The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-01
CRANSTON,
Lots OF Interest in the Election Next
Monday.
The Republican Council Ticket Has
the Support of the People All Right.

ofhcers next Monday, although IL Is generally
conceded that the Republican ticket is al
right and the present Council will be en-
dorsed by good big vote. IL everybody thai
favors 1t comes out and votes
AS prominent citizen, who has never
sought office, ana is deeply interested in tn,
welfare OF the town. told The NEWS cor
respondent this morning: Every citizen OF
high and low degree, who Is at all interested
In the future Of the town, will pray that 1,
may be tho last election held under the pres
ent system. The present indebtedness Of the
town is such that unless more economic mea
sures are adopted, the town will be bankrupt
ana IL is the town system, which allows the
citizen who has no real interest in its welfare
to &C into financial meeting, and vote away
the town moneys best suits mis- particular
ideas, that Is responsible for the state of
affairs.
"lf the gentlemen who comprise the honor.
able Town Council" said this gentleman.
were allowed TO use their discretion such a
state would not exist, and the town money
would be expended for more judiciously thus
IL is at present; in fact the town ought 20
feel gratihed 20 know that the seven gentle
men comprising the Council have guarded the
towns interest so jealously, and are still
willing 20 serve tho town, although such serv-
ice means abuse and ridicule from their op.
ponents of the seven members of the Cnun-
Gil. only three are opposed for recollection.
and although the Republican caucus which
named thom was attended by nearly every
voter OF the town, and they received the
nomination by good, round majority, there
has been steady and relentless opposition
rot openly and fairly, but privately, and by
insinuation carried on by few, whose only
aim Is selfadvancement. and who have re-
peatedly been shelved by their fellow CT III zens
when seeking for office"
Most of this vindictiveness is directed
against John NJ. Dean and Frank L. Budlong,
both OF whom are successful business men,
and pay taxes on more real estate than all of
their opponents combined. The cause Of this
opposition is stated TO be the stand taken by
these gentlemen in the matter Of wages TO be-
paid on the highway. II is a well.known fact
and one that reflects great credit on the town
that there are very few laborers in the town
who are unemployed. or who have TO depend
on the town for their labor.
At the recent financial meeting the ere
formers" insisted that the laborers on the
highways receive IS cents per hour for their
labor. This was opposed by Councilman Bud
long, and at the next meeting OF the Town
Council, on the advice Of the town solicitor,
the Council fixed the rate at 10 cents per hour.
As an illustration of the motive of this action,
during the spring and summer of 1894 there
wero employed on the towns highways an
average of 125 laborers. OF this number six
only were residents of the town, and were
paid at the rate OF Sl.25 per day, the major
ity OF the remainder being Italian residents
Of Summersville and Providence, w no receive
SL0O per day. Instructions have been given
the highway commissioner TO employ at all
times, when he can find anything for them TO
do, citizens of the town. and to pay them the
prevailing rate of wages paid for similar work
elsewhere. This is the action endorsed by
Councilmen Dean and Budlong, and their re-
fusal 10 approve of the payment of higher |
wages than are paid elsewhere 10 people who |
are not residents of the town, who do not con |
tribute one cent toward the support of the |
town, and who would not be employed by tho |
town were 10 possible 20 secure the needed |
labor from among the towns residents, has |
caused this outburst OF sympathy for the |
laborer, and assumed indignation at tho ac- |
tion Of those Ceuncilmen. Aside from the fact
that these two gentlemen are large taxpayers, |
is the fact that they have done more toward |
the advancement and the Identifying Of the
town than any others This is evidenced in
he eastern end Of the town at Meshanticut
Park by the number Of now houses the beau.
.iful streets, lovely lake, water and gas
main laid, and all at no expense TO the town,
lut Of great benefit 90 IL. The same may be
aid in tho western section. whore miles Of
iew streets have been laid out and improve
nents made at sssge expense TO the owner,
md still benefiting the town as much as tho
Individual making them. This is q plain
mt Of plain facts.