The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-27
CranStOn Council Canvass
eS the Voting Lists.
Names of Those Who Didn't
File Papers objected To.
Canvassers Finally Postponed Deci-
sion Until This Morning.

The Town Council meet at tn town hall
yesterday. All the members present.
A petition from resiCsnts on Mayheld
plat for the acceptance OF street from
Oaklawn road to Pontiac street was re-
ceivei, and on the recommendation of
President Merrill was ordered accepted
and referred to a meeting to be bsld on
April ID.
pc.r on in relation to curbing and
lighting Re- ,yoir avenue was laid on
the table.
A communication from Auburn in re-
Iation to water standing in the streets
was received. No action taken thereon.
No further business appearing the
Council adjourned and Immediately con-
vened as board of canvassers.
The council as board OF canvassers
proceed tcltpnvass the voting lists, com
mencing with that of district No. i.
Some inquiries In regard to one namo be-
ing made, Mr.. Budlong stated that II was
the desire and intention Of the board to
proceed strictly In accordance with the
law. Every thing moved smoothly until
the registry part Of the list was reached,
when objection was made to the placing
on the list the names Of those who were
naturalized voters, but had not filed their
papers according to law. The discussion
became very warm, and continued until
the announcement that dinner was get
ting cold, which had the effect OF clos
ing the controversy for a short time. The
objectors 1led with the town clerk a
written protest against the placing on the
list the names OF about 20 Italians. While
the board was at dinner the protestanss
were planning their plays for the coming
campaign.
upls- H., <f,k Ia hod
been interpreted in the morning suggest
ed to some person the propriety OF hav-
ing legal advice; so that when the board
reconvened the town solicitor appeared
upon the scene.
All hearts seemed to gladden. at the
prospect of having tho law leagally in
terpreted. Solicitor Palmer said that the
names objected to cannot..be legally.placed
upon the list and that heavy fine is the
penalty for every name wilfully so placed.
The discussion was at length suspended
by the board.agreeing to canvass only the
names OF the real estate and personal
property owners, and leave the registry
list for Friday at 10 a. m.
The Council then reconvened and ap-
pointed Messrs. Aaron Haven, George A.
Field and George r. Babbitt board to
audit Treasurer Bain's accounts. Ad-
jourp ment.
BOARD OF CANvAssERs ALL PRESENT.
Baker, assistft- -eis solicitor APP
reared before the board and stated that
he appeared for some 300 naturallized
voters who, Ii was suspected, would be
taken from the list for the reason that
they had not complied with the law in
relation to the filing of their papers. Mr..
Baker made quite an argument, but
rather weak one, in favor of the reten-
tion of the names, one point he empha-
sized, that other towns canvassed their
lists without signing the filing OF papers,
therefore the town OF Cranston should
do il. He proceeded on the theory that
whatever Is, is right. He did not deny
that the objectors were orIect in their
contention OF the law.
Mr.. Palmer, town solicitor, appeared
ana reiterated his opinion as given yes
terday and quoted the action OF the board
of registration OF the city of Providence
in removing from the lists, for the same
reason the objectors present, the names
of some 600 voters.
BudIong moved that the list No. regis
terry, stand as approved yesterday so
voted. lie also moved that tine board pro-
ceed to canvass list of registry, object ion
was made TO one name and the war was
on. The discussion was entered into by
all present, 1t was Kept up for three quar-
ters OF an hour with the result that par
tial compromise was made that whose
names on the written protest filed yester-
day, should be the ones upon which
tests before the courts should be made.
Grcat.trou bio was experienced I'm drawing
a protest agreeable 10 both sides and II
was finally abandoned, leaving the first
one to stand after which matters proceed
ed ouietiy.