The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-28
The Aldermen Stand by
Their Amendment
TO APPROPRIATION BILL.
Police Instructed 10 Assist the
Board Of Canvasers.
ALDERMAN MCCARTHY OPPOSED.

The board of aldermen met in spe-
| cial session this noon pursuant to the
| call of the mayor. By decisive vote
| of eight TO two the aldermen insisted
! on their amendment to the appropria-
| tion bill increasing the appropriation
| for building. cleaning and repairing
| highways some $4,000. An ordinance
was passed, at the suggestion of the
mayor, appropriating s64 .120 for pay
ment OF interest on bonds, which in
terest will be due on Saturday. Mayor
| Baker said, just before the close of to-
days session, that he was awaiting a
! decision from the city law department
| as To whether or not IL was necessary
TO pass the appropriation bill in Sep
| tember. His honor said he did not
] think il was, but he would of course
/ be governed by the opinion of the city
| solicitor. In four instances the bill was
| not passed in September and once not
until October 10.
Alderman Lowe said, when the mayor
announced the action of the common
| council on the boards amendment TO
| the appropriation bill. that he felt it his
| duty to answer some criticisms OF his
! remarks at the last meeting OF the
board i'm favor of the amendment. He
| stated that the committee on finance
] under the leadership of Mr.. Sturges
, had last year appropriated all the rev.
| enue of the city in sight, and by that
| statement he had intended in no way to
| criticise the city auditor or the city
! treasurer. Alderman Lowe read from
| the official report to show that the COM
| mittee last year voted away all but
! S71.60. and then stated that the city
| would have available for the fiscal year
| to1t tfpx. ~
interest account. besides a saving in the
amount required for the sinking fund.
| Mr. Lowe said he wished to block no
| appropriation bill, and If the outcome
| justified last years committee 1t would
! seem the board had acted wisely I'm
amending the bill. and the action then
| taken being apparently strengthened by
J the action of the finance committee, he
| would move that the board insist on its
| amendment. The motion prevailed. AL
| dermen Winship and Reynolds voting
! mo"
| On motion OF Alderman Vincent
John r. Blodgett was given leave to ex-
| plain a matter on behalf Of the board
1 of canvassers.
Mr.. Blodgett said that he had re-
| ceived notice from the chief OF police
| that by vote OF the police committee
| of the board of aldermen, patrolmen
would not look up any more registered
| voters for the board of canvassers.
| Mr. Blodgett thought this action Of the
| police committee was harsh and would
| seriously interfere with the obtaining
| an honest ballot Mr.. Blodgett said
! further that the board used the police
to search for men who were on the
| verge of criminal careers, who be-
| longed to the criminal classes, and he
read a number of police reports on per-
sons who had registered, some OF the
alleged persons being I'm jail and others
| having registered from vacant lots.
| Alderman Vincent introduced type
written resolution requiring the police
| department to furnish the board or
| canvassers all the service required OF II.
| The alderman said this was the easiest
way to get the information sought.
| Alderman Mccarthy said that IL SEEM
ed enough was now required of the po-
lice and that discipline in the police de-
partment would not be improved by its
being forced to do the work OF the
board OF canvassers. for which work
the city now paid $4,000.
Alderman Vincent urged that It was
impossible for the board of canvassers
TO do the work. All this work tended To
secure that much desired object, an
honest ballot. Alderman Mccarthy
sharply replied TO Alderman Vincent
but the board passed the resolution By
Alderman Mccarthy gave notice OF
| an intention to move a reconsideration
| There was more or less animated
| discussion on the whole matter which
| Alderman McGann cut short on
| point of order.
TO the Joint COMMITTEES on claims was
| referred the petition of the Home In
! vestnlent company for remission of
| sewer assessments.
Bernard McCulla was appointed a
| constable without power to serve civil
/ process
| Alderman Vincent presented petition
! Of j. II. Althans for leave to build
| barn and asked IL he granted under
suspension OF rules. and the petition
was granted. Other petitions for leave
! to build barns were granted Mary +.
/ Kennedy and William Finlayson and
| wife.
The board concurred with the COM
mon council In the passage of an orli-
nance providing for transfers of bal
| ance of certain approximations TO other
| departments Also an ordinance maxi
ing an apportionment Of the town debt
| OF Johnston.
Petition of Natalie Rosenblatt for re-
| payment Of money paid FOR property
bought at sale under sewer assess
| ment was referred 10 the committee On
| claims.
The pay of the followino patrolioe,
was increased from $3.50 20 g. - par day
on recommendation Of the chief cf NJ
lice: James ]. DOYLE. James Fny. iohr
Conaty. lanes j. Lynons. Jar'e$ 7.
Riley. Michael Conlon and John J.
O'Malley.
on motion Of Alderman wlrso~ -
board adjourned 10 next Monday of''~-
noon.