The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-06
1t Is Necessary in the Reg
istration Office.
Comment on Mayors Threat
to Use Veto Power.
Department Not Alone in Exemption
From Committee Supervision.

The resolution authorizing the board
OF registration to use $1,000, out OF the
SIS, 900 appropriated for elections, for the
purI ose OF securing clerical assistance,
was passed by both branches OF the City
Council Monday night. As stated in THE
New OF Tue sday's issue Mayor McGuin-
ness will veto the bill. An inquiry at
several publ &c departments today resulted
IN getting hold OF some OF the excellent
reasons why the Mayor should not take
this particular occasion to make use OF
blocking city business.
Last year Ii was evident enough to the
members OF the Council hat the three
members OF the registration commission
must have clerks TO enable them 10 do
the immense amount OF work imposed
upon them and two allowances were then
made, one of $1,000 and one OF 5000. At the
same time the board was told by the
members OF the finance committee that a
further appropriation could be had when
Ii was needed. So much for precedent
N authority.
As to the economical features OF IL the
figures show for themselves. Last year
S16, 900 was appropriated and was more
than enough for regular elections. There
were, however, two special elections,
resulting in the choice OF Mr.. Reynolds as
n 6uNt01rOI W h5 III
the board and the other on the constitu-
tional amendment providing for biennial
elections. As the result of the two extra
voting days the appropriation was not
enough by only s13S2.21. The %appropria-
tion this year Is $1,000, which Is suti-
cient for the ordinary election expenses,
and also to provide for the extra as list
ance necessary TO prepare the voting list
that shalt be authentic and conform
strictly with the number of actual voters
rather than be based upon the whims and
unreliable statements of ward workers.
IL Is considered to be somewhat parti-
san on the part OF the Mayor to single out
this particular board and declare that its
bills must he audited by some committee
OF the Council, when the commissioner of
public works may employ as many men
az he needs under $1,000 n year, and the
ILLS are not audited. There Is no Council
committee to audit the bills Of the board
OF assessors for extra clerical assistance,
and the same is true OF the recorder OF
deeds Office.
The passage OF the resolution, which the
Mayor objects to, was not a hasty piece OF
legislation. On the sixth day Of last
month the board of canvassers made their
estimates and presented their petition for
the 5000 to the Council. Ii was referred
to the finance committee and that COM
mittee unanimously recommended the
Jassage of the necessary resolution on
ohihaif 49, lhtb ~ Nho ~ ~ t'N
table for two weeks. On last Monday
night it was taken up and passed by a
unanimous vote and then went through
the Board, where even Alderman Nichols
urged its passage.
alt isn't the amount OF money in
vowed" said a city official today, THAT
makes this matter important, but the
principle Of the thing and 1t will be in
teresting OF watch the effect OF the May
or's veto 10 something that his W POI
litical adherents in the Council want and
that everyone see the necessity off,
The salaries of the three commissioners
amount to $500. Thew ask for 5000,
which would make 5000, the total ex-
pense OF tue work that formerly cost the
city $500.
The clerks have already been employed
since January ! because three-fourths OF
the years work is always done during
the first three moths prior to the State
election. The commissioners ask for
5000 TO Tav to three or four clerks who
do the work formerly done by ~ district
clerks with a salary OF 800 each, or si4OO,
and in addition to that 800 more was
formerly allowed for extra assistants in
the city clerks office.
Aldermen Mccarthy, who agrees with
the Mayor in this case, made the bold
statement that the registration commits
sioners didn't do much Of anything and
that "they never work nights"
Last year the members of the board
spent % evenings in visiting districts, to
canvass the lists, they kept the central
Office open on the last seven nights of tie
year when The law only required three,
and before each OF the several elections
weeks of night service were rendered.
There has been one or more clerks on
duty every evening since November "a, and
now the entire force has about all hat
1t can attend to to get ready for the Stale
election.
III the Mavor does persist in using his
veto, and the Council fails TO give the
necessary three-fifths vote afterward, the
clerks must, of course, be dismissed and
that would mean that on April 1, the day
of the next election, there would be no
voting lists.