The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-21
CRANSTON'S BIG DAY.
The Annual Financial Meeting Passed
Off Quietly.


ut Narragansett Park and proved beyond
q reasonable doubt that business can be
done by business methods.
At 2 o'clock Moderator Pierce notified
the assembly that I'm accordance with the
call, 10 citizens would retire to the south
end of the grand stand building and read
the call, then return. In few minutes
the committee returned and business be-
gan.
Upon the formal opening of the meet
ing Mr.. Reuben Wilbur called for the
reading OF the minutes of the previous
meeting. The chair ruled that II was per-
the town clerk had not written them nor
has 1t been customary to write them.
Town treasurer Balm rendered his an
nuai report: Total receipts for the year,
S34i, 303. IL; expenditures, 1922, 999. .65; leav-
ing a balance In the treasury of s21, ,303. 46.
In the midst Of Mr.. Bain's report, Mr..
Hollis Nj. Coombs moved that since Mr..
Bain's report was so ably and clearly
mnde out in printed form and the same
could be had for the asking, the treas
urer's report be accepted without further
reading; motion passed.
The reports OF the overseer of the poor
and OF the chief OF police were read and
adopted. The latter reported 100 arrests
during the year, end specified the nature
OF the different crimes. Mr.. Joseph A..
Latham read the resolution making the
tax rate for the ensuing year 81 on every
Si00. X. A. Wilbur moved that the
motion lay on the table until the appro-
priations were made. The latter motion
failed to pass and after lengthy discus
sion the original resolution fixing the tax
rate at. II passed.
1t vas moved and adopted that sum
sufficient TO pay the State tax be appro-
priated. IL was moved and adopted that
sum sufficient to pay the interest on the
outstanding bonds be appropriated. Ii
was moved and adopted that the town
treasurer be authorized TO hire $50, 900 or as
much thereof as may be necessary 10 carry
on the work ordered by the town.
Ii was moved and passed that the town
treasurer be authorized to renew all out
standing notes of the town. The follow
ing resolutions were moved and passed
siDgly: That a sum equal 10 10 cents on
every hundred dollars valuation be appro-
priated TO be paid into the sinking fund
10 Offset the first issue OF bonds; that
1900 he paid into the sinking fund to
offset the second issue OF bonds; that a
sum sufficient be paid into the sinking
fund toward the payment OF the third
issue of bonds.
The following apprc priations Were
unanimously made: Repairs of public
buildings, saOO;s2s, O0o.for schools, 200 for
school apparatus, sum sufficient for the
poor department, 500 for drawing teacher.
The first positive showing of division
in the meeting was when IL was moved
to appropriate $4,000 for highways, .tl0, :
600 of this amount 10 be apl ortioned
among the severarl districts in the pro-
portion OF their property valuation.
Town Solicitor Palmer questioned the le-
gality of the "suggestion" TO the. Council
TO apportion.tbe SO, 900. Mr.. Latham then
moved that $4,000 be appropriated for
highways. This motion carried after
spirited discussion, during which some
pretty warm remarks were exchanged.
For bridges $500 was appropriated. Ii
was moved that s12, 0C0 be appropriated
for lights. An amendment substituting
$40, 900 was lost, and the original motion
was carried. Appropriations OF 5000
for police, 1900 for stone crusher, $500
for water, a sum sufficient for watering
streets, a sum sufficient for setting.cur
ing and paving cutters, SS00. for damages
for change of grade were all passed.
When 1t was moved TO appropriate $500
for public tuildings, according to the
statutes, violent opposition arose and the
motion was tabled. The following ap-
propriations were passed; $500 for court
and council expenses, $500 for printing
and advertising, $4,000 for awards on
Cranston street, S200 for drain pipe in
Auburn, $1,000 for engineers salary, $4,000
for contingencies, $4,000 for miscellaneous
There was heated discussion as to the
relationship of the two ofunds--contingent
and miscellaneous. IL wss admitted
that they are identical, but that they are
both needed for incidental expenses.
Other appropriations followed, with a lit
tie friction $1,000 for Auburn Public
Library; $500 for Arlington. public IL
brary, and $500 for Oaklawn public
library when establihed $500 for salary
81 inf. tax
s'ssor, ana Sl2 week for a clerk; $500 for
chief of police; 800 for overseer of the
poor; 5000 for town treasurer's salary. to
incluoe tax collecting and paymastership;
12000, including horse hire, Tor highway
commissioners salary; $500 salary for
superintendent of schools.
When motion was made to appro or late
$1,000 for the salary Of town clerk 1t was
amended by substituting $500, then the
amendment was amended TO read $500.
much comment was INDUCED In as to the
possible aggregate salary OF this office,
Including fees. The supporters OF tha
town clerkship, however, raised the salary
to 5000. The suditor's salary was fixed
at 800. sum sufficient to add to a bal.
ance OF $3.50 TO purchase q ladder truck
for Auubrn similar to the one purchased
for-Pawtuxet. The Town Council were
authorized to elect Judge Of probate and
fix salary of same.
u
to recover from the town treasurer all un-
expended balances of appropriations. The
supporters of Mr.. Balm rose en- masse,
and showed that the fault of overdra wing
appropriations lay, not with the treas
urer, but with those who order the work
done. 1he resolution was not adopted.
Very Unexpectedly Mr.. Latham made q
motion to refer all unfinished business to
the Town Council Up to this time no
special appropriations for streets had been
made and consequently these interested
in the unfinished business became
angered.
Mr.. Tripp OF Arlington, tried to per-
suade the citizens to appropriate s400 TO
finish the grading about Laurel Hill
school house. Mr.. Durfee, of Arlington,
interceded, hut all to no account. The
motion prevailed and was Immediately
followed by motion from Mr.. Fred Hunt
of KDightsville TO adjourn. Men I'm all
parts OF the house objected. Cries OF "sit
down." "keep quiet,n Question. ques-
tion," minlged to make a tumultous up
roar. Amid cheers the motion carried
and the moderator adjourned the meeting.
Mr.. Edwin &. Pierce did nobly as a
t.A ..Ix