The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-16
Aldermen and the City
Engineers Salary
Not Yet Approved, Although
Mr.. Shedd is EXCnerated.
The Mayor Has a Second Oppor-
tunlty to Break a Tie Vote.

The meeting OF the Board OF Aldermen
Yesterday afternoon lasted about an hour
and half, ana the most important busi-
ness that occupied the attention OF the 10
ordinance makers was the consideration
of the report OF the committee appointed
10 consider the advissbility OF approving
the salary OF City Engineer Shedd. The
report exonerates the city engineer OF all
the charges made against him, but IT
does not fail TO make couple OF hings
at employees under Mr.. Shedd, who spend
their vacations doing work for other par
ties tnan the city, and ends up with
recommendation that an accompanying
resolution be passed. This resolution pro-
vidss for the payment to the city engi-
neer OF a salary of $4,000 a year, In
cluding conveyance, provided he gives
his entire time TO the city and engages
IN no other work.
1t was the latter part of the report that
seemed to please Alderman Robert W.
Burbank, for he asked the clerk OF the
Board to read it over again. When the
second reading was completed the report,
which had been signed BY the Aldermen
on the COMMITTEES and was written In a
style that was somewhat like classic,
was received. Then Mayor McGuinness
announced the resolution recommended
by the committee was before the house
for onsideratiou.
Alderman Burbank promptly took the
floor and said the Board bad no right to
~. tta onprnval n
the salary OF the city engineer, as that
was q matter that lay solely with the ap-
pointing power Of the commissioners of
putlic works. He said the report exon
Grated Mr. shedd and he was glad to
speak good word for him, and he
thought the city engineer had as much
right to do outside work as MIR. Smith, the
commissioner of public works, had to
sell coal.
Alderman Darcy suggested that IL no
one woulo be injured by uelay he would
rather have the resolution lay over q
couple of weeks.
Alderman Burbank talked earnestly
against delay and repeated his argument
against requiring the city engineer to
give up ell outside work, and moved an
amendment to the resolution striking
out anything in the latter except the
approval OF the salary fixed by the COM
missioner of public works. The motion
wss promptly seconded.
Alderman Fuller had stood the argu-
ment of his fellow reformer from Ward
Two, very patiently, but wnen the
amendment Was offered he said q few
words in favor of his report and also de-
clarcd tnat the report and the resolution
had been approved by the city solicitor.
Alderman Darcy said there appeared
20 be.a difference OF opinion between
the city law officer and Alderman Bur-
bank, so he again urged delay.
Alderman Burbank got Alderman Full.
Ter to admit that the law and not the
facts in the report were approved by the
city solicitor.
Alderman Winsor suggested that as the
report was the result of careful investiga-
tion on the part Of the committee he
would like more time to consider IL so he
moved that tho report be laid on the
table and printed. Alderman Darcey
seconded the motion.
Alderman Little suggested that the
committee had given much time to the
matter referred to, and he favored
Alderman Winsor's motion. He asked
Mr.. Shedd to say whether it was so or
not az stated in the report that he had
told Commissioner Smith he would do no
outside work when he finished what he
haf on hand. Mr.. shedo was about to
reply when Alderman Burbank objected.
A vote was taken on the resolution to
lay on the table and the vote stood for
30 doing and against.
Mayor McGuinness said he would vote
TO give the mem bers IN opportunity to
make the fullest investigation possible
ana would vore In favor OF Alderman
Winsor's motion.
REMOVAL OF INSPECTOR OF MILK's Of
FIcE.
Alderman Mccarthy introduced reso-
luton which had been approved by the
committee on milk, providing for the re-
movsl of the Office of milk inspector
from the Hodges building to the rooms
formerly occupied by the poor depart
ment In the building on Fountain street.
The resolution passed, and an appropria.
tion OF 1850 for the putting OF the new
quarters In proper shape was made. The
commissioner Of public works was direct
ed to work Post Office court TO the estab-
lished grade, and to pave the court with
asphalt.
Tho commissioner OF public works was
authorized to engage Jamss G. Butter
worth ss commissioner Of Pswtucket