The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-11-17


hold office for the term OF one year and
until their successors are elected ana
qualified TO act; provided. however, that
any OF said commissioners may at any
time be removed from office for miscon-
duct or incompetency by two-thirds vote
OF the city council In Joint convention.
In case OF vacancy in said poard OF
fire commissioners by reason OF death,
removal or resignation such vacancy shalI
be filled by the election OF another per-
son as a member OF said board. and such
person so elected shall hold office for the
remainder OF the unexpired term"
Sec. 3 The clause in section ] OF chap
ter 30 of the revised ordinances. entitled.
"Officers OF the city and Their Duties,
which reads zone fire commissioner for
three years" is hereby repealed.
Sec g. All ordinances and parts OF
ordinances inconsistent herewith are here
by repealed. and this ordinance snaii
take effect upon It's passage.
MIR. sIssoN OPPOSED.
The matter was put by Mr. Kcndrick
and a roll call was asked for.
Mr. Kendrick called for remarks ard
Councilman Sisson of the Second ward
arose.
Mr.. sisson said: 81 think / should he
false to the obligation which ] took whep
I became member OF this body no' 70
state the reason which VIII compei nv
to vote against this measure. IN con-
nection with this ordinance VIII say
that II is usual IN. all commissions 20
have the time OF the expiration or the
terms OF office of members TO fan az
different times so that there Will always
be a portion OF the members famillsr
with the workings OF the office.
There is no attempt 10 conceai the
purpose of this ordinances 1t Is to re-
! move from office persons In that body
| who have Incurred the enmity OF one OF
| two members OF this body.
COULD NOT SUPPORT IT.
'If they arc men who are incapable or
! guilty of wrong doing | would JOIN any
! one I'm the proper manner To investigate
! and dismiss them, but | cannot lend
/ countcnance to this sort of procedure, l
know the ma kim, ITO the victor belongs
the spoils" used to be much In evidence,
hnt I do not ~think the most ardent
spoilsmen ever contemplated turning out
\ OF office men whose term of office had
not yet expired
| duced called civil service reform, whicn
| will do much TO remove the evils OF the
| political appointments, and our presioent
| Is an ardent supporter of the prlncipal. ~
! President Roosevelt were here tonight
think he would regard the adoption or
| this ordinance as direct VIOLATION or
the principals for which he STANDS Inv
would establish a dangerous and perni-
cious precedent. and might cause future
trouble when the city might he made up
| Of a different political compositions.
! Mr.. Sisson also stated that aside from
the pernicious and dangerous precedent
| no doubted the legality of removing from
| office men whose terms had not expired
by legislation.
COUNCIL HAS THE POWER
Mr.. Massic said: The city council has
power 20 repeal or 10 change the ordi-
nance THE gentleman speaks OF TINS
thing being illegal" he said. why
think the idea is preposterous
Mr. Sisson said he had read the ordi-
nance carefully. and with what tntein-
gence he possessed. and that he Thought
that the act had not been made with the
idea Of legislating out OF onice men
whose terms had not expired.
Mr.. Rawson characterized the matter
as very strenuous legislation az best, and
wanted more time TO talk II over.
In order that tho reason for this meas
ure could bo discussed he moved tina
the council 40 into executive session
Mr. Higgins seconded that motion
on n rising vote the motion was lost
MIR Gilrain said that this matte
should have been put on the docket as I
had been talked ~ for two weeks o
more TO his knowledge.
IT savors too strongly of tho work o
certain other body IN this city which
has won the condemnation of the citizens
az different times. I don't think tina
this sort OF thing is right, that II Is 10
the beet 20 hustle this thing through ii
one resding.
A DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.
THE city council certainly has m,
right 20 repeal this act. hut think th'
precedent is n dangerous one. and mieh
react on us.
1T " an underhanded proceeding.
think--not meaning any reflection on th'
gentlemen who presented the resolution
| however
Those men who were elected by tn