The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-08
Council Defeated License
Fee Resolution.
Resolution Reducing Salaries
Also Voted Down.
Appropriation for Parkway--Th The
GrOoved Rail Bill Defeated.

The desirability Of a rule providing for
the previous question In the Common
Council was never more evident than at
last nights session. There were several
questions for settlement and there seemed
To be craze on the part of some members
10 get on record as saying something with
little regard To its relevancy.
For instance, in the discussion OF the
resolution TO apply TO the General Assem-
bly, for the passage OF such legislation as
will increase the fee for retail liquor
license in tho city of Providence from 500
TO $500 per annum. Mr.. Sheahan dwelt at
length on an article in scientific
magazine relative To the development OF
alcohol, talked about 'gilded dens' and
the poor mans drink, and Mr.. Burdick
expressed his dread lest the increase of
the fee would be detrimental TO the
quality of the liquor. MIR. President,
he said, Il want the pure juice OF the
grape and the pure juice of the corn.
Mr.. Burdick also declared that TO
raise the fee would result In kitchen Dar-
rooms and said that in the days of pro-
hibition every backyard in the Third and
Tenth wards was kitchen barroom.
Mr.. West objected TO this remark.
The resolution which had passed at the
previous meeting by majority OF one was
then indefinitely postponed.
The resolution. TO apply TO the General
Assembly for the passage of such legisla-
tion rs will authorize the City Council to
assess the cost of building new highways
upon the abutting owners OF land on such
highways was disposed of in the same way.
Money TO Be Hired for Scho is.
Chairman Gardiner of the committee on
education recommended the passage of a
bill for an ordinance providing for the
issue of notes for 800, 900 for school pur-
poses and also the following resolutions:
Resolution appropriatlng S26 600 for
the erection of slxr-oom primary and
kindergarten school building in the Sec
ond ward; resolution appropriating
S26 900 for the erection of six-room pri-
mary and kindergarten school building
in the Tenth ward; resolution appropri-
ating 81 $50 for the purchase of site for
four-ro primary school building in the
First ward and resolution to obtain plans
and estimates for new grammar school
building, on the lot owned 10y the city,
corner of Manton and Fruit Hill avenues.
In moving the passage of the bill and
resolution Mr.. Gardiner said that the need
is self.eyident and that there was no occa-
sion for argument on his part to convince
the mem bers that favorable action should
be taken.
Chairman Sturges of the finance COM
mittee said that inasmuch as Mr.. Gardi-
ner had voted against AN Increased tax
rate the resolution to raise the license
fee. the resolution TO tax personal prop
erty where IL is found, and the resolution
To assess the cost of highways To abutting
owners, IL did not seem To make much
difference To him what financial action
was taken by the Council. He then re-
viewed his previous statements relative TO
the necessity Of taking care of the sinking
fund and interest account and declared
that these obligations were already too
great for the treasury without an increase
el.ak h
ing OF the money
The bill ard the resolutions were passed
by a vote of 30 10 |. The negative vote
was from Mr.. Sturges
A bill for. an ordinance providing for
the issue of notes for the construction of
a manual training high school and reso-
luton TO obtain plans and estimates for
manual training high school also came
from the committee on education ana
were laid over until the next meeting.
blackstone Boulevard Parkway.
Mr.. Jones for the committee on parks
reported back the bill for AN ordinance TO
hire $50. 600 for completing the work ON
blackstone Park and Blackstone Boule-
ward parkway; and also upon resolution
directing the park commissioners TO COM
Dlete said work.
The report was favorable to hiring
money, hut not the full amount authorized
by tho Legislature and named in the ordi-
nance. The accompanying resolution was
To borrow slo, 600 for the Improvement of
the parkway.
Mr. Sturges advocated the passage of
tho resolution and endorsed the report of
the park committee. He said that it Is
only Just that the city should do some
thing for tho Improvement OF the park.
way which has waited for so long. And
farther than that the chairman Of the
finance committee IL would be "a profit
nblo investment for the city to expend
Sl5 900 i'm this way because it would
materially add 10 the taxable value of the
property in the improved section. There
fore, for the simple reasons of cold arith-
mctc Mr.. Sturges said that he would move
the passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Durdck opposed the passage OF the
resolution and intimated that the city Of
Providence had been improved and built
up too much for its own good.
Mr.. Shehan opposed the resolution as
being Inconsistent with tho policy of
economy dictated 10y the finance commit
tee.
Mr. Jones said that the boulevard In its
present condition is "A disgrace Co the city
and that TO leave t as It il would be
violation Of good faith on the part Of the
city after the promises to complete th"
work Mr. Jones also read n communica-
tion from Chairman DeminR of the park
commit ssion to the effect that an appro.
priation ought TO be made To carry ON the
proposed work
Mr.. Shcahan talked so much that he
provoked Mr.. West into calling for the
previous question and Pres.den. KendriCk
1 informed the member from tho Tenth
ward that tho Council had no rule for the
previous question. lt a
he question was then called for and
tho resolution was passed unanimously.
The original resolution for $50, OO0 was
indefinitely postponed.
Appropriation for State Tax.
Fer the committee on finance, Mr.
| Sturgcs presented the report OF George =
/ Chase, expert examiner Of the books
/ and accounts of tho city treasurer aud
| city auditor for the fiscal year ending