The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-10
After Dinner Speeches.

The company then sat down to SUBJ
stantial banquet served by Caterer Bur-
lando, and the several courses were sub
jected to exhaustive discussion. Cigars
were then distributed, and then ex- Presi-
dent j. g. Massie, the father of the asso-
citation, was honored with the Office of
POSTMASTER. He gave an interesting sketch
OF the inception of the organization in 1872
with membership of 10, and its gradual
development to its present proportions,
naming the list of presiding officers and
defining its aims and objects. Ex-Presi-
dent III. ". A. Joslin who was dubbed the
mother of the association, contributed
some interesting details in regard to the
conversing methods under the old method
before 1t was amended by substituting
the ward and district systems in
which the clerks were utilized. Their
services in purging the lists
OF repeaters and names of persons who
had previously voted for graveyard in
cumbents was strikingly illustrated by
the statement that in one year 1900 to 1000
names were struck of. The organization
had secured amendments to the law so as
to provide for annual registration and
under the Australian ballot system their
duties and responsibilities had been so
materially augmented that their influence
had secured increased compensation. 1t
should be further increased for there is a
vast amount OF detail to be performed
outside the ward-room routine on election
day.
City Clerk Clarke's Plan.
City Clerk Clarke then outlined his plan
for the substitution OF boards of registra-
tion in the several districts as outlined i'm
The News SO as TO prevent so far as Is
possible the repeating process whereby
the same person could register as a resi-
dent in several districts and great diff
Guilty would be experienced i'm discovering
the person who might not have erred in
tentionally. These boards should be nom
partisan, and should be composed of per-
sons thoroughly familiar with the names
and residences of the applicants in their
respective districts.
Chairman Massie approved the plan
and said that when the payment OF poll
taxes was transferred from the city clerks
to the treasury department, it not infre-
quently happened while he was in that
Office that two or three persons would
furnish money to pay the taxes OF regis
try voters which were checked off on their
lists. 1t was discovered i'm many instan-
ces that repeaters and names of dead men
weiu frequently checked off in this man
ner.
The Other Speeches.
Interesting speeches were then made by
ex-President Albert c. Winsor, who had
officiated as clerk for % years and had
never been absent from his post on election
days and canvass meetings, and inter
jected suggestive poem; ex-Presidents
James +. Freeman, Henry NJ.
Boss, and j. s. Williams,
James Warren jr., Cyrus G. Armstrong,
George l.. Robinson, Charles T.. Smith,
Hugh v. Mulvey, Clifford S. Tower, Wal
ter +. Munroe and others. The remarks
were largely reminiscent and supportive
OF the proposed amendment to the registry
law and urging the introduction OF a
petition TO the city council for
increased compensation. THE NEWS
representative accepted an invitation to
contribute lustrc to the post prandial
entertainment. The company did not
disperse until the midnight hour, and
there was q spirit OF fraternity and good
fellowship dominated the occasion. II
was evident that the interests OF the
voters In the several districts have
been committed TO intelligent and
thoroughly capable officers, and
their services which will be greatly en-
lafged In the coming year by the remark
ably large increase OF registry voter.
coupled with the additional detail in
voivcd in the jury system, should b,
aieouafely rewarded by an increased
appropriation, thereby ensuring .
ti,osough and reliable performance o.
their srduous duties aud responsibilities