The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-24
CITY HALL.
Investigation and ASpira-
ton Rule the ROOSt.
There Will Be Two Vacant
BerthS in a Week.
Each is Worth $1,000 and There Are
a Lot of Candidates.

There is no session of the Common
Council or the Board of Aldermen this
week, and there are not many committee
meetings announced, but that does not
signify that City Hall will lose any of
its attraction for those who can see the
ridiculous side which is just as inevitable
in grave mistake as the silver lining is
on the top side of the darkling cloud.
For instance today each member of the
City Council received notice by mail from
the executive secretary, Mr. Dorney, that
he was a candidate for the position on
the board Of canvassers and registration,
which VIII be vacant in one week from
today, when Mr.. Blodgett's term expires.
The election will take place in joint
convention next Monday night and the
result OF this vote, more than anything
else which has occurred this year, Is
looked forward to as an indication of just
how much support thre executive has in
the two branches. The Mayor names no
favorite, but is most emphatic in express
ing the opinion that Democrat should
be on the board of registration. Mr..
Dornev is a Democrat, and the Mayors
confidential clerk. Mr.. Dorney is also
chairman of the Democratic City Commit
tee, an organization that exerts itself to
make voters and when its leader is named
a. a cand idate for the com m ission which
makes the voting lists and named in the
interests of n-partiZanship 1t even
makes Alderman Nichols stop figuring
long enough TO smile.
But there are others. Mr.. Dorney is
not the only Democrat who is willing to
receive the s120O year for the sake of
-partiZanship.
Mr.. George b. Johnson, a clerk at 2i3
Westminster street, and a Democratic
resident on Regent avenue in the Tenth
Ward. is said to be willing to make that
sacrifice, and it is further stated that
Committeeman West has promised MIR.
Johnson that he should have the job Mr..
West is not Dorney Democrat.
Mr.. Daniel j. McOsker of the Third
Ward was candidate, and wanted the
ii dyed-in-the- wool Democrats of the
joint convention to have a caucus and
pledge themselves TO support him in ad-
vance. But he was convinced that such
a proceeding would have the tiuge of
partizanship and would not appeal to the
embers who were elected on reform is
sues and are proud of the term of Goo
Goo. Mr.. McOsker saw the point and de-
sided that he would do better TO run for
election as Democrat, not because he
himself happens to be Democrat, but
because the interests of good government
demand that there should be a Democrat
on the board of registration.
The latest report in the aspiration de-
partment at City Hall is fresh today and
to the effect that Mr.. Mcosker has with
drawn altogether and has found some
thing easier.
The present incumbent, Commissioner
John T. Blodgett, is candidate for re-
election, and has years record of most
efficient service back of him.
That something easier" referred to in
the case of Mr.. McOsker is the rosebed
- "A
to which the thorns of investigation have
recently been thrust at the instigation of
those who don't like the present occupant.
The committee on ordinances IS now
considering the bill for an ordinance to
make the office of city sealer salaried
position worth 1920 year. II this ordi-
nance is adopted the present incumbent
who is compensated by fees is necessarily
legislated out of Office and his successor
will have TO be elected in joint conven-
tion. Mr.. Pettis Is, of course, a candidate
to succeed himself and there are several
running against him. Mr.. McOsker is
said to be one OF them.
Ibis list of candidates for seaer has an
interesting connection with the investi-
CATION of the books of that Office.
II Will be remembered that Councilman
Grinnell of Ward Five and the Alderman
of Ward Two displayed the most energy
in picking flaws with Mr.. Pettis' books.
Now one of the candidates for the place
is Samuel l.. Carpenter, particular
friend of Councilman Grinnell, and IL
MIR. Carpenter is elected it il plainly un-
derstood beforehand that Mr.. Josiah u.
Ordway. who is n friend and client Of
the Second Ward Aldermanlet, Will be
the deputy. But it merely coincidence.
say those who now wish to make the best
of having voted for the Aldermanlet.
Other possible candidates for Mr.. Pet
tis' job who are not handicapped by the
support given to Mr.. Ordway, are Mr..
Jeremiah Miller and Mr.. Church of the
public works department.
The INVESTIGATION of the license COM
missioners will be continued TOMORROW
evening.