The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-05-05
Common Council So Voted
Last Night.
City Solicitor and Park Com
missioner Reelected.
The Board Refuses to Endorse En-
gineer's Salary.

Council both in session last night,
reelected by concurrent vote City Solici-
tor Colwell and Park Commissioner DEM
ing. In the Board the reappointment OF
City Engineer Shedd by Commissioners
smith was announced, bot the members
refused to approve the compensation and
that was laid over until the next meeting.
In the Common Council bill was
passed without debate and under suspen-
sion OF the rules to raise the tax rate from
q. 90 TO II. 65 on every 100, but the board
would not concur. The CouDcil also
passed, under suspension OF the rules a
resolution authorizing the city treasurer
TO borrow sl5l, ,0O0 TO pay the half Of the
State tax which is due on June ID.
Board of Aldermen.
The Board of Aldermen did several
fine things last night. 1t adjourned to
May Fl at 3 p. M, ii raised the salary OF
the gentlemanly clerk In the office of the
inspector of plumbing to Sl5 per week,
Alderman Mccarthy alone objecting, and
il gave Alderman Nichols chance to
talk himself out on the taxation question.
Thomas Gilliese of 22S Willard avenue
and Walter M. Gardner OF S2i Westminster
street were granted permission to empty
privy vaults.
Upon the announcement that Commis-
sioner Smith had reappointed City En-
gineer Shedd at $4,000 per annum quite
"tempest in q teapot" was raised. The
Mayor read the following communication
from Henry &. Clark, who has been after
Mr.. Shedd's scalp for long time:
To the Honorable Mayor and Board of
Aldermen:
The comm issioner OF public works has
informed me that it IL his intention 10
offer Mr.. Shedd's name for city engineer
for the coming year. In former con-
versation with myself upon the 81 bject he
said he hoped Shedd would not be con-
filmed.
j have proposition now before the
joint standing committee on finance,
which, IL accepted, Will reduce the yearly
expenditure OF the engineers department
more than $4,000. / have had no hearing
in regard to the matter, but the chair
man OF the committee has promised one
this week, therefore / respectfully re-
quest that your honorable body viii take
no action in the matter until after the
committee have had time to give me
hearing, and make report.
III. c. CLARK.
Providence, May 4, 1896.
The communication was presented by
Alderman Fuller, who, more in spirit
OF fun than anything else, kept agitating
the question, even after being informed
by the Mayor sevearl times that the Board
had only to do with the question of COM
pensation. Alderman Darcy thought
the charge of Mr.. Clark q grave one, but
he said "nit' under his breath, and the
assistant city solicitor was called upon TO
susbtantiate the Mayors statement that
the Board had no power in the appoint
ment of MIR. Shedd, that having been
vested in he rom f,n ionar NV ha 4 eria-
lature.
Then the matter of Mr.. Shedd's salary
was tabled until the next meeting. IL be-
ing understood that Mr.. Clark il to:ex-
plain to the finance committee in the
meantime how he can save the city Sl6,-
600 per annum.
The Council sent in an ordinance fixing
the tax rate on real estate and personal
property at s1.65 per 500, instead of
S1.e0 heret ofore.
TIE Board wouldn't have 1t, especially
after Aldermen Burbank md Nichols ex-
planned that they would be willing to
stand g and s1.70, respectively, and
Alderman Mccarthy made plea for the
poor and middle. classes. Tue gentlemen
from the First and Second Wards practi-
cally said the assessors department. was
rotten to the core. The matter was ia bled
until the next meeting.
: the appointment of Gilbert II. Norton
as a policeman was confirmed. Pstrolman
Frank ii. Anthony was granted a two
weeks furlough, without loss of pay. lie
is going TO get married. The pay of the
following policemen was advanced: y.
Joseph Burns, John j. McCeffrey George
j. Gammill, john j. MCGUIRE, James Z.
Met nffrey, William II. Place and John II.
sheehan, from s2.75 &c. SO per day; Everett
Jedediah l.. Trask, John @. Gray, ii.
W. Buffum and Joseph 4. Boyle were APP
pointed police consta bles without power
to serve civil service
The Board concnrred, without discus
sion or comment. in the reappointmert
of Francis Colwell as city solicitor, FOR
one year, and Richard III. Demiug, park
con missioner, for three years.
Other concurrent matters were as fol-
lows: A resolution. directing the commit
tee on city property TO repair and reno
vate certain school houses and buildings
during the summer vacation; TO put a
new heating apparatus in the Thayer
street primary school; TO apply TO the
General Assembly fer power TO elect GER
tain city officers; to accept gifts in the
North burial ground OF Samuel n. Rich
mond, Read d Thompson, Amey X.
Br own, Solomon GreeEe, Asaph Wilder,
Barnes a Cooper and Arnold 4 Billings;
to rermit Norcross Brothers, Providencs
Land u Wharf Company, T.. McGuinness,
Jhlid hhit, W. anu W. VI. Ia
Phetteplsce TO move buildings.
Petitions were granted as follows;
James W. Carpenter to be appointed an
10 buy and sell junk: Pat
rick J. Brennan. Josef FischaD, James j.
Mellon, {. A. L. Nichols, John Swartz,
Harry Whiteman, Abraham Zclk. To To-
cate and operate steam boilers; Charles
&. Ames. park commissioners ut Roger
Williams Park. To keep victualing houses
George b. Ameo, Thomas cody, Poieg
A. Corey, Albert Hicks, Charles B. Wiz
bur. Not recommended: Morris kon-
nisky, 10 buy and sell junk. Referred.
W. Hardenbere for compensation for
damages; William W. Rickari, to be auc-
tionter, and the following TO build barre:
John Mcleod, Frank Curry, Daniel NJ