The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-31

cermen OF tne cry VI tio'"'"'e, u"eS'
the feverishly inane leadership Of Al
dcrman CHARLES C%oTToNsEED NICHOLS,
is to stand as a block in the way of all
progress and development Of this munich
paIity for the coming year. On the plea
OF necessary economy, necessary public
work is TO be suspended, the city ham,
pered and hedged in on every hand, and
even our public schools to be blocked.
II was all we'll enough for a lot OF small
politicians OF the stamp OF Alderman
NICHOLS to ride into Office on the wave Of
an unwarranted popular scare, to hold
up a DOGGY to the people whereby to
win their votes, and, by the aid Of a
newspaper organ that preached a policy
based on fraudulent charges, ridiculous
promises and coupled them with outrage
Gus illumination of every man who
stood for honesty and enterprise in mu-
nicipal office, to secure an endorsement
from their fellow citizens much as the
bunco steerer secures a customer for his
green goods. That was simply the game
OF politics-unfsirly played to be sure,
with disreputable tactics and no end OF
dust to throw in the eyes of the people,
but still only a game Of politics. But
now these men have taken tie oath Of
Office, their responsibility to their con
stituents end to the city Is far greater
than that of any mere ward politics, and
IL this city is to be taken by the throat
aud choked just to make capital for
small politicians the sooner the people
know 1t the better.
And we are fl nding 1t out very quickly,
it appears. Yesterday, the Goo Zoo
Board of Aldermen devoted most of its
time to a discussion over the question OF
shooting fire works on the Fourth Of
July, but took no time at all to chop a
necessary appropriation in two and to
hold up the work of o~verhauling a pub
lie school for which the smell amount
OF $4,000 was needed.
The public buildings department ask
ed fer 1000. The department needed
it. 1t got s25, 900 for no better reason
than would have dictated the granting Of
$50, 600 had 800, 600 boon asked for. Then
the Board as promptly suspended an APP
propriation for completing repairs in the
Poiters avenue primary school the pupils
OF which, some 200 In number, are being
taken care of In a couple Of vacant stores.
There is no question of the imperati v e
necessity of putting this school building
into shape. The completion of the re-
pairs is a real and crying need, but to
pose before the people as a watch dog Of
the treasury, Alderman NICHOLS tackles
this poor little school appropriation
vorgefully.
Now, This municipality may be, as the
Goo-Goos before election told us it was,
tottering on the verge OF bankruptcy.
Our taxes may be grinding Us 10 earth.
Extravaganza may have been rife aud
everything set going to the bow-wows be-
fore Alderman NICHOLS jumped aboard
and clutched the safety valves. But no.
body believes II. Despite the figures Of
the last election, nobody believes 1t. Al
derman NICHOLS himself knows that it Is
not true, just ns he knew It when he was
hlown into office on the issue. And IL
he continues to block the necessary work
OF this town, and to hold up its public
schools, he will find 1t very poor politics.
Quiescent, Alderman NICHOLS may be
endurable, but the kind Of rernicious &C.
tivi,y he is now exhibiting will result In
such a protest from the people as will
hut him out completely next November,
together with oil the oolusiops that he
stards tor.
But this is fortunately inevitable, any.
way.