The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20

AT meeting held on Thursday, Dscem-
Der 8, last, the Roard OF Aldermen np-
pointed a committee "to investigate ell
charges against the overscer OF the Poor
and his department.. The resolution pro-
viding for he nppointmen,was introduced
and passed at the request OF one OF the
members OF the committee on poor de-
partment aud was prompted by statements
made in this newspaper to the effect that
the oyerseer OF the Poor had, for year
at least, been getting his "tsble board at
city expense that this perquisite wes not
known 10 the committee or the city
auditor aud that there was no known
authority for il. Tho amount OF money
thus drawn from the poor fund for the
support OF tie Overseer Of the Poor was
small even with what might have APP
psared to be extravagant living. But the
principle involved was evidently such
that statement OF the facts placed Mr..
CUMMINGS IN an embarrassing position
and indeed rejected on everybody in any
way associated with supervising the
woik or auditing the bills oi the Poor
Dcrarimt The report OF the investi-
grt 'ng committee Is found In another col
umn. The committee e-rlsios that while
no charges existed thor ttan the state
meuts OF ia:t made ly this newspaper
and admitted by the Ovceseer, they
deemed it desirable TO look into these
facts. TIE result OF It's investigation and
cor siceration of all the circumstances is,
that II the oycrseer Of the Poor had au-
rhority for living at the expense OF the city
why. then, lie had the right TO live ut
the city's expense.
This may sound like a bit OF bumor ON
the par. o, the committee, but we are
sure from wha, we know OF the members
thereof hat humor was the last thing
that ever entered their minds. The plain
fact is that there was record OF vote
OF tie committee on poor department back
In IsgI, giving some kind OF authority TO
the Overseer OF tho Poor. The language
OF the record is such that 1t would take a
Philadelphia lawyer TO interpret its mean
ing. Only one person in all the world is
supposed 20 ever have had an exact under
standing OF it and that person is dead
The investigating committee did exactly
what they ought to have done under
the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the Overseer
OF the Poor the benefit of all doubt and
allowed that his construction or that
vote had as much claim TO recognition
as anybody else's Interpretation.
1t sas needless TO discuss the question OF
authority OF the Poor Committee Of 1891
to pass vote the effect OF which was to
add several hundred dollars year TO
ths expense account, virtually 20 increase
the salary of the overseer,as to argue that
the Interpretation Put upon the vote by
Mr.. CUMMINGS was wrong. Ii has moth
ing to do With the case, that the Overseer
is not now following out any part OF the
instruction OF the vote passed in 1891. IL
there Is anything to find fault with in
the report OF the investigating commit
Tee IL ~ snht thc BtntieHen comprising IL
did not 20 a step farther than they did
and endorse Mr.. CUMMINGS construction
OF the purpose OF the vote as in their opin-
ion likely and wsrrantsble interpreta-
tion instead OF leaving the matter hang
ing in the air and continuing to impose
upon Mr.. CUMMINGS the necessity OF
iustifying his view. The committee say
some very pleasant things about the over
seer, tut II would have been much more
TO The Ioint, much. more just to Mr.. CUM
MINGs TO have expressed an opinion as to
whether or not "what he considers to te
ample authority" was, in tine minds OF
L.