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


an appropriation of q, 900 TO maintain the
library during the present year.
Tax Department.
Three citizens, each of them of good
character and ability compose the present
| board OF assessors of taxes. The quality
! Of the service rendered by them as pu bile
| servants has not only been in the main
| satisfactorily, honestly and fait hfully
performed, but 1t has In every instance
been significantly demonstrated by sue
ressfully withstanding the assaults made
upon II by individuals who have not al
ways seemed to be actuated in their ef
forts by desire to promote the public
| good.
Under the present organization OF the
Board, no one member devotes all Of his
| time to the duties of this Office. They are
| not paid to do IL, and hence such service
| Is not expected. l recommend that the
board of assessors of taxes employ an &C
| tive and reliable man, whose duties shall
he clearly defined, and shall require him
to visit and re- visit, in pleasant weather,
all sections OF the city, noting building
| improvements wherever he may hnd
them, attending all auction sales at which
/ property either real or personal may be
| unered Tor sale, noting the various bid
| ders as well as bids, attending every ses-
sion OF the probate court, for the purpose
| OF gathering inf furmation useful to the
| department, and in stormy weather his
duties shouidinclude the making of all
plats, ETC., required ny the board. This
officer should report regularly In writing
at least once week to tho board of as
! SCISSORS his doings for he preceding
! week. When the proper time arrives for
| the creation OF a bosrd of assessors OF
taxes, each VI WHOM snail give his entire
time to the duties Of the Office, tho city
| will nave one man VINO has been fitted by
| tralning to occupy one of these pos
and render valuable SCI vice to the tax
| piyera. am opposed to having one men
| her OF the board give his entire tina
while bis two colleague devote but a por'
! ton OF heir time, hecatse IL esta ablI shes
divided responsibility, which Is contrary
toevery sound principle OF Official ac-
| countability. | firmly believe the plan
suggested II adopted VIII prove of great
advantage TO the city treasury.
would also suggest that the board of
assessors OF taxes hold a regular meeting
once week at some convenient hour, az
also believe that this would prove profit
able to the city, as we'll as beneficial to
the taxpayers.
| Abatement Of Taxes
recommend that the present ordinance
be Immediately repealed, as its existence
is very serious menace to the public
veal, and that new ordinance be
adopted limiting the board of abatement
| If taxes to jurisdiction over illegal as
"
illegality uncollectsble.
Liquor licenses
The present board of license counts
| sioners assumed office lasi June. The
| judgement OF the people seems to be that
| they have administered the law witt an
honesty OF purpose that is positively re-
| freshing. The disagreesblo WraDgling
| and disgusting scenes which attached TO
the consideration OF almost every applica-
tion for liquor license, under one OF the
| previous commissions, has been entirely
| removed, solely because the present COM
! missioners transact heir official business
| Ia a faithful ana conservative manner,
and in obedience To public sentiment as
| well as public law. Fully believing that
| the present license commissioners are
, anxious to promote the public veal, /
| would respectfully urge them to reduce
| the number of licensed dealers upon the
| EXPIRATION OF the present license year.
| There are too many licensed saloons in
the city, and believe that the commis-
| sioDers will, by carefully CONSIDERING the
character OF each individual application,
/ be able To reduce the number materially.
| Public sentiment demands the adoption
OF such policy.
| Municipal Franchises.
The growth Of the city is constantly
approaching land and franchise values.
| The manifest tendency OF corporal IONS
| seeking the use OF the public highways
| for the promotion OF private enterprises,
| Is 10 secure franchises OF an exclusive
nature, thus destroying competition, and
| in addition thereto to secure such tran
cnises for long period OF years
| caution the city Council regarding these
| important matters, and urge them to give
| such subjects careful consideration, Cor
porations seeking such valuable privileges
| should pay literally for them, There are
Lilo aH ont 10 h..
| Joy commercial benefits derived from the
use of ne public highways in this city
| without paying single penny into the
| pu bic treasury. The public interests
| demand that the failure to secure money
| In return for such privileges should cease
and IN this important reform you should
| act promptly.
| Ny attention has been called by the
| public press to the increasing tendency ~
| the city Council to award contracts for
| supplies and materials for term of years,
| / believe such contracts when awarded
for ordinary materials and supplies may
be open to some criticism. The people
demand fair play in these matters.
saiarie. or Wages
urge the Joint standing committee on
finance TO carefully consider the matter OF
the salaries ana wages OF city officials.
do not approve of a horizontal reduction
In the rate paid, but L fully believe that
crreful consideration OF the subject will
disclose both officials that can be dis
pensed with and salaries that can
he reduced. Wages ale being
reduced very generally and many wage
earners believe that city employees should
not escape the unfortunate condition
which is so apparent in the commercial
depression which now prevails. DO not
make any reductions at the expense OF the
efficiency OF the public service, but pro-
ceed honestly, feariessly and wisely.
Make your official inquiry searching and
complete, including In its scope the high.
est as well as the lowest In Official rank
BE just and honest with those least able
to bear Il.
Printing and Advertising.
The appropriation for this branch OF the
public service last year amounted TO
o., ,299 81, OF which $500 was applied to the
payment OF the cost of printing and bind
ing three thousand copies OF the annual
tax book. Some different plan might be
adopted concerning he item OF tax books.
Many cities do not print them, and sug-
gest that In this city less number be
printed. and that they be sold to the tax
payer NJ actual cost In this way II will
appear lust how many taxDayers really