The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-10-22
As TO MOTIVES.


In its sudden plunge to seize the sheet
suchor OF hope represented by the Rhode
Island Citizens League " hatever that
may be--The Journal has allowed the life
buoy OF solid shot represented by the
eight-now seven-sponeors OF reform to
drift TO leeward. II is apparently going
TO hang to the anchor in its attempt to
keep afiost rather than to the bundle Of
solid shot.
1t would not be becoming in MS to crit
icise the promoters OF the new tangled
Democratic party in their shift, nor to
offer any advice. We shouldn't wonder
II the Rhode Island Citizens League
represents as many citizens as the reject
ed sponsorship. We stand ready at any
time to print in our columns the full list
OF membership of the League to verify
this opinion--it the secretary will forward
II to us. He certainly cannot expect us TO
go cunning for the membership for him.
That would be asking too much.
But, however The Journal may be dis
posed to "shake" the eight-now se-en-
sponsors OF its party, we cannot resist a
feeling OF lingering interest in them.
When we behold any OF our fellow citi-
zens in the act OF vaulting into public
view under so extraordinary circum-
stances as have the remaining seven
sponsors of reform we can but be inter
ested in them, the motives that prompt
them and the objects they may have in
view.
Few acts OF human kind are without
motive. Few, alas, are disinterested.
Even in sponsors of reform we may
venture to trace the promptings OF q spir-
1t that is to be deemed about as nearlyasso-
ciated with a concern for the public veal
rs Is the act OF a cow munching her cud
to be regarded as philosophic contem-
plation of the problem OF clearing
universal space OF superfuous stars. There
is Mr.. ALFRED STONE for instance. Mr..
STONE is the head OF q reputable firm OF
architects that staked good deal OF it's
reputation on the building OF the Central
Police Station--and, according to The
Journal, lost its reputation by that same
stake AS a sponsor of reform, how
ever, all is forgiven to Mr.. STONE, al
though 1t is not impossible to conceive
that to the circumstance of that very
work is to be credited Mr.. STONES re-
forming sentiments--great men are so
ofttimes moved by SO small motives. 1t
may be remem bered, for instance, that
when the fine police station was com
pleted it was discovered that there were
wooden partitions in the basement where
there ought, obviously, to have been bnilt
partitions of brick. Wooden partitions
in the underpinnipg OF the splendid police
station were evidently as absurd as pa
per -mache corner stone to the Temple OF
SOLOMON. Architect STONE explained to
the city property committee that the err
ror was due to the simple fact that one OF
his clerks in painting the drawings had
put in the wash color signif-
can't OF wood on those partitions, rather
than the color significant OF brick,
10 Mr.. STONE cheerfully estimated on the
Job of pulling out the partitions and
brick walls, and charged
the usual commission for the estimate.
The city property committee had the job
done by contract, bot they wanted Mr..
STONES firm to deduct the cost of the
change from his bill, or at any rate to
knock of the architects commission,
amounting to 90. 5o-which he charged for
ma king the estimate for undolng the re-
'ult OF the artistic work OF his clerk. In |
they may reasonably have in.
luired what an architects supervision, |
or which per cent was charged, was