The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-02-17

The snow has been flying now for two
days. and this morning the farmers got
out in pungs and runners. which in many
cases had been hoisted into the loft for
use next winter. This snowstorm Is the
heaviest OF the season and the car sys-
tenn In this section has been completely
upset Some of the cars have made
fairly good time, in fact the service has
beer much better here than 1t has been In
the city.
BUSINESS MEN MEET.
The Business Mems association held Its
regular monthly meeting last night IN
Rays block and the members were out
In full force in spite OF the whiring snow
drifts The topic of discussion for the
evening was the drawing card, and In
view OF the special town meeting TO be
held March 2, the members OF the as
sociation were out In full force to hear
the merits OF the question discussed by
some OF the leading men OF the town
The question was, THE Advlsability OF
changing the form OF government OF this
town." and IL was ably debated Some
OF the speakers favored the adoption or
a city form Of government, some Favored
annexation, and the more conservative
seemed to think that East Providence
mad not outgrown it's present form OF
government.
The leading argument Of the speakers
in favor of the city form Of government
was the Objectionable features or the
town meeting. They contended that the
population had outgrown a meeting or
that kind and the population was such
that the town meeting was now menace
aud breeding ground OF corruption,
instead OF thoughtful deliberative body,
as Il was originally designed to be. They
supported their statements with facts
and proofs that struck home and were
overpowering In their directness.
The annexationists were in the ma
iority, apparently. and they also decried
the town meeting.
In regard TO annexation their most d.
/, rect and telling argument was the fact
that IL was inevitable and that In the
natural order OF things Providence would
absorb East Providence just az every
other large city In the United States has
absorbed Its suburbs, or VIII In the course
| OF time.
Combination is the keynote OF progress
! and this Is evident I'm government as
| well As business East Providence as an
! independent city would be miserable
! failure. they argued. and Judging from It's
/ success under town form OF government T.
II would need no great wisdom. TO pre-
dict the conditions which would emanate
I under a city form OF government I'm
community which cannot adequately sup
port town government
| The annexationalists showed the mani.
! fold advantages which the citizens OF
Providence enjoy and which would be ex.
tended 10 East Providence az branch OF
Providence. Their arguments apparently
expressed the general belief of those
present and aroused an interest which
will hiring ont the electors on March 2.
Among those who made addresses We're
+ Walter r. Pierce. Hon Augustus n.
Cunningham Judge Bliss. and VIM. Pal
mer There were three applications Tor
membership and the Robert Healey ana
| Elmer w Robinson whose names were
received at the last meeting were voted
/ into membership.
4-AEp,.teh- -at,t4par-u-ia- -aerved late in the
I evening and II was one ~ the best ever
served IA the business Mems kitchen.
MTzPAH WHIST.