The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-19
Other Members Appreciate
ValueOf Previous Question.
Solicitor Asked to Define Relations
OF City and Lighting Co.

business !might be facilitated without danger
of party legislation. The advice was needed
by all Of the members but one, whose speak
ing part much too long for the sym
metry Of the whole and will have to he pruned
down.
The question of superiority Of wind power
was settled beyond any question, and those
who had backed Mr.. Sheahan or Mr.. Burdick
for boss talker were disappointed. Mr.
stephen A. Cook of the Second ward IL the
man. His theme was the political purity Of
himself and others as contrasted with cor
ruption of the General Assembly.
IL was Mr.. Cooks first opportunity 10 get
up in meeting and officially express his opin-
ion Of the Assembly since that night year
ago last May when il was decided at n caucus
of the Asemblvmen from the Sixth Judicial
District that Mr.. Cook had been district
Judge long enough. He avsiled himself of
the opportunity with all the vigor OF an ex-
Judge who had failed OF reelection.
He furnished tho opportunity for himself
by presenting joint resolution instructing
the city solicitor to apply 10 the General AS
sembly at the January session for the repeal
Of chaDter 4Ol of the acts and resolves passed
at the May session. This was the bill by
which the date of the Providence city election
was changed from the fourth Tuesday in No
vember TO the first Tuesday following the
first Monday. Mr.. Cooks resolution provides
for. the changing back to the fourth Tuesday,
and i'm advocating It's passage he denounced
the General Assembly for its action OF last
May, and said good deal about the necessity
of keeping the business affairs of a municipal
ity out of national politics, and wound up
with an address on the city election of 1896
and nm appeal in behalf of non-partizanship.
He spoke 70 minutes, but that was only the
first heat.
Councilu an Waterman said he did not think
the change had been so bad, inasmuch as such
rood men Mr.. Cook had been elected un.
der the new law, and he moved the reference
OF tho resolution TO the committee on erdi-
nances. Mr.. Angel seconded the motion for
reference and reminded the Council of the.past
experiences OF the city in going TO the As
sembly, and suggested that the members OF
the Legislature bs given no opportunity to
say that the City Council had asked for some-
thing without finding out whether they
wanted il or not.
MI. Cook objected TO delay because he was
afraid taat the Legislature would take long
recess until after the spring election in order
TO escape the responsibility OF definite action
on matters OF Importance during the cam
paign. He intimated thai he wanted il passed
in order to have a club to hang over the
heads of the city members in the Assembly.
The motion for reference was lost by a roll
call vote of n to Is, as follows:
AIes-President Kendrick and Council
men Angel, Arnold. Grinnell, Gardiner,
Gray, Grimwood, Jones, Moore, Miner, Nor
gan, Perkins, Presbrev, Smith, Trask, Tan
nsr, whiteley and waterman-ls.
Noes-Councilmen Allen, Burdick, Blakeley,
Beane, Bullock. IL. W. Co Ike, ). A. Cooke,
Davis, Howard Kelly, Ksvanaugh, Leonard,
Molloy, O'Connell, Randall, Siurges, Sisson,
Sheahan, Swarts, Sa~in and west-2l.
The point not to refer was but a short-lived
victory FOR the doughty gentleman from the
Second ward: it was only taking him up,
higher that he might have farther to Drop,
for the next vote was not in favor of pas sage.
as might have been naturally expected. Coun-
cilmen Davis, Leonard aud Sawin shifted and
voted against the resolution. SO the motion
for passage was also lost by 81 to Is. The
measure bad.diod Of over advocation and ex-
ccss Of eloquence, but, incidentally, much
good had been accomplished. The prolon ged
fit of spell binding had aroused an additional
interest in MIR. Tanners proposition to have
n provision for tho previous question added TO
the rules, and IL was admitted that some
such precautionary measure would: be abso-
lutely necessary.
Chairman Smith Of the committee on
lamps presented a report recommending
the appointment OF joint special CON nit
tee TO consider the legal status Of the
now existing between the city
of Providence and the Nsrragsnsett Elec-
tric Lighting Company. Accompanying
the report was q resolution to appoint
such committee. Chairman Smith
it's pass age and said that tho propo-
sition TO appoint such committee was the
result OF one Of the suggestions In the
Mayors inaugural address.
Councilman Cook objected to the
appointment OF the com mittee and
claimed that out OF courtesy to the muDi.
cipsl law department the matter should
be referred to tho city solicitor. lie
made q motion to that effect and ii was
carried. The solicitor 10 instructed to
report at the next meeting.
Nancy ID. burcb, Charlotte W. Cbace,
Herbert NJ. Tanner, petitioners for remis-
sion OF taxes and Patrick Lsddy for dam
ages were given leave to Withdraw, upon
OF the committee on
claims. For the same committee Chair
msn Bullock recommended the passage of
4 resolution to remit the tax illegally as
sessed against ABBY FL. Hunter amount
ing TO 1880, ana also o resolution directing
the city suditor TO issue q duplicate draft
'or s75 to Victor Gelb, the original draft,
issued July Is, 1896 to said Gelb, having
be. o lost. The resolr tions were PASSED.
Seven hundred dollars we're appropriated
for Memorisl Dsv.
A resolution To enlarge the sixth police
station ana the communication OF the
on city property asking for an
sdoitionHl appropriation; the petition Of
the school committee for transfer OF
sppropriaticD for pay ~ public school