The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-19


the city vesting the designing and super
vision OF ali public buildings in the city
engineers department. The bill Is as
follows:
Before any building or other public
structure for the use OF the city shall be
erected, altered or repaired, the expense
OF which may exceed the sum of $500, the
city engineer shall prepare the requisite
plans, specifications and estimates
of the work to be done, and the
department, committee or commission
authorized to erect, alter or repair such
building or other structure, shall give
notice in the newspapers employed to do
| the city printing, of the time and place
| for the exhibition OF such plans
and specifications, and the time
| during which proposals will be
received, and the city engineer shall care
| fully inspect all such work while in pro-
gress, and approve to the said department,
| committee or commissioner authorized to
erect, altar or repair any such building or
other structure all bills for work done
| thereon.
| Accompanying the bill was statement
| of the amounts paid for services OF archi-
tects for the four years ending September
30, 1898, including plans and superintend-
ence, aggregating s27,076. Alderman
Burrows moved the passage of the bill for
the purpose of economy. Alderman
| Lansing said he had learned from con-
| tractor who had executed large orders
| that the proposed change would mater
| tally increase the expenditure. The bill
was passed.
Breeze Over Constable Appointments.
- he .t,,tt taa IN
stables announcing the appointments OF
| constables with power to serve civil pro-
cess, created spirited discussion. AL
derman West made vigorous kick over
the renewal OF Eph. G. Greene and sharp
| ly criticised the retention of l.. 8. Andres,
a sewing machine snatcher. Alderman
Mccarthy wanted the name of Joseph b.
| Sheahan substituted for Frederick A.
Guile, taking the ground that Ward 3
should have representative. The motion
| of Alderman Mccarthy was lost on tie
| vote, and that of Alderman West was de-
| feated by a vote Of to g. Insinuations
were thrown out that the committee had
| shown favoritism in selecting men in
| their respective wards, and dropping the
names of experienced men for povices. The
| list as reported was confirmed as follows:
William Abel, Levings s. Andres, JohnJ.
Connor, Harry +. Cooney, Frederick A.
Guile, Leopold Hartmann, Frederick G.
Hull, Andrew Mckenzie, Lyman Upham.
A resolution was passed directing the
commissioner of public works to cause
the proposed highways i'm the new part of
Roger Williams park to be,graded and
built in accordance with the plans OF the
city engineer, the expense to be charged
to the special appropriations for the i'm
provement of public parks.
Extension of Canal and Charles SITS.
Alderman Mccarthy introduced reso-
luton to lay out ana extend Canal street
from Smith street to Mill street, and
| Charles street, from Mill street to RAN
dali square. Mr.. Mccarthy stated that
the streets being so narrow at the points
mentioned made it exceedingly hard work
for teamers aud business men. Traffic
waJ delayed and blockades of wagons
were of no uncommon occurrence. He
was aware of the feeling existing among
the residents of that neighborhood and
stated that it was the universal wish of
the business men and merchants that the
streets be widened and extended SO as to
insure safety and speed in traffic.
| Alderman Little corroborated the state
ments of the previous speaker. He said
| that the firm he represents sent out many
loads of coal daily through this section of
| the city, and said that 1t was necessary to
| go long way through cross and side
streets to get past those sections, whereas
| IL the streets mention were widened such
| a tour would be unnecessary. The resolu-
| tion was referred to the committee on
| highways.
City to Hire Carriages by Contract.
The hackney carriage committee re-
ported as follows: "That complaint has
| been made to them OF alleged discrimina-
| tion and unfairness i'm the conduct of the
hack and carriage business in this city, es-
| pecially with reference to the hack stands
| at the railroad station, and also in regard
| to the use OF carriages by the city.
| Upon the former complaint your COM
mittee will report at future meeting
| OF the board of aldermen in detail.
Upon the latter charge your committee
| find according to the report of the city au-
ditor that the city expended for horse and
carriage hire during the year ending Sept.
30, 1s93 the sum of "a, ,S3S.96, nearly one
half of which sum was paid to the
| parties against whom the complainant of
| favoritism at the depot has been made.
| Irrespective of this complaint, however,
your committee believe that the
| rate at present charged the city,
viz: s1.50 per hour is excessive
| and that it would be for the best inter-
| ests Of the city as well as result i'm saving
| large sum of money annually IL this
work was let out by contract to the
lowest responsible bidder. Another
! feature that should receive attention is
| that the time charged to the city is regu-
lated now apparently by the hack
men employed, as no check appears
to be kept as to the hours that car
riages are actually in service. Believing
that the city will secure better service and
far more economical terms than are now
being paid by opening this business to
competition among the local livery sta
bles, your committee submit the accom-
panying resolution and recommend its
passage.'- W
Resolved, That the committee on
hackney carriages OF the board of alder
men be and they are hereby authorized