The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-05-18


the liquor dealers the city would be just
as well of financially and much better of
| morally.
Mr. Waterman also urged the passage
! of the resolution.
| Mr. Perkins opposed il. He said that
the city had encouraged the liquor dealers
| 10 go into the business by placing the
| license fee at 500 and many of them had
| invested every dollar they had in the
| world. Under the circumstances he did
not think the city had any right To double
| the ratio.
Mr.. Sheahan opposed the resolution
lie declared that he was In sympathy with
every temperance movement but he didn Z
believe that the city had sunk SO low that
IL would call upon the saloon keeper TO
help IL out OF its financial difficulties
He moved the reference Of the resolution
To the committee on ordinances. This
motion was seconded by MIR. Beane but
the motion was lost by vote Of 20 to o.
The resolution was then passed by vote
of 20 to Is
The Tax Bill.
Mr.. Angel led the opposition TO the
bill for an ordinance TO fix the tax rate
at Sl.7S on each 800 In the Common
Council last evening. He said the three
resolutions already passed would provide
for AN increase of the income and this
together with the greater income from
the increased valuation would give the
city sufficient revenue. He then offered 10
amend the bill by substituting the pres
ent rate of 81. 50 for 81. Is as proposed by
the committee; 81 instead of 100 cents on
each 500 for ordinary expenses; 81 cents
instead of 30 cents on each 500 for sink
ing fund and interest; and IL cents In
stead of Is cents on each 500 for the state
tax. Mr. Waterman seconded the amend
ment.
Mr.. Sturges said that the amendment
offered by Mr.. Angel was ridiculous and
made with view TO what Is desired
rather than with any reference To the
actual arithmetic In the case. He de-
clared that 81 cents would not be enough
to pay the interest and sinking fund.
He also said that but little faith could DO
placed in the resolution already passed,
inasmuch as the Legislature may not
enact the laws asked for, and, more than
that they may never reach the Legisla-
ture because the Board OF Aldermen may
not concur. As matter of fact the
chairman OF the finance committee inti-
mated that the Board of Aldermen would
not pass the liquor resolution. And then
IL is very probable he said that tho state
will increase the proportion o. state taxes
TO be taken from the cities and towns.
Then Mr. Sturges picked up the list OF
appropriations and said that he wanted
the members Of the Council TO help the
finance committee To reduce the rate 10y
reducing the expenses .He read tohsthe
appropriations for the fire department md
asked Mr. Angel, chairman OF the com.
mittee on that department. how much less
he would be willing To accept. Then he
took up the school appropriation and
asked Chairman Gardner of the commit
tee on education how much of rcduc-
tion no would be willing tn approve.
And in the same manner he went through
the departments asking the members
who specially represent each one how
much less he could get along with He
was not interrupted by an answer.
Mr.. Bullock was in opposition TO the
finance committee He said that he be-
lieved In the pay as-you go principle, but
that il should be carried out by strict
economy i'm all departments rather than
by tho increase Of the rate.
His principal suggestion In the interest
of economy was the reduction of public
salaries.
Mr.. Bullock read his speech and made
tho statement that the city has been
reveling In glut of magnificent extrav
agince.
After his address Mr.. Bullock moved
an amendment To Mr.. Angel's amend
ment that 81 cents be allowed for ordi-
nary expenses 90 cents for interest and
sinking fund and Is cents for the city's
portion of the state tax.
Mr.. Angell referred 20 the question
asked by Mr.. Sturgcs and while ne admit.
ted that the appropriation for departments
could not be cut down he still had the
hope that the difficulty could be met with
out increasing the rate.
Mr.. Stur2es said that he hoped 50, but
that was all it amounted TO He thcn
charged everyone who had spoken with
begging the question, The essay by Mr..
Bullock he said was good, but that only
begged tho question.
At this point q chairman of the finance
committee issued n general challenge to
the Council and asked some advocate of
economy TO Introduce u resolution 10 cut
the pay Of Common Councilmen from
$500 to 500 per annum. The challenge
was accepted later on by Mr.. Waterman.
Mr.. West by way Of Introduction said
that he was glad TO sec the harmony
which prevails in the First ward deleVa-
tion and then expressed his opinion of the
bill by saying that IL should read IAN
act entitled An act TO destroy the home of
the workingman and contlscato his
property.
The question was then put on Mr. Bul-
locks amendment and that prevailed
The bill for the ordinance was then passed
as amended
Central Fire Alarm System.
Mr.. Angel presented n communication
from the commissioners urging imme-
diate action in securing the central fire
alarm SYSTEM. ~ OIL lCf an ordnance To
hire $500 for this purpose, as authorized
10y the legislature. was then passed under
the suspension of the rules by vote Of 20
to |. The negative vote was from MIR.
Sturges.
Mr.. Waterman presented resolution 10
reduce tho salaries OF the aldermen from
$500 Co 500 per annum and of the Com
mon Councilmen from $500 10 500 per
annum; referred 10 COMMITTEES on finance
A Report Wanted.
Mr.. Waterman also presented resolu-
tion instructing the spcciai committee on
salaries 10 report Mt the next meeting of
the Common Councils passed.
Tho invitation of Slocum Post to attend
services on Memorial day was accepted.
For the committee on claims Chairman
Bullock recommended the passage OF rcso-
lutions To remit sewer assessments ot Si2
TO Jeremiah Daley, and NJ Sil. ~ to Bessie
NJ. Dormnn; TO pay Ratfaelo Maccaroni
500 as compensation for injuries sustained
at Roger Williams Park: and to pay
James Il. Cameron $3.50 as compensation
for Injuries sustained by falling on Valley
street
ttt.