OF the delicate
and trying duties incumbent upon the
overseer OF the poor in aiding suffering
humanity Is so trying and perplexing
at his present season OF gloom and de-
spair that personally y feel that he should
freely receive the moral and official sup
port and advice OF the city Council.
Railroads
I wish to call attention OF the city
Council to the very inadequate facilities
afforded the people OF this city by the
New York, New Haven d Hartford Rail.
road. IL seems to me that the people have
some rights which ought to be respected.
recommend that the joint standing com
mittee on railroads by proper resolution
protest against the present service.
The rubiic Library.
The annual report OF the librarian, Mrs.
NJ. A. Sanders, when completed, will, /
am sure, be replete with timely and val.