The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-05-01
N The COUNCIL.
Inion Railroad Company Re-
plies to Questions Asked.
ire Department Tangle Still Snarled
All up--Goyernment Of Electric Wires.

MI luPs"uVttIHUculV lVt GtcCtIiC VHto.
The session of the Common Council
asst evening was remarkably lively. Mr..
Mccarthy popped up and down in his seat
continuously from the start TO the finish,
and hardlya matter OF business passed
through without his comment. Owing TO
the absence of President Sellew, the
chair was occupied by Mr.. ]. T.. Kendrick.
rhe ordinance OF the committee on the
regulation OF electric wires provoked
lively discussion. Mr.. Mccarthy raised
numerous points of opposition to the
several sections of the ordinance and
poke for more than an hour on the
,hanges that should be made. Finally
The ordinance was passed. A communica-
ZION was received from the Union Railroad
company in response TO q resolution OF
The Council asking for information on
certain matters relating to the company.
The communication stated that the
Union Railroad Company was will
ing to adopt safety appliances
or tenders of practicable utility and that
the company was developing improve
ments in this line which would undoubt-
edly accomplish the desired object.
A resolution relating TO the securing
OF proper regulations governing
the operation OF electric cars was adopted,
and suggestions were made by Mr.
Vaughan in lrelation to the stopping OF
the cars only at certain streets.
The fire department commission tangle
called for considerable discussion.
A written opinion from the city solicit
tor was presented by Mr.. Vaughan in
which it was stated that the city had no
control over the fire department under
present conditions. The petition for the
appointment OF an assistant inspector
81 Plumbing was passed without opposi-
tion. Considerable routine business was
transacted and at IL 20 O'Clock the Coun-
ell adjourned.
Governing Electric Wires.
Mr.. Parkhurst, chairman of the COM
mittee on ordinances, called from the table
the report OF the ordinance committee,
recommending the passage of an ordi-
nance for the regulation OF electric wires,
and called for the reading of the report.
Mr.. Mccarthy said that the committee,
in the report, informs the Council that
there has been no changes made in the
restrictions governing the wires since the
passage of an ordinance eight years ago.
The great objection to the adoption of
an ordinance of this kind had been the
objections of the companies over which
the supervision would be exercised.
These corporations will have an interest In
the matter and will exert powerful infiu-
ence to bring affairs their own way. In
the ordinance the commissions: of public
works is vested with the supervision of
these poles and wires. He is not an elec-
trician, but the companies interested
have well versed electricians in their en-
ploy, and these men will work In every
possible way for the benefit OF the cor
porations which they represent. The city
of Providence is not looking after its own
interests. BY placing the offices of COM
missioner OF public works and the super
Sxf oil .fEtN frt tafi IN.
one head, the shortest route into politics
will be taken. The corporations in
terested could contribute to the election
of a Mayor who would appoint COM
missioner to their liking.
Mr.. Mccarthy then read the report
carefully, stating his objections to the
several sections. he questioned the ad-
showing the intended location of poles
and wires to the discretion of the COM
missioner of public works, and desired
that that official be ordered to compel
this filing. He also questioned the reason
of placing the commissioner under the
direction of the committee on lamps in
the erection and locating of poles for
street lighting purposes as stated in
Section s of the ordinance. The COM
mittee is appointed in January of each
year, not because of some especial qualifi-
cations for the Office but at the discretion
of the president of the Council. In plac-
ing this power in the hands of the COM
mittee the city Is not protecting itself.
The corporations can get around this. If
they cannot get the commissioner OF public
works they can get around the president
of the Council. He is elected, as the re-
suit of trade, by agreeing to appoint
certain members OF the Council on cer-
tain committees. The corporations know
this, and the committee on lamps, being
above the commissioners OF public works,
in lions. DC MIR. 'ufe Mccarthy ne did dorpTss not
blame the corporations for making
the best trades possible, but did blame the
city for allowing itself to participate in
any such affair. He said further that the
trolley wires were not sufficiently pro-
tected by guard wires. There are miles of
wires in this city unprotected. The sub
ect OF guard wires is taken but
II is one Of the most important subjects
under discussion. To section II, refer
ring to the daily tests of wires in the city
and the record thereof to which the com
of public works shall have ac-
,ess, Mr.. Mccarthy protested, claiming
hat the official had not the time
20 chase around to the different offices
md thought that the records should be
,urned over Immediately to the commits
ioner. On the section relating to the en-
,loying OF practical electrician to assist
he commissioners at the latter's discretion
Mr.. Mccarthy urged the election of the
,fficer by the Council. In that way the
would be removed as far as
possible from the control Of the corpora
ions.
Mr.. Sheahan said that the remarks of
he previous speaker were interesting,
rot only from historical, but from
IN imaginative point OF view. He re-
ented any insinuation that any
had anything to do |
N determining the nature OF the ordi-
lance and stated that careful reading of |
he report would show that the committee |
Icted from the wisest motives.
Mr.. Mccarthy wished to be understood |
hat he did not charge the committee !
With being influenced by the corporations. |
The committee are not experts, and the |
corporations are, and IL is easy to interject |
little hints here and there which, while |