The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-06-25
Mr.. Shedd'S Reply to Mr..
Clark'S Charges.
Investigating Committee Hear
Defence Today.
City Engineer Gives Statistics Rela-
tive to Public Works.

At 3 O'Clock this afternoon the investi-
cation of the charges brought by Henry
Z. Clark against City Engineer Shedd
was continued by Aldermen Fuller, Pierce
and Little of the special committee ap-
pointed by the Mayor. The session was
principally devoted to hearing the state
ment read by Mr.. Shedd in the defence.
A part OF bis ADDRESS is as follows:
MgssRs. FULLER, PIFRCE AND LITTLE:
Dear Sirs--ln regard to the communica-
tion of Mr.. III. &. Clark, / will say that |
am resident OF the city of Providenee;
that have been so continuously since
1863, and that have no intention of
changing my residence. Nor have had
any such intention at any time in the last
"a years.
My interests are in the city of Provi-
dence: i have running accounts at stores
in the city, and all my personal affsirs
are managed on the basis of my residence
here; the Providence directory has, |
think, given my name as a resident OF
the city continuously sinre 1859; / have
paid taxes and been a voter in the city
every year since 1870 and paid no person
al taxes anywhere else. Meantime / built
a house 10 live in in the town OF Rich
mond, and 4 built one in the city of
Worcester, ana I built one in the town of
North Smithteld; / have lived in each of
those houseJ and / still own them all,
but / have never become a resident in
either OF those towns and never have in
tended to DO SO. In addition to these.
and to my house at 100 South Angel
street, rent house at 26 Alumni ave-
nue. la Providence. which is furnished
and ready TO occupy at any moment and
do occupy and live in it at pleasure
and have done 30 recently. L have also
recently lived in the house in Richmond
and The house in North Smithfield.
| suppose l can legally re resident of
only one place, and that place Is Provi-
dence. where i inteno to live whenever
my domestic circumstances will allow it.
The state of health OF member of my
family is such az TO require nearly perfect
quiet in he home surroundings and an
occasional change OF location. do not
see that nv duty to my family in tins re-
gard has ever confiicted with my duty to
the city a. city engineer.
One OF two requirements OF tho ordin-
snce in regard 10 employees Of Apr! 10,
1895, must re filled by an employe OF a
city department. Whatever may DO
thought OF my qualification for Office
under the first condition OF the ordinance,
corteiniv fulfil the second requirement
in being "voter and taxpayer" therein.
BACKED BY SUPREME COURT.
That ! Gni properly 70 may be seen
from a decision of the Supreme Court or
Rhode Island in a parallel case. opinion
BIZ Chief Justice Durfee, aud TO be found
et pare III OF the 1sth report OF Rhode
Island cases. II there appears that when
once a man 10 properly n resident os has
h domicile ia town, that residence can
only I've changed by Lis OWE intent Iva
the matter. No other person or COM
riunity. however much they may wish II :,
can change his residence against his own
intent.
Asto "worthless bondsmCn on con-
tracts" do not know wnat Is referred
TO. 1 never have anything to do with
bondsmen for the city and have no right
as city enigncer to any participation in
their selection.
BRIDGE EsTlMATEs.
As TO the estimates referred 10, no
definite plans existed for the k,d Bridge,
and only an approximate eslimatc for one
kind OF bridge could bo ma0e. The plans
were radically changed and tho city =
-ceiyed tina -heneGt OF better conditions.
On the final payment for superstructure
of the Red Bridge 1t was found that al
assistant had previously made mistake
I'm estimating weights which was not dis
covered by the other assistant who
checked the calculations, but this In no
way affected the character of tho work
nor its cost to the city. such a mistake
Continued on Pare a