The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-02
ANNUAL
COUNCIL
BANQUET
Retiring City Officials Olnsd BY
Their Successors, With Prom
Inent Guests Present.

List evening Tnlinshast's parlors were
| the scene Of gathering Of city omeM's
| such as the city sees but once n year. IL
being the occasion OF the annual banquet
| tendered by the members OF the incom-
ing city council to the outgoing council
and like all previous Affairs OF the Kino
was very successful
The dinner was an excellent one, the
courses being sandwiched In between
songs. and songs were sung AFTER the
last course had disappeared.
Chairman Walter A. Presorey OF the
committee OF arrangements introduced
President Joseph r. Kendrick OF the
common council as toastmaster OF the
evening. Seated at the head table on
either side OF the toastmaster were
Mayor Daniel L. ID. Granger; counch-
man-elect Walter A. Presbrey. Mayor
elect Augustus 3. Miller. City Solicitor
Francis Colwell, Commissioners OF Public
Works Robert f. Smith. City Clerk
william L. Clarke Council Clerk Daniel
F. Hayden. Alderman r. Perkins, j.
J. Resented, President OF the Board OF
Aldermen James F. Freeman Council
man Henry G. II. Rawson and Council
man ELECT DR. j. c. Budlong
MAYOR GRANGER SPEAKS.
Toastmaster Kendrick introduced Hon.
ID. l.. ID. Granger as the first speaker.
Mayor Granger said in part:
Gentlemen am very glad to have
the opportunity OF corsng here tonight.
I think I can safely say that there Is
no city council in our country that is
more free from petty strife. We read
with shame of the conduct OF councils
of other cities, and we are thankful
that our council is free from this. GEN
tlemen. L trust and hope that we may
feel that we are friends. and however
we may have differed i'm the past We are
still friends, and my years of association
with our city council will remain among
the pleasant ones of my memory"
Mayor-elect Augustus ;. Miller was
next introduced, and said in part:
Years ago when l was in the council
there were no social gatherings. When
/ was asked to come here l was told
that I would have a good time. and /
have had a frst-rate time up TO now.
I am very grateful for the opportunity
to meet you ALL and / am sure that
my path will be smooth over In the new
pastures. thank. you, gentlemen, and
| am very sorry that / have interfered
with the pleasures OF the evening. for
we have so many better speakers here
than / that I will give way to them"
PLEASANT TERM OF SERVICE.
Toastmaster Kendrick next introduced
Hon. Francis Colwell. city solicitor Mr.
Colwel thanked the members Of tho
council for the honor conferred upon
him and for the pleasing service that he
had had with them.
81 don't think" he said that I have
ever had any more pleasing term of SER
vice with any one than with our late
mayor (when we were on the same side)
IL did seem TO me that at times II
wasn't necessary to have two officers
mayor and city solicitor. All we had to
have was mayor such as we had and
"a times there was no need of city
solicitor. So II at least seemed to me,
hut l did not press the matter might
have lost my position. Seriously. have
greatly enjoyed my associations with the
mayor OF Providence.
Next / feel that / am indebted to the
president OF the board OF aldermen.
found in so great n measure combined
the qualities OF Chesterfield Alexan-
der and Caesar as I'm this man. To the
alderman from the Fifth ward, too,
feel under great obligation. No man on
the board ever dug up more questions
for my consideration than this same al
derman."
orable body ~ men than our city council.
said that he had never met more hon
orable body ow men than our city council
When you get 10 men I'm a body II Is
hard 10 find body where there is more
harmony. | thank YOU, gentlemen, for
tho fine courtesy that you have be-
slowed upon me during my three years
az member Of the city council
Or John c. Budlong, councilman n ELECT
from the Fourth ward. said that he had
often been asked to serve on the city
council but had as often declined, but
this year he felt that he was getting
along In years and began 10 think that
perhaps there was n duty yet unfulfled
MY greatest wish is" he concluded,
that you may say after I have served
my time: He has done his duty
Remarks were also made by Alderman
Parker OF the Fifth ward Councilman
John w. Angel. Councilman-elect John
l. Devlin, Councilman John c. Massle,
j. j. Rosenfeld. Alderman Freeman
Councilman Parks and Council Clerk
Hayden.
The meeting broke mp by singing Aud