The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-10

convened AT the City Hall at noon to-
day for the purpose Of considering the
appropriation bill. over which there
has been deadlock for nearly two
weeks. After much debate by both the
aldermen and councilmen an agree
ment was reached on the basis OF a re-
duction of the appropriation for con-
tingencies from $500 to $4,000 and
change in the amount appropriated
from perspective sewer receipts from
$4,000 to $4,000.
The board of aldermen met promptly
at noon. Some routine business had
been transacted when Council Clerk
Hayden appeared with the appropria-
tion ordinance and the statement that
the committees Of conference had fail
ed TO agree.
THE MAYORS ADDRESS.
AS soon as Mayor Baker had receiv-
ed the report he spoke as follows:
Gentlemen OF the Board Of Aldermen:
The unsettled and unsatisfactory con-
dition of the ordinance making an APP
propriation for the support of the city
government for the ensuing year con-
strains me TO address you in regard to
the same, and ask you to seriously con-
slider whether under the circumstances
IL will be for the best interest OF our
city for the board to further insist
upon its amendment TO said ordinance.
These conditions are well known TO you.
The ordinance is held up on account of
a deadlock between the common coun-
ell and the board Of aldermen, the coun-
ell having declined to concur in the
amendment offered by the board. the
hoo laxr rseNer ,,Ote ft- a.
ment, and the committee of conference
having failed To agree. This has re-
suited in stopping payment of the sal
aries and wages of the officers and en-
ployes of the city, and. if continued,
must necessarily result in bringing TO
an end the prosecution of all of our
public improvements. The city laborers
will then lose their employment and
much distress will certainly ensue.
regret seriously this state Of affairs and
earnestly wish that ii might be avoided.
While | believe that the amendment TO
the ordinance was proposed and acted
upon in the best of faith, and while
recognize the fact that honest differ
ences OF opinion almost always exist I'm
relation TO public measures. it does
seem TO me that the amend
ment offered by the board is
not OF such vital importance that
il ought to stand in the way of the
proper prosecution of the affairs OF the
city. ! can see no reason why, after
the ordinance has been passed, the
proposed amendment may not be en-
acted as an Independent measure. if it
seems desirable. At any rate from its
proposal and discussion there will be no
danger nor possibility of such an en-
barrassing situation resulting as that
in which the city now finds itself. |
believe that this board would stand
better in public estimation If IL would
accept the situation and recede from its
vote on the amendment. and that such
a step would serve to emphasize the
dignity which properly belongs 10 this
hcdv rather Il an de:,aci from the
same.
MIR. LOVES EXPLANATION.
ON the conclusion of the mayors re-
marks, Alderman Vincent introduced
a couple of petitions. and then Alder
man Lowe addressed the board and
said probably the first thing TO be con-
sidered was the report of the commit
tee on conference. but as he had no de-
sire to discuss what had taken place
i'm committee he would simply state the
plan proposed by the conference mem
bers from the board OF aldermen. The
members Of the committee on behalf OF
the board had suggested TO the com
mon council members that the sewer
receipts be stricken from the bill ana
the appropriation for CONTINGENCIES be
reduced from $4,000 10 $4,000. This
suggestion. offered In good faith. had
met with unexpected opposition. Manv
persons. the alderman stated. believed
that prospective sewer receipts had no
right on an appropriation, and the
members of the conference committee
i'm the second place did not believe IL
wise to appropriate all the money SO
that none would be on hand in case or
an emergency.
Alderman Lowe. after his remarks.
moved that the appropriation bill be
indefinitely postponed ana a substitute
passed. The motion was promptly sec
onded. ..
APPROVED THE MOTION.
Alderman Vincent said he did not
proDose at the present time. 10 10 very
far on the roll of q fiuancier but there
were certain things disclosed by the
auditors report one % these was that
under the citv auditors estimates
there would be s29 900 unappropriated
and on this account ihe aldermen had
voted an a1ditiorel $4,000 for high
wavs. ~ was useless IN discuss tho adj
vantage of an increaS? Of the highway
appropriation. hut thn alderman said
when the members OF the board got in
to corfarcuce they We're informed mot
the 500 400 was myth AZ S96 600 of II
was to come fropN nerSo1al nropertN
taxes most of which " was foun' COULD
not be collected. The aldermen said IN
view Of this small balance the members
of the conference. frorN tho hoard were
wilii-o tn lot 30 The INhretor h'is and
tho $40 nnO f~ono eawGv assnssrnnnfs were
not appron~iated ane some ~ " saved
10 meet evigencisS. He approved the
motion mado bv Alderman Lowe.
Alderman RayHalds-slaid-lle-n nleInhars-
~ the board wore familiar With tho
CLAIM, hc 'nnir'9ineI fnr fjpa mast thren
or fc,ir. weave that saver raceiDtg could
not be applied TO. general appropria-
poRsr .STpAvrD
ctrnvaa eron, verd tqg smith street.
cornor Jefferson eundav 7.iF r. n. n