The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-04

Is a rather unusually eiiberate and bust
ness like document that In Its expression
as 10 municipal matters is 20 be com
mended even though some OF the sug-
gestions it contains may not command
unanimous approval.
Custom has imposed upon the newly
elected executive OF this 'mu nicipality the
duty Of presenting at some length views
on a great variety or public matters. some
OF which are OF purely departmental
routine, and on few Of which, in his capac-
ity OF private citizenship. ne would not or
dinarily be counted upon 10 possess
authoritative ideas. Taking the oath OF
Office he is expected to be INFUSED with
knowledge. and 10 be- capable OF express
Ing himself on affairs, a real acquaintance
with which can only come with some
months Of intimate association in Office.
The position of newly elected executive,
facing the duty that the practice OF his
predecessors imposes is likely to be en-
barrassing. Ho must needs steer cautiously
between the possibility OF an official
utteranoe that will be declared weak and
committing himself to statements and
opinions that actual service in City Hall
may later cause him to modify.
Mayor Baker has guided himself, IL
appears, with gratifying wisdom In the
preparation of his first message. He has,
evidently, since his election been an
earnest student at City Hall and the
fruit Is shown in some Of his statements
az TO municipal conditions rs they
actually exist, though the average citizen
may only know about them in the most
general way. On certain other matters,
whereof every citizen may have an
opinion, the Nayor EXPRESSES himself
firmly. though, be it said, without ag-
gressivepess in his view.
What Mayor Baker states as to the facts
Of highway work, the tremendous cost Of
this department and the imposing problem
OF whore the city finances are 70 come
out, at the ratio We are going, 10 plain
and to the point The condition as Mayor
Baker presents 10 will be readily recog-
nized by the taxpayers; although the pro-
blem presented Is not new one, II has
not yet approached a solution and must
continue to be uppermost for the consider
utfUu of city government AAst the
Mayor proposes as to the future policy TO
be pursued for street laying, that is by
assessment on abutting owners instead
OF calling on the taxes or issuirg bonds
for the necessary funds, will naturally not
prove generally acceptable. But, at all
events, "a a nucleus for discussion OF
means 20 an end, the Mayor is to bs con
graduated on presenting something
ma terial In the way of plan and work
ing II out as oomprehens,yely as may be
In such document
The Mayor believes in cheaper water
rates, when tho city can afford to cut
prices; in public baths; i'm a municipal
hotel for tramps, rather than 10 consign
such TO cheap, and. as the Mayor expresses
IL, correspondingly dirty, privat, lodg-
ing houses; in continued attention to
the development of our park system and in
band concerts; in public school policy
that shall give especial attention to ample
room in tho primary grades; in having
tho new postofllce built on Exchange
Place In transfer tickets, In municipal
lighting anu IN such changes Ia the tax
laSs rs snail enable tho city TO pay It's
running expenses and proceed with it's
improvements economically planned
In none OF thesO suggestions does tho
Mayor display any undue eressiveness.
Though outspoken, he is oonser, ntiye In
tho manner OF his uttorsnce. In only
one matter does t9 seem To fall into the
error of bucklng something instead of
displaying that due and proper Judicial
spirit in reviewing weigbty matters that
is usually esteemed the best evidence of
thorough Knowledge and Judgment rip
enel thereon.
We refer, OF course, TO his declarations
regarding tbs "clty's fighting" the
Consolidated railroad in the train shed
matter--a legacy from the last admins
tration which, IL might have been hoped
the new Mayor would have revised very
carefully before committing himself. Ex-
cept by the construction OF n most heated
Inauguration 1t can never be made to ap-
pear that upon that question depends
whether or not nc oil times in tho future