The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-19

all familiar with police matters or who
4 VIII make some Inquiries OF his own ac-
! count .As ma tiers now stand promotions
must necessarily depend upon political In
huence rather than faithful public service.
n j. a well recognized fact that an sf-
! hcient, honest officer who lacks political
influence will have po chance Of promo
| lion. With a commission governing this
| Impairment We would have In fact as well
as IN name modern police system. and
! us usefulness would not only be in
| creased. bat the community would be
greatly benefited
The best illustration OF that. perhaps
y found Ia the management OF our own
IRE department. which. since IL was taken
OUT OF politics ana placed under com
mission. has not only become a modern
department but the cost OF maintaining
II has been reduced Is cents per capita or
nearly ~ per cent. Economy, prudence
ana eihcient public service, therefore,
justly the management OF large municis
| pai departments by commissions and our
own experience as well as the experience
OF other places has shown the wisdom Of
this plan.
Recognizing that the trend of public
opinion r. emphatically in favor OF con-
Quoting municipal affairs on strict busi-
ness principles, your committee IL con-
Ninced that the time has arrived when
providence should have police com
mission, so that this important branch
or our municipal government shall be
managed without regard 10 politics and
maintained on a true business basis to
the end that II may faithfully and i'm
partially carry out the purposes for which
IL Was organized
In order that Providence may have
the fullest advantages that can he de-
rived from police expenditures. your COM
mittee submit and unanimously recon-
mend the passage of the accompa nying
resolution mstruotng the city solicitor
10 apply to the general assembly for the
passage or such legislation as will author
ize the appointment Of a police commits
sion for the city OF Providence
All OF which is respectfully submitted
ROSWELL c. SMITH.
chairman.
DANIEL r. GRADY.
BEVERLY s LAKE
HENRY FLETCHER.
WILLIAM II. COVELL,
Joint Committee on Police.
The resolution was as follows:
Resolved. That the city solicitor be
and he hereby Is instructed TO apply 10 the
general assembly for the passage OF such
legislation as will authorize the appoint
ment OF a police commission for the city
Of Providence"
III.
Rawson. Cooke and Cushing favorins
the resolution and Messrs. SIsson, Peter
son and Devlin opposing--certain mem
bers at times descending 10 personalities
the resolution was adopted by the fol-
lowing roll call vote: Ayes-President
kendrick, Messrs. Balch, Bixby, Blanch-
ard, Cooke, Crawford. Cushing Darling.
Fletcher. Gardiner Grady, Hall Higgins.
Johnson, Kenyon, Lake, Leonard, Lovett,
Masse. McGunness, Miller. Moloy,
Moore, Parks. Parsons. Perkins, Pierce.
Presbrey, Rswson, Root San Soucl
Smith, Sphinx. Trask. Vim
Nays-Councilmen Devln. Peterson
sisson and Wheldon. Mr.. Birmingham
was absent.
MINOR MENTION.
The session lasted three hours and ad-
tournament was taken 10 the first Mon
day evening I'm December.
4 report was received from the com
missioner OF public works recommend
ing an ordinance permNtiug the Mar
raeansett Electric Lighting company to
ei ect poles and wires i'm Atlantic avenue
ami Blackstone boulevard Passed
From the commissioner OF public works
came resolutions authorizing the pur-
chase of materials for the water and
sewer departments for the year 1902
Passed
Mr.. Cooke presented a report of the
joint special committee relative 10 ac-
commoda tions for certain officers, rec
a resolution 10 apply TO the
general assembly for authority to hire
$4,000 for providing suitable office ac-
commoda tions for the recorder OF deeds.
Mr. Massie asked what rooms were 10
be fixed up.
Mr. Cooke said some time ago applica-
tlon was made for additional facilities
in certain departments. and this r. TO
provide for securing steel cases. The
resolution was passed.
A resolution directing the city solicitor
to apply 20 the general assembly for en-
abling legislation 10 charge fee for n
censing public lodging houses and 10
regulate and control the same was pass
ed
Petitions for lights on Nick inley street.
Thayer street. Elmwood avenue and
Jackson street was referred 10 the COM
mittee on lights.
Petition for sewer I'm Grand View
street was referred 10 the committed on
sewers.
Petitions of Eta l.. Vaughn. John r.
Good. Nathaniel Fisher Mary F. An
thony. Henrietta F. Collum and J. q.
Wheeler for remission of taxes were re-
ferrcd to the COMMITTEES on claims
Petition for the extension Of the Union
Railroad company's tracks on Elmwood
avenue was referred 10 the COMMITTEES on
"a silroads. and the council at IL o'clock
adjourned.