The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-07

GNCE X. L.. MOND
ment OF the laws. With these additional
powers the city treasurer AS collector OF
taxes has collected the tax OF 1889 from
1858 persons and made over 800 arrests.
l am OF the opinion that it Ii desirable
20 authorize. the city treasurer TO en-
ploy sub-cOliector Of taxes TO make ar
rests OF persons owing overdue poll taxes
and also call upon all persons on the list
OF unpaid personal property taxpayers,
and. IL possible, obtain payment OF the
same before such claims are placed I'm
the bands OF the city solicitor. The city
treasurer has at the present time no
means for collecting these taxes beyond
the sending OF notices by mail 10 persons
taxed and bringing suit. At the expira-
tion OF some six TO eight months after
the tax becomes due. those remaining un-
paid are sent TO the city solicitors de-
partment. with Instructions to bring suit
which is done so that judgment is obtain
ed about a year from the time when the
tax became due. believe that the per-
sonal work OF a collector. performed
while the tax was a fresh claim. would
have a greater effect than an execution
In the hands OF sheriff fifteen months
later.
NEl. CITY CHARTER.
beg to can your attention most earn
estly 10 the draft OF a new charter which
has been before the city council since
November, 1898, and which remains on
the files OF the committee on ordinances.
Ii is not question for dispute that our
present charter Is most imperfect. wholly
inadequate TO our present needs. IL is
entirely at variance with not only modern
theories of municipal government. but
with charters of the best governed cities
OF this country. For ms 10 refuse 10 rec.
ognize the changes which the complex
condition of civic life OF today has rem
dered necessary Will ultimately result In
tho growth OF dangerous elements In our
city government which cannot fan
affect the life OF our city. This charter
was prepared by men OF long and wide
experience, IL stands today a statement
OF the best modern thought on methods
of city government. The people OF the
city OF Providence have a right TO an ex-
preston Of opinion upon IL. You, gentle
men, would not l am sure. claim the
right TO smother such an important
measure. / therefore recommend that
the question of petitloning the General
Assembly for the passage OF the pro-
posed charter be submitted 90 the voters
OF Providence at a special election after
copies OF the charter and a carefully pre-
pared synopsis OF the same have been
distributed widely among the people.
TkANSfERS.
Providence still has the distinction OF
being one OF the few cities OF Its size
without full system OF transfers I'm con-
nection with the street railways. No ar
gument has been presented against trans
fers in this city. which would not apply
equally well I'm every other city. The In
justice and inequality of the present sys-
TEN does not need TO be again stated.
My predecessors In office have repeatedly
referred 10 n. / urge that IL be not lost
sight OF by you, and that I'm all future
negotiations with the Union Railroad
company the claims OF the city In this
matter be insisted upon before further
concessions are made. The city council
has once refused its consent TO an in
adequate and cumbersome system OF
transfers conditioned upon granting VAL
liable privileges TO the railroad company
and doubtless would again.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS.
ming OF the movement to restrict appoint
ments for public employment To persons
OF ascertained fitness. IL will never be
forgotten that IL was TO a distinguished
son Of Rhode Island, the late Hon.
Thomas A. Jenckes, that this country
owes the Introduction into congress or
measures looking towards reform OF
ting that at even this late day this city
should join the many other cities OF the
country that have removed the appoint
ment and dismissals OF it's employees from
the narrowness OF personal selection and
from political influence.
The area OF patronage subject TO dis
tribution by favor I'm our city should be
restricted to the narrowest possible lim-
it's. The first step 10 this end IL TO place
the whole clerical force OF the municipal
ity by law under rules regulating ap-
pointments similar 20 those which govern
the so called classified system OF the
United States while a system or registra-
ton should be established for the APP
pointment OF laborers employed by the
commissioner of public works. This gives
10 citizens Of every rank an equal oppor-
tunity TO work for the city instead of
combining IL TO the friends and acauaint-
anccs and in some instances relatives OF
the heads OF department or to those
having political influence, or as a reward
for political service. A system of appoint
ment by competitive examination IL now
in force in the cities Of the state Of New
York and Massachusetts. in the cities of
Illinois where majority OF the voters
approve the proposition at a municipal
election and in the cities of Milwaukee,
San Francisco. Seattle, Columbus, o..
New Haven. Galveston, and others. l
recommend that a JOINT speClal commit
tee be appointed to examine into this
question.
PURCHASING AGENT.
desire to call your attention TO the
need OF the appointment of one person TO
purchase all office supplies for the city.
AS II is now each department buys what
II needs In small quantities when reauir-
ed paying very nearly the ordinary re-
tail price. I believe that this Is not the
most economical way, and am confident
a saving OF no small amount could be ef-
fected II all the supplies OF this charac-
ter were purchased by one official after
advertised proposals for bids. and dis
trlbuted by him as needed.
HEALTH.
For three years there has been very 1T
tie diphtheria In Providence. though most
OF the cities I'm southern New England
have suffered severely. Typhoid fever.too.
has been exceptionally infrequent. IL is
believed by the superintendent OF health,
that the wholesale removal OF privy
vaults has had much TO do with the de-
crease in this disease Our greatest dan