The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-13
Relies On a Vote Passed by AldermaniC Committee
on Poor in February 1891.
1t Gave Him Authority to Stay at Charity Building Perma-
nenty From That Time.
Nothing Was Said About City Furnishing foodStatemens Made
Last Night by Overseer and Others

The special committee OF the Board OF
Aldermen appointed TO investigate the
management of the poor department held
public meeting in Room IA. In the city
hall, last evening. Besides Aldermen
Pierce, Little and Darcy, who compose
the committee, there were present Over
seer of the Poor Mathew J. Cummings,
who had as counsel MI. Rathbone Gard
ner's partner, Mr.. Richard 3. Comstock;
Mayor Olney, Aldermen Lansing, Nc
Carthy and Reynolds, ex-Alderman Dem.
ing andCity Solicitor Colwell, who acted as
adviser to. the committee. Before opening
the public meeting the committee held
a half-hour private session and il was
just O'Clock when the members took
their place and Chairman Pierce raped
TO order. The hearing was of an in
formal character, and a great many state
ments were made which had little, If
any, bearing on the matter under investi-
CATION. In spite of this, the fact was es-
tsblished that since Feb. Is, 1891, Overseer
Cummings has made his home in the
poor department and had been fed at the
expense OF the city. In fact, Mr.. Cum
mings himself made this statement to
the committee and claimed that, by his
construction of a resolution, passed by
the committee on poor, authorizing him
10 remain permanently in the building,
ne hsd right to do so.
After the clerk OF the committee Mr..
Daniel +. Hayden, had read the resolu
tion under which il was acting, Commit
teeman Little moved that Mr.. Cummings
be requested TO read that part of his
record which he claimed authorized him
10 live permanently at the poor depart
men. building and take his meals there.
Before the motion could be seconded
Lawyer Comstock was on his feet with
an objection, but he was requested TO
wait a moment until the chairman had
stated the question. This done. Mr..
Comstock wanted to know what the
charges We're that had been preferred
against Mr.. Cummings, and what scope
the committee proposed TO take in the
investigation. The resolution under which
the committee was acting was neither
definite nor specific. Mr.. Cummings was
certainly entitled to notice OF the
charges so that he might know what he
bad TO meet.
Chairman Pierce remarked that the
committee felt that il bad authority 20 in
vestigate into all matters relating 10 the
management of the department.
To this Mr.. Comstock replied that Mr..
Cummings was entitled 10 a statement
of the charges he was called upon TO
answer 1t has been asserted in the pub
lie press that ne has been living at the
poor department at the expense of the
city and illegally. What the speaker
wanted to know was just what charges
the committee had before il.
The chairman repiied there were no
formal charges before he committee. The
only matter before it was the refusal OF
the committee on poor department TO
audit certain bills contracted by Mr..
Cummings.
Again Mr.. Comstock was OH his feet
with a repetition of his previous demand,
but Chairman Pierce remarked that il hc
would give way for while the commit
tee mig ht- be able to make some progress
Once more Mr.. Comstock declared that
Mr.. Cummings had a right to know the
nature OF the charge made against him,
and was proceeding to make further
argument on the point when City Solicitor
Colwell Interrupted him to remark that
he would agree with Mr.. Comstock IL
this was a formal hearing. This was
not such a hearing, as he understood it.
Ii was simply an inquiry TO give light to
the committee. There were no
charges. and nothing more than what
the chairman had stated. The committee
understood that Mr.. Cummings was will
ing TO make an exhibition OF his books
so as TO show il the manner of his man
agement. There was some further talk
by Mr.. Comstock, but finally MIR. Cum
mings produced his req bound record
book in which the minutes of the meetings
of the committee on poor were kept by
him.
From this he proceeded 20 read the
vote in which he claimed he was author
lied to live in the poor department build
ing at the city's expense. This vote was
passed on Feb Is, 1891, and the record
of IL was as follows: "The Overseer OF
the Poor reported also the necessity OF
him remaining in the building perman-
entity. on account of some of the vicious
characters that applied for lodging, as il
was wrong TO have the matron attend TO
such people st a late hour. The committee
voted unanimously in allowing the over
seer to remain In the building and
thought it should have been done be-
fore. F"
Comm itteeman Little asked thet Mr..
Deming, who was n member OF the COM
mittee on poor at the time this vote was
passed, state what he understood tire
scope and intent OF that vote to be at the
time IL was taken. Mr.. Comstock de.
manded whether Mr.. Deming was TO be
sworn and the city solicit remarked
that II Mr.. Cummings counsel vas going
20 object to this method OF obtaining in
forma ion. the better way woutd bc 10
etaF, fls funufrU tyhara ern