The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-06

measures which had better be left In your
pigeon holes.
The police commission bill. however. be-
came "A law, and the three gentlemen APP
pointed by His Excellency. the late gov
ernor. whose sudden death we deplcre. are
clothed with greater power than any Of
icers OF the town or city OF Providence
have ever possessed from the founding OF
Providence Plantations unto the present.
They have absolute control over the pO-
lice department, Whom they will they
set up. and whom they will they pull
down" No system OF appointment by
civil service examination Is provided but
the fullest and most unlimited power TO
appoint and to remove, TO build up a po-
liucal machine II given. To this Is added
the entire control OF granting licenses for
the sale OF intoxicating liquors. for hotels
and for peddlers and hawkers.
They collect all license fees and TX all
salaries and spend the entire appropria-
ton made by your body and paid by the
taxpayers Of the city, and yet they are
responsible only 20 the governor OF the
state and 20 the honorable senate. You
gentlemen. as the Representatives OF the
taxpayers, the mayor OF the city the rep
resentative Of the electors OF the city, are
not considered by the advocates OF this
measure 10 be proper judges or the men
into whose hands the great power and
trust is given.
IL the citizens OF Providence are dissat-
ished with the manner I'm which the board
of police commissioners are conducting
the duties OF their office, they cannot at
the polls effectually rebuke them. but
must walt upon His Excellency at the
capitol and upon the senators from scit-
uate and Foster and lay their petition be-
fore them.
AUTHORITY BEYOND THE CITY.
Gentlemen. have never been opposed
10 properly constituted police commits
sion for this city, but am opposed TO a
commission appointed by and responsible
to an authority beyond the City OF Provi-
dence. whose servants they are and whose
money they spend. I am opposed to a
commission clothed with authority with
out limit. an authority which permits the
building up of most powerful political
machine, which while it's advocates cried
aloud that its purpose was 10 take the no.
lice out OF politics makes no provision for
! the representation OF both political par
ties among its members nor for the ap-
pointment or the officers and men by N
civil service examination cry for non
partisanship I'm the police which leaves
out those two provisions is empty and
hypocriticaL
The present police commission will GER
tainly be Judged by it's fruits. as we have
been told repeatedly by a portion OF the
PNchN IitSss Out II VIII also be Judged bE
people who will insist upon the right Of
self-sovernment. heritage dear 10 every
native Rhode Islander who loves the ira
ditions OF his state
Ii is not to he wondered at that deha 20
or public deliberstion was not desired bv
the advocates OF this measure. The whole
trend or public opinion is i'm favor OF
home rule for cities. At the very time when
this measure was being rushed through
with Indecent haste. Msyor-elect Low OF
! New York, was saying.
"One thing | think / may saw on behalf
! or the city, IL does want home rule. NOT
] because IL is jealous OF the great Fmpire
state OF which n II proud 10 be a pa RI
but because IL believes Il can render more
/ for the glory Of the Empire State n n be
permitted in all things TO govern itself.
and II is matter of profound happiness
that / have become mayor-elect OF this
/ city at time when the governor of the
state is in such hearty sympathy with
/ these views"
However strong the temptation or the
proVacation may be at times to invoke
the authority OF the state i'm passing diffi-
culties, down deep I'm the heart or the
people of every American city the feeling
or home rule is firmly implanted IL thev
neglect their responsibilities and hermit
their governments 10 fall into evil course
through indifference TO their duties thew
, VIII be brought the sooner to their senses
by being constantly confronted and re-
preached by the consequences of their
own acts or their own failure to act.