The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-12

dislike friction between ofncials whose
duties are to execute the laws, and thus
favor placing the entire police force In the
hands of the Mayor, with power OF ap-
pointment and removal.
Electric Lighting Plant.
cannot pass by the municipal lighting
project, that occupied the attention of the
city government and many outside of it,
for so long a time, because 1t Is subject
that directly concerns you as business men
and taxpayers.
The appointment of the special COM
mittee, by the late Mayor, affords me an
illustration of point already made.
The report does not show that single
establishment was visited, to ascertain
and make comparisons of cost of boilers,
engines or electrical machinery, or to
make tests of efficiency.
How much better would we have been
satisfied II a committee had given us de-
tails of the costs, of comparisons of sys-
TENS, had told us what 1t cost to light
other cities, all the result Of personal in
vestigation, instead of giving us the re-
port OF an expert. And further, 1t seems to
me, no action should have been taken by
the council without giving the taxpayers
OF the city an opportunity OF hearing both
sides of the question at a public hearing.
The city is now paying too much for its
lighting. The contract for supplying the
lighting expired on Nov. / last, and there
was no attempt made thereafter to get a
reduction of the rate by the late admins
tion. In the interest of economy the mat
ter ought to be taken in hand, at once, by
the proper committee.
The company cannot, and ought not to
be expected to supply the lighting at other
than a fair rate, and there are plenty of
ways to ascertain what fair rate is.
Business Men Must he Interested.
A time has come in the history of our
city when your voice and action are de-
manded, and 1t should be given on the
many questions that will arise the coming
year.
/ believe / know the character of our
Mayor and of his associates well enough to
know that expressions from you will be
welcome.
More than ever before, the Mayor of
our city is the Mayor of the people, in
that he was not elected by party votes,
but the votes of all parties contributed to
his election, and to him, Mayor for the
first time, believe / can pledge your sup
port and cooperation in all measures that
are for the best interest of the city.
And as the laboring man, the business
man, the corporation, all are equally in
terested In good government, there should
be no conflict Of class with class.
believe that you business men and tax
payers should say that the day has gone by
for the politician to have a monopoly oi
the management of the business of the
city, and that you propose to take hand
in 1t in the future.
The business man cannot neglect these
duties and expect them to be well man
aged. IL he does not take an interest In
public affairs the other element will.
Mayor Davis says: "Good municipal
government is best developed and sustain
d by an open, free and full discussion of
municipal needs and means, by the citizens
with a conscientious observance of the
conclusions thereon derived by both the
people and the government respectively"
For which utterance thank him since
opportunity has seldom been given us to
discuss matters originating in. the city
government.
Your experience as business men quail
fies you to discuss matters intelligently
and from the very makeup of the organ
ization, to decide fairly, and we welcome
the day when there will be cooperation
between the officials and the associations
of business men on all city matters.
At the conclusion of the reading the
speaker was warmly applauded, and Hon.
II. B. Metcalf moved that the Executive
Committee be requested that the speech be
printed and distributed for the use of the
members. Vice President Darling called
for the vote and the motion was unani-
mously carried.
The members then partook of collation.
rendered by II. III. Sheldon.