The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-07
Council Hears Report Of Finance
Committee on the Matter.
CONSIDERED AT NEXT MEETING
Commissioner Of Public Works Reports on
the Proposed Elns-Hour Day for
City Employees.

I
being one of the longest for a good many
months. Although the amount OF bust
ness transacted was large riuch of Il
was OF a routine nature and was passed
without argument.
Among the more important matters con-
| sidered was q recommendation from the
finance committee raising the tax rate
| from 3l.60 TO the old rate of $6 The
increase was recommended In the annual
resolution for the assessment OF taxes.
II provides for the s-lte tax or l6 cents
per 500. for interest and sinking fund
441 cents on each 500, and s1.04ia cents
| for the current expenses OF the city. in
| cluding the deficiency OF Ssi. .4i309
The present condition OF the treasury
was shown and the utter impossibility for
the city TO be run properly on the present
income. Mr.. Massie. chairman OF the
finance COMMITTEES. explained the deficits
| In various departments and the neces-
sity for more money. The resolution
was laid on the table until the next meet
ing without further debate.
PAY OF CITY LABoRERs
Another matter OF great interest was
| the resolution fixing the hours OF laborers
employed by the city at nine hours per
day, the men 10 receive the present mini
mum rate OF $l.50 per day.
Commissioner Smith presented report
/ on the matter in which he declared that
20 make the change an additional appro-
priation OF so. 900 would be ne cessary. The
! minimum rate now paid TO lajoorers Is
4 $3.50 a day. The loss to the city would
be one hour per day at Is cents. about
$1,000 a year The estimated additional
cost should nine hours constitute a days
work for all employees OF the department
OF public works would be g7.l0o.
! In addition there would be loss due TO
~ tADA
sweepers. etc. making a total of more
than $4,000 year. Applications for
work at present rates far exceed the
demand, the report states. II would re-
quire an increase I'm the taxes of about
$4,000 to meet the additional curtailed
equivalent 10 that amount
The report was ordered printed
A resolution directing the commissioned
of public works to sprinkle all resident
and business streets was referred TO the
commissioner.
Resolutions authorizing the park COM
missioners TO expend $1,000 for the pur-
chase OF trees for Blackstone boulevard.
and to use unexpended balance at Davis
park for the establishment Of Fairgrounds
was referred to the finance committee.
A resolution 10 purchase for park pur-
poses the Allen Print Works plat on the
north side OF Livingstone street. west OF
the Moshassuck river and east OF Corliss
street. was referred TO the committee on
parks.
LEAVE TO WITHDRAW.
The report Of the committee on railroads
was presented In which II was recon-
mended that p j. Mccarthy be given
leave to withdraw his petition taxing the
gross receipts OF the Rhode Island COM
pany: so voted.
A resolution tnstructng the city So
lcitor to apply TO the general assembly
for the passage of an act authorizing the
! nre commissioners to inspect certain
places where dangerous articles are man.
ufactured and sold was received from the
committee on ordinances and was passed.
Also an ordinance authorizing the parl,
commissioners TO allow fishing In the
: park lakes.
The committee on parks recommended
a resolution dedicating certain city land
7 adjoining Tockwotton park for park pur-
poses. which was passed
Also a resolution authorizing the park
. commissioners to lease the casino al
: Roger Williams park for FIVE years.
On recomme ndat tion OF the finance
, committee n resolution making an appro-
priation from the fund OF Anna II. Mar
: for memorial gates at Roger Williams
park was passed.
+ Resolutions to purehaee-rowbeats- and
q exhibition cases for Roger Williams parl
a were indefinitely postponed on recon-
v mendation OF the finance committee.
4 From the finance committee n resolu
= ton appropriating 5000 for furnishing tn
$ Orms and Smith street fire station wa:
n referred to the committee on city prop
r erty
d A resolution appropriating 800 for &C.
y for public drinking fountains was re
u ferred TO the commissioner OF publ
Z works.
On recommendation of the committee
: on claims resolutions We're passed re
u hitting taxes enormously assessed a
follows: Alice German. s35497; Barstov
u Thread company. $3.50: Nellie J.. Tomey
!. S2i; Robert A. Gardner. se.sa William x
!. Atwood. administrator. 4s; John A
!, Vaughan. administrator $40; George T.
I. Peck ct ais. executors s9l.20.
= Joseph Atkins. Edgar Baker. Richar
> O. Davis. the Globe company. Lillis II
= Lewis. Francis OReilly and James
!, williams. petitioning for remission o
n taxes. were given leave TO withdraw.
!, The committee on highways recon
y mended giving leave to withdraw 10 pc
a titioners for the building Of Charles stree
a from Haean street TO the city line. an
IL was so voted.
: The committee on highways recon
y mended q resolution permitting the build
), ing OF n conduit across Orange street
a which was passed.
$4,000 FOR HARBoR
v An appropriation of $4,000 for dredgin
a the harbor was presented from the com
n mittee on harbor and referred TO IN
n finance committee.
r The American ship windlass compan
a was granted permission to build a tun
v mel and lay q track across East Rive
70 street.
n A resolution was passed accepting IN
a 4slft-to Roger Williams park from tn
United Land company OF the waitin
room at the Broad street entrance an
the thanks of the council were extende
for the gift.
An invitation from Slocum post, NJ
10. @. A. r.. 10 attend a lecture April
was accepted.
The monthly reports ~ the city treas
urer and the clty auditor and the quar-