The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-23
GOSSIP OF A DAY
Providence Was Not the
Pioneer City.
Newport Wore Municipal
Mantle l12 Years Ago.
II Retained II Only Three Years and
Then Became a Town.

al have always been under the impress
sion," says a reader of The NEWS IN
communication received last evening,
"that Providence was the first town in
the State to become q city. friend OF
nine. however, tells me that Newport
was the pioneer city In these plantations
although 1t did not long retain that dis
tinction. Will you kindly tell me
whether or not my friend is correct In
his staternent?" The inquirers friend Is
correct. Newport was nearly hall CEN
tury In advance of Providence In dawn
Ing full municipal toggery, but aid not
retain that raiment very long. Several
months ago the Gossiper gave brief
sketch of Newport's experience in this
matter which appears to have escaped the
notice OF the present inquirer. Ii was
shortly after the close of the Revolution
ary war, IN 1854 TO be exact, that Newport
decided that 1t was large and important
enough to bear city honors with dignity
ana discretion. A town meeting was held
md IL was voted to petition the Assem-
bly, for city charter. The act OF incor-
poration was promptly put through the
Legislature, and on June 1, 1884, New
port became the pioneer city of Rhode
leland. The city was divided into four
wards and the governme mt was made
up Of Mayor, four Aldermen and six
Councilmen.
Trouble came very quickly. Some OF
the citizens, after a brief experience with
. city form OF government, came to the
conclusion that they had not as much in
Auence in the management Of the affairs
OF the municipality as they should have.
They appeared to think that the city
form OF government mad deprived them
OF . considerable part of their rights as
Sreemen. At that day the word "ma-
chime had not been coined to do duty
a. q designation for an aggregation Of
ofiicehoIders but, II is certain the early re-
who filled the public positions somewhat
In the light OF an oligarchy, which In
these days woulo be called a machine or
ring. THE was made plain in their petit
tion for the revocation OF the charter, IN
which they made the statement that the
city form of government was arbitrary
nd altogetner unfit Tor free Repu blicans.
What seemed most distressful was that
sthe choice OF the Mayor, Aldermen and
Common Council is effected by "a few
leading influential men, who, when
chosen, have the appointment of all the
city officers, independent OF the suffrages
OF the people,"
This indicates that the worthy Freeman
OF Newport did not fancy the notion of
losing his opportunity to scrap IN town
meeting over the selection of any and all
public servants, and 1t is equally plain
that ne didn't believe in paying salaries
to officers he didn't directly help to elect,
for one Of the reasons urged for the
aEnulment Of the charter was that the
Mayor had the sane salary as the Gov
ernor, and that the warden and other
oficors received more money for their
services in proportion than the whole
judicial powers of the State united.
II one didn't know how meagre the
stipend allowed the Governor has always
been he would be tempted to believe that
the Mayor OF Newport In those early days
bad a soft snap, with big salary attached.
However, Newport got rid OF it's Mayor,
Its Aldermen and its Councilmen in 1857,
and waddled along under the old
fashioned town system until 1853, when,
for the second time, 1t donned city
clothes and has worn them ever since.