The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-07-27
Council Sent Bill tOOrdi-
nance Committee
TOBEACTED 0NNEXTWEEK
Union Railroad Co. Empowered 10
Lay Tracks to New Station.
TRANSFERS OF APPROPRIATIONS

The meeting OF the common council
yesterday afternoon was of less than an
hours duration. and the report of the
/ committee on underground wires deal
| ing with the placing OF low tension
wires was received. There was an ordi-
nance accompanying it. The ordinance
provides:
1st That all low tension wires In the
close fire district shall be placed un-
| derground within two years from the
date of the approval Of this ordinance.
I'd. 1t gives the companies the right
to use the telephone subways or build
their own conduits In the same trench
with the telephone company and reg
ulates how the work shall be done.
Sd. 1t provides for bond to protect
the city in case OF accidents. etc.
| 9TH. Section places the control of the
(, subwaysfin the commissioner of public
works.
5th. Sections 5 and grant permis-
sion to all the companies interested to
place their wires underground in lieu of
the license they now have to use the
! streets for poles and wires.
Is 9Th. Sections 7 and s are practically
| the same as the present ordinance un-
der which the telephone company is do
| ing business, except that provision is
| made for quarterly instead of annual
payments of the tax imposed and that
| the percentage of tax on gross receipts.
is increased from 1h to per cent. per
annum.
7th. Section Q provides a penalty for
ava Anx Lob. ha mi haI
violate the provisions of the ordinance
requiring wires to go underground. and
section 10 repeals all inconsistent ordi-
nances.
MR.. COOKIES VIEWS.
The ordinance having been read,
Councilman Stephen A. Cooke ad-
dressed the council. He said the ordi-
nance was a most important one. and
after a casual examination of the same
he had come to the conclusion that II
| IL was improved 1t would be to the BEN
eft of the city There were important
| rights given without any limitation of
| time, and ii seemed to him that there
| should be- for the best interest OF the
city. some limit of the time the rights
| given were to be enjoyed. Mr.. Cooke
| said he did not wish TO disparage the
work OF the committee, but there were
other mutters he thought could be i'm
proved upon, and he therefore moved
the matter be referred to the commit
tee on ordinances. The latter commit
tee would gladly cooperate with the
city law department and also with the
committee on underground wires.
Councilman Sheahan. who presented
the report. said he agreed with Judge
Cookelthat the measure was a most i'm
portant one, and he had no objection to
it's reference to the committee on ordi-
nances. He then called the attention OF
he nrtl No orl 4 l,o fa
that the law passed by the general as
sembly provided that the granting of
such franchise should be for period
not beyond 25 years. and that there was
consequently time limit to the rights
given. Mr.. Sheahan then seconded
Judge Cookies motion to refer the mat
ter to the committee on ordinances. and
II was adopted. After some sugges-
tions from different members, Mr..
Sheahan moved that when the council
adjourn IL adjourn to meet Wednesday.
August 3. and the motion prevailed.
FROM FINANCE COMMITTEE.
Councilman Angel, I'm reporting cer-
tain ordinances from the finance COM
mittee asked that rule 16 be suspended
Councilman Bullock said he would OBJ
ject to the suspension OF the rule ex-
cept for such matters as came from the
finance COMMITTEES. Mr.. Angel said
suspend the rule for.
II was then voted to adopt ordinances
recommended by the finance committee
-one TO transfer $500 to building ap-
preparation from sewer assessment re-
ceipts: one transferring $3.50 from the
reservoir fund TO the appropriation for
the license commission; one transfer
ring $1,000 from the reserve fund to the
poor department: one transferring $15-
900 from the receipts from sewer as
sessments TO the appropriation for fire
department.
mittee an ordinance appropriating $4,000
for enlarging the Sixth police station
was indefinitely postponed.
HIGHWAY MATTERS.
Councilman Davis from the commit
tee on highways reported resolutions
requesting the board OF aldermen TO de.
fine grade of Oakland avenue and Uni
versity avenue. The resolutions were
passed
Councilman Davis also reported reso-
lutions dedicating the two approaches
(parallel with Francis streeD TO the
new passenger station, and also the
land laid out as the extension OF Wash
ington street as public highways.
Resolutions granting permission 10
Salvatore Romano and Matilda Il. Stu
art to move certain buildings were
passed.
The report Of the committee on rail-
roads recommending an ordinance re- |
questing the Union Railroad Company |
to extend It's tracks from Exchange |
place up to the entrance OF the new pas. |
senger station and over Francis street, |
and authorizing the laying of rails and |
the construction OF bridge therefor |
was received and the accompanying or |
dnance parsed.
Resolutions accounting vfffe ~ cyi,,o.
ter q. Wood. trustee. and OF Charles w. |
Hnckett TO the North Burial Ground |
Fund we're adopted.
A large number OF petitions were in |
troduced. Including one OF Bernard
O'Reilly. for removal OF the automatic
gas extinguisher apparatus. introduced
by Councilman Dwyer. A resolution
introduced by Councilman Angel pro-
viding for the purchase of six storm
flags. at cost not to exceed SEQ, was
passed.