The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-04
apparatus and fire fightins.
How much time will man In office
for one year devote TO such things?
GIVE HIM A CHANCE.

| TOR one year devote 10 such uhin8s!
GIVE HIM A CHANCE.
Then, If any member Of that board
has done anything wrong the only manly
way cha racteristic OF the Anglo Saxon
race is TO come out with them, bring them
against him In straightforward way
give him a hearing let him deny them
II he can.
'yThen IL he Is found guilty. every mem
Der OF this board will vote for his removal.
I'm this move we deprive him OF the
right given a murderer caught red-hand-
ed. It's not fair. It's cowardly and not
In accordance with the right given to
every man.
But Mr.. Mayor, there is another mat
| ter. i understand that there are men who
pledged TO act before hearing this mat
ter discussed" lie then told how he ar
rived at that decision. believing that all
men should come with minds open TO
conviction and then uttered scathing de-
nunciatlon OF the men who came In bound
! by his pledge 20 act. forgetful OF his oath
OF office TO be faithful TO the interests
Of the city.
REGARDING THE LEGALITY.
There Is another question still; II 10
regarding the legality OF this action i
have given this matter much consider
legality OF this ordinance removing these
men, none of whose terms expire on the
first Monday In January and against
whom no charges were made or proven.
II challenge the right Of this city coun-
ell 10 change the ordinance In that way.
The legislature can do II and that only
can abolish an office created by II. This
amendment does not abolish II Tor the OF
fee continues TO exist
"you can amend this ordinance TO take
effect in the future but cannot make one
retroactive"
He suggested a form OF an amendment
that could legally be passed by the CITY
codncil. which would effect the commits
sioner only where their term OF office ex-
pired, as no rights would be effected.
The alderman then quoted from Smiths
law Of municipal corporation a standard
text book on law which supported the
stand he had taken.
DECISIONS OF COURTS.
Then he called attention to passage
which said in effect, The power to amend
and appeal can only be exercised when 1t
will not effect or impair private right.
lie cited rulings from the supreme courts
OF different states 1. e.. Missouri. New
York, Maryland. 4th Rhode Island.
North Providence case, Chief Justice
Ames) which showed that persons could
not be removed from office without just
cause being shown and after the officer
has been given a chance to defend It,
The North Providence case referred to
clerk Of school committee, who was re-
moved without cause and had to be rein
stated.
Alderman Gushing OF the Third ward
stated that he haS few words to say
but had paused for few moments 10 see
IF there was man who had the courage
to say single word In favor OF the mo-
tion.
"In the history OF this motion find that
II Is unique. There has not been a single
man who has yet given single reason
for Its passage They cannot. Passed at
the end OF session under a suspension
OF the rule which requires a second read
ing. They would not let 1t go to the COM
mittee on ordinances for they knew what
would happen TO II there and then sent II
up here. what we call In the courts.
snap judgment. o.
There has not been a more important
measure come before this board In the
last Ave years.
SPENDS s372, 900 A YEAR
I'VE are asked gentlemen to take this
important department. the Are department.
which protects us when we go to bed at
night. which calls for ss72. 900 this year. and
throw It into the arena OF politics.
I'VE might just as well call spades
spades and shovels shovels They tell us
that II Is intended TO punish a man who
dared to SO intb a ward caucus and ad-
vocate camel tes that were distasteful
to the ~ryd mmittee.
THE me department has It's history.
II was formerly handled by the city
council and the discipline deteriorated
because the chief was unable TO enforce
penalty because OF politics. Then
things were so intolerable that the city
council took action and though II was its
pet baby had a commission OF three men
appointed and now for ~ years the fire
department has been conducted In a
superb manner. The discipline Is almost
perfect"
The alderman then pictured in
graphic way the way the rank and Ale
of the department recently went down
into pit full OF shavings sending out
noxious gases, that caused them to be
overcome one after another. This was
at the property OF a member OF the
city government. ne said, and continued.
If the rank and fle are willing to plunge
into such danger for the honor OF the
service, I think II speaks well for the
men who are at the head Of the de-
partment and who have built II up.
TO PUNISH HARRINGTON.
"a member OF the council said recent
ly: We don't find any fault with Capt.
Benjamin F. Harrington as a fireman,
but we do intend to punish him for TAX
ing part In that caucus"
Now 1 am not an apologist for any
member OF that commission and I'm fact
the only member OF that commission I
know In any degree OF intimacy Is Ira
Winsor
do YOU suppose that II Mr.. Harring-
ton had been In harmony with the other
side In this little factional fight I'm the
ward that this measure would ever be
brought up here for our action.
II guess not
''If you don't feel like leaving him in
the office. for Gods sake give him
show.
There are other battles 10 be fought
You may not always be victorious. Go
on and pass this sort of measure and
take your medicine later. as you will
have to do.
fhiuk fhts ts fha wnref aura