The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-01-17
A Song and Dance Session
of the Board.
A Hint Of the Penny Wise and
Pound Foolish Doctrine.
Resolution Passed to Sell City Lots.
An Additional Appropriation.

Zoos have come TO the parting OF the
ways; and as far as the Board OF Alder
mel is concerned there is an apparent
wrenching apsrt OF the two factions com
bined in the inter est of purity in politics
and financial reform. There was more
fun than harmony at the session OF the
Board yesterday afternoon. The question
OF celebrating the Fourth OF July was the
first cause OF estrangement. After attend
ing to various routine matters the Board.
upon motion OF Mr.. Fuller, took from
the table the resolution appropriating
$4,000 for the cele ebratior. IL had the effect
that the proverbial red rag has on a bull
Alderman Nichols arose. Alderman
Nichols took a lot of papers from his
pocket and gave an interesting resume
OF past Fourths and the cost thereof,
and made some very cutting remarks
about lunches and fireworks. He moved
the reference OF the resolution to the COM
miItee on finance, OF which he is a mem
ber. Alderman Burbank seconded this
after repeating what MIR. Nichols had
said ani adding a few thoughts OF his
own TO the effect that the city OF Provi-
dence had no business to bring ont the
boys OF the Sockanosset School in a street
parade and that the city of Providencs
should not pay for the wine and cigars
consumed by its committees. Then the
two economists temporarily rested their
casp.
Alderman Darcy resented what hud
been said, partly because he was on last
years. celebration committee and didn't
like.the insinuations and partly because
he has patriotic tendencies. He said that
this city could not afford TO have a plea
yune celebration, and that 1t was in the
interests OF business that enough money
be expended to hriag people into the
city. He knew from experience, he said,
that 1t would be impossible to do any
thing with less than $4,000.
Alderman Nichols replied that he
would divide Mr.. Dsrcy's argu nent into
two parts, the patriotic and the sordid.
AS to the first part, he was In accord but
as to the second, he did not approve OF
desecrating the anniversary of the ma
tion's birth by making a bargaia counter
out OF the city.
Alderman Mccarthy was the next
speaker in the interests OF real Fourth
and said that $4,000 would be well spent
In simply educating the children up TO
lively appreciation OF the fact that the
country has an Independence Day. Mr..
Mccarthy informed the new membe OF
the Board that be had done sIl that he
possibly could during the past year to
prevent extravaganza and that because the
money had been wasted by the previous
administration, he did not think tho
present Board should cut down this APP
preparation.
Mr. Burbank thought that the day
could be properly observed by the ring
ing OF bells rather than by the explosion
of gun powder and the playing OF ma
tional music, whereupon Francis Gala
CHER OF the Radical Peace Society, who
had stolen into the chamber, fairly wrig
gled with Joy.
Alderman Fuller, in reply to the charges
of extravaganza, said that last year he
wore badge that cost s10c, which he
would bring for the Board to see-but
that he Paid FOR 1t himself
The motion to refer the resolution to
the committee on finance wasput and lost.
Mr. Burbank then offerd an amend
ment, substituting 5000 for $4,000. The
amendment was lost by vote OF z TO 3,
Aldermen burbank, Nichols and Rich
ards voting for the smaller sum. The
original motion was then carried, with
Burbank and Nichols alone in the nege-
tive.
The Mayer then appointed Aldermen
Fuller, Darcy and Winsor on the joint
celebration committee.
Seven hundred dollars, to be charged
to the appropriation for contingencies,
were appropriated as the city's contribu-
tion for the celebration of Memorial Day.
There was no opposition.
Alderman Reynolds presented resolu-
tion to amend the rules so that the mat
ter of granting licenses snould be placed
I'm charge OF the board o, fire commits
sioners. Aldermen Darcy and Mccarthy,
both OF whom hate commissions, opposed
this and used their familiar arguments
that the Aldermen are under oath TO per-
form certain duties which they have no
right to delegate 10 commissions, and
furthermore that two men can do bet
ter job than any three. Mr.. Darcy went
further into details and told what he
knew about the different degrees of dan
ger 10 different kinds OF fireworks. This
was also familiar topic TO Mr.. Bur-
bank, and heated debate on fire crack
ers with Mr.. Burbank and Mr.. Nichols
opposed to Darcy and Mccarthy was then
in order. This resulted in a draw, and
the resolution was tabled.
WON'T oo sLEtaHINo.
A communication was read from George
A. Youlden inviting the members OF the
Board of Aldermen To 20 s-sleighing on
the speedway. Mr.. Burbank said that he
would not 60 because he was too digni-
fed, and wished to place himself on record
| az declining the invitation. This made
the old-timers laugh, and the other nine