The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-28
THE MAYORS MESSAGE.

THE MAYORS MESSAGE.
Gentlemen-I herewith return 10 you
without my approval, "Joint Resolution
| eral Assembly for Authority to Hire
$4,000, for Highway purposes" passed
in concurrence by the Common Council.
| March 25, 1901
The city OF Providence began 10 bor-
row money for highway purposes in 1887,
when authority TO hire 100000 was secur-
! ed and notes therefor issued, and an
annual appropriation OF $4,000 provided
for their payment thus securing the re-
tirement OF this loan in ten years.
In 1890 $4,000 was authorized with a
similar provision for payment. In 1891
and 1898 further sums aggregating Sl.2Oo,-
600 were authorized and under such au-
30 years were issued in 1854. In 1896 au-
thority was secured 10 borrow 100000 adj
ditional. and $4,000 of 90 year bonds
were issued the next year.
In 1900, authority TO issue 800 900. addi-
tional was secured. and $500. 900, OF thirty
year bonds were issued. 500. 600, OF which
was used TO take mp notes issued under
the authority secured I'm 1890 or the
100000 thus borrowed, the far greater
part was used for the construction and
rebuilding OF highways, only portion of
the loan OF 1900 being used for bridge con-
struction. The conservative course OF
paying for work I'm ten years was soon
abandoned. and 81. 700,00 was borrowed
on thirty-year bonds I'm three years.
The folly of this course was apparent.
Mayor Baker. in his message OF January
Sd. 1898. referred to roads which had been
built from the proceeds OF the loan OF
1894 that already required rebuilding while
tho final payment for the cost would not
be made until 1924. IL was evident that
continuance in this course of financiering
would lead To bankruptcy and a halt was
called. ! cannot believe that the city is
now ready to begin again on such
course.
The appropriation for interest and sink
ing funds upon our debt already Is nearly
one million dollars.
II must not be lost sight of that the
statutory limit OF taxation for ordinary
expenses has already been nearly reached
and that any increase must result in
larger tax rate.
For the ordinary construction Of new
highways tho only safe course for the
city TO pursue is TO follow the example
| OF every other city OF any size I'm the
country and assess the cost OF construc-
tion upon abuttiug owners according TO
the general or special benefits conferred.
~ my opinion upon borrowing money for
I highway purposes were not sufficient to
lead me 20 withhold my approval OF this
resolution I should do so on account OF
the very loose and vague language IN
which IL Is expressed. BY its terms the
money borrowed could be used for repair.
ing highways or even street cleaning To
borrow money for any such purpose is
most unfit and the authority should not
be granted.
RESOLUTION PASSED.
The resolution was put upon It's passage
and the motion prevailed \ ayes 10 ] no.
Alderman Reynolds V0tcd mo" and AL
dcrman Mccarthy was absent
ANOTHER VETO.
The following communication from his
honor the mayor was then read.
Gentlemen. I herewith return 20 you
without nv approval Joint resolution of
the city council 20 iay oUt South Main
street from Pioneer Lane TO Transit
street"
do not question that South Main street
between the points named IN the resolu-
tlon. b. at times greatly congested. but
~ ~ Us so. !. is because Of the use OF tho
street by tho cars of the Union Rail-
road company aud or tho various cor
poratious whose cars are carried through
this street bv said company. Were it nu,
FOR the tracks of the Union Railroad
company South Main street would not
be crowded
The future ~ tho street for business
purposes would not lead anyone to srg-
acst its widening. II is solely 20 fur
niah additional roadbed TO the Union
Railroad company that such widening -
required. That being the case the work
should, la my opinion, not be ordered