The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-14
Special Meeting Of the Board
of Aldermen Last Night
Behind Closed Doors.
City Janit0r on Guard at the
Lower Door to Refuse Ad.
mittance to Reporters.
THE DEMOCRATIC CLUB MEETING.
Plays Outline For Reorganization OF Party
ScaIded by Hot Ir0n-New Social Club
FOrmed-Local Notes.

The Board of Aldermen held special
star chamber meeting last evening which
will 90 on record as one of the most pc
culiar meetings in the history OF that
peculiar body. There was nothing very
remarkable in the fact that the special
meeting was called, but the evident de-
sire on the part of some one to have the
fact kept from the public was the remark
able thing about it. In great many
cities the Board of Aldermen is composed
of men who are respected and looked upon
as men worthy of the highest admiration.
In this city il the Board of Aldermen wish
TO obtain the same standing there VIII
have to be a radical change in their
method of conducting the business OF the
city.
At the last meeting of the Board of Al
dermen it was voted to adjourn to the call
of the chair. Evidently the President of
the Board OF Aldermen called the meeting,
as the Board met in secret meeting last
night and reporters were not allowed to be
present. The Board of Aldermen are Gre
ated by the people, and in withholding the
information of the special call from the
newspapers these men or one mar insults
all the citizens of this city, as it is vested
right that the people have the privilege OF
knowing what their servants are doing 1t
is strictly against the laws of justice that
these star chamber meetings are being
held.
In ell probability the citizens of this city
would never know that the Board had met,
had il not been for TRIBNE reporter who
stun bled upon the little game being
enacted for the benefit of few politicians.
Upon being made aware of the star
chamber meeting the TRIBUNE reporter
presented himself at the City hall and was
prevented from entering the Aldermanic
chamber by the city janitor who was act
ing under instructions to allow no re-
porters to go to the upper part of the build
ing where the Board was in session.
When the Board adjourned, City Clerk
Crawford was asked by the TRIBUNE re-
porter why the meeting was Sd secret and
why reporters were not allowed TO attend?
He denied any knowledge of it and said
that nothing was done at the meeting ex-
cept 10 purge the personal property lists of
those voters who had not paid their tax.
He said several things were talked over
among which was the fact that bird officers
would have to be elected this month, ne
cessitating a joint convention of both
bodies. Another subject talked of he said
was the jury list which would have to be
revised.
Notwithstanding the denial of City
Clerk Crawford the fact remains that the
TRIBUNE reporter, the only one present at
the time, was refused permission to at
tend the meeting. This fact will not be
denied by the city janitor. 1t looks queer
that the Board held a secret meeting be-
hind closed doors, with the city janitor on
guard at the lower door, in order to talk
over such simple matters as the personal
property lists, joint convention and bird
officers. AS the old saying goes, "you can
fool part of the people all the time, and
you can fool all the people part of the
time," but the Board will find when it is
too late that they can not "fool all the
people all the time"