The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-17
Last Session of the Com
mon Council of 1895.
First Step Toward Establish
ment of Returning Board.
City Solicitor Relievee of Paying an
AsSistant--POlice Legislation.

The final meeting of the body was an
extremely busy one and great deal was
done toward clearing the decks for the
incoming Council by the disposal OF
several important matters that have been
for some time pending.
For the first three hours of the session
Councilman John w. Angel OF Ward
presided, in the absence of President Sell
lew.
The report OF the joint special commit
tee on manufacturers' waste was taken up
Immediately after the reading OF the
records as the special order. Tho report
was read and opposed by Councilman
Barney on the ground that il provided
for something that is already provided
for by law. That is, Mr. Barney said, in
explanation, that the pollution OF the
rivers by the dumping in OF manufactu-
rers' waste is illegal and that no action OF
the City Council can make II more so.
The petitioning of the General Assembly
for more law is not necessary. Mr.. Barney
moved the Indefinite postponement OF
the resolution providing that a joint spec
ial committee with city solicitor be in
structed to consult with the various man
ufacturers and TO make, IL possible, some
amics BILE arrangement for the disposal OF
the waste In way not detrimental TO
public health, and also directing the city
solicitor to take legal action in any case
which can not be SO arranged.
Mr.. West objected to the indefinite
postponement and said that no harm
could come OF getting more authority
from the Legislature and in the mean
time a committee could take some course
as that suggested by Mr.. Barney.
Mr.. Vose, chairman OF the special COM
mittee, recommended the passage OF both
the resolutions offered by the the com
itfea and nv Mr. Rarney
Mr.. Barney Withdrew his motion for in
definite postponement, and the resolution
Of the special committee was passed. 1t
was as follows:
Resolved, That the city solicitor bo and he
IS hereby directed 10 apply to the General
Assembly at its January session. A. ID. 1895,
for the passage Of such legislation as Will
prohibit the pollution Of ths Moshassuck and
West rivers and the Woonasquatucket River
by pouring. turning. or emptying into either
OF said rivers any wastes, grease. acids. dye
stuffs, sewerage, ashes. or other refuse or
waste substances. liquids or materials by any
ness along the line of or contiguous TO said
rivers or either OF them.
The resolution introduced by Mr.. Bar
ney was also passed.
RETURNING BOARD.
Chairman Parkhurst for the com nit tee
on ordinances presented report On the
petition OF George II. Gof and other
members of the fre department tor "tbree
days off" out Of each month. The COM
mittee stated that the fire commissioners
did not approve and that there is not
sufficient reason Tor interfering with the
commission. They recommended that
the petitioners be given leave TO with
draw. The Council acted in accordance
with the recommendation OF the commit
tee.
The same committee recommended the
indefinite postponement OF sundry bills
3 Tor ordinances wuiuh had been referred TO
1t during the year, and they were so dis
posed of.
The same committee also recommend
ed the indefinite postponement OF res.
olution providing for the election OF
returning ana counting board by the City
Council and recommended the passage of
a substitute resolution which read as fol-
lows:
That the city solicitor be and he Is hereby
directed to make application to the General era
for such legislation AZ will authorize the City
Council of tho city OF Providence TO constitute
the board of canvassers and registration of
said city a counting and returning board for
the purposee of counting the ballots cast at
any State or municipal election held in said
city, and of making return thereof to the
Board of Aldermen.
Mr.. West offered the adoption of the
was unwise and vicious aud was intended
TO result in a partisan board by confer
ring upon the present board of registra-
tion the right to act rs counting and
returning board. After a lengthy speech
Mr.. West moved the indefinite postpone
ment OF the substitute resolution.
Mr.. Parkhur said in support OF his
resolution that II would be better 10
make the canvassing board returning
board than to create new board and
thus multiply the amount OF red tape
and add greatly to the expense. He re-
missioners since their election, and spoke
lightly OF their conscientious and non
partisan, impartial performance OF their
duties.
A long discussion followed, i'm which
ouncilmen West and Park hurst were tho
principal participants. Mr.. West said
finally that he wonld not object to the
substitute resolution il 1t was amended
by the insertion of the words "non-par-
tisan" before the words returning
board"
Mr.. Parkhurst said nothing about ac-
cepting such amendment and a roll-call
vote was taken OH the motion TO indefi
nitey postpone The motion was lost by
vote OF 22 to IL which stood as follows:
Ayes-Councimen Blanchard Burdick. Bor.
den, Beane, Freeman, Giblin. Grinnell.
Murphy, O'Connell. Ryan and west-ll.
Nays-tOuncllncn ANGEL, Anthony, Bur
ton. Blakeley, Barney, Cressy. Davis, Joseph
u. kendrick, John Il. KeLdrick. Loueee.
Millen, Messenger. Moore. Parkhurst, Phillips,
Perkins, Trask. Vaughan. Vose. White,
Whiteley, Waterman-22.
The resolution was laid on the table
temporarily after which it was taken no
and an amendment providing that not
more than two OF the Board should be
OF one political party was offered by Mr..
West and lost by vote OF Is to II. Then
Mr.. West offered the following amend
ment:
And for such legislation as will permit any
person aggrieved by sny act decision or
ruling Of the said board OF canvassers and
registration. and said returning board to APP
peal TO the appellate division u tho Supreme
Court
This amendment was adopted without
opposition and the resolution was then
passed.
Mr.. Burdick gave notice that at the
next session he should move TO recon-
slider, but withdrew that notice later, in
nsmuch as the Councilmen had sivnifed