The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-07-31

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, the municipal offices OF said city. except
those Of mayor. aldermen and common
councilmen, until the next regular cleo
tion of such officers"
NOT "a. .oINTIvE MERELY.
The office Of commissioners of public
works is q municipal office. Said office
Is not merely an appointive office by the
mayor The act OF the general as
sembly in amendment OF the charter pro-
vides that the commissioner of public
works shall be appointed by the mayor.
such appointment 10 be approved by vote
OF the board OF aldermen. Even if such
appointment, when confirmed by such
vote were not TO be considered In
technical sense as an election, yet the
provisions OF said clause 10 are so broad
in relating 10 "all vacancies. arising
from any cause, In any OF the municipal
offices of said city that 1 do not con-
slider that the use OF the word "elec-
tion," IN defining the term for which the
vacancy is TO be filled, as excluding from
the operation OF said clause 10 a vacancy
in the office of commissioner of public.
works.
Also in the general statutes OF Rhode
Island the word election Is frequently
used, relating 10 officers chosen by town
councils. as we'll as those elected directly
Any other construction would lead 10
holding that the general assembly In
tended to make ma m& no prcyision for a va
tention in this important matter TO be
deterrrined by forced construction
founded on on the speculative and rneertah
In the light OF such general pro-
vision relating TO filing vacancies. as is
embodied in clause 10. do not feel war
sembly has failed to express its Intention.
ADVISE ELECTION.
! therefore advise that the method of
filling said vacancy is by electiorr BY the
! city council in Joint convention. " t@i' i
When this had been read the ordinafve
referred to by Mayor Miller as offering a
temporary relief for the laborers. who
week. was presented. 1t was entitled IAN
Ordinance to Provide for the Emergency
Caused by the Death of Commissioners of
''The city auditor is hereby authorized
and directed to audit for payment all pay
| rolls for work done, all claims for money
due under contracts and for supplies and
materials furnished under contract OF
otherwise. and all salary accounts per-
tanning to carrying on the business OF the
| department OF public works. including the
city engineers department upon the same
being certified as correct by Walter r..
| Slade. secretary for the late commits
sioner OF public works. and the city
treasurer is hereby authorized to pay the
same. when so certified and audited until
the vacancy In the office of Commissioners er
Of public works shall be filed.
This ordinance shall take effect imme-
diately after its passage.
PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
This was passed unanimously and a
resolution on the death OF Robert f.
Smith was adopted.
II Is as follows:
| pAha II
OF the common council from the Seventh
ward In 1871. alderman from the Seventh
ward from 1878 to 1882. alderman from
| the Ninth ward in 1887. alderman from
| the Sixth ward from 1883 to 1891, presi-
| dent OF the board Of alderman I'm 1881
and 1890. and commissioner OF public
works fro mMaroh. 1891. died at Paw
tuxet, July 22d. 1908. in the sixty sew
enth year Of his age. and
Whereas, The city council recognizes
that the city of Providence has lost by
the removal by death OF Commiss ioner
Smith a jealous. prudent and efficient
public officer who has demonstrated his
eminent fitness as such and has won tho
universal commendation OF our citizens
therefore, be II
Resolved, That the city council place
on record their expression of the profound
| sorrow at the death OF Robert r. Smith
its respectful sympathy In their great
loss. and
Resolved, That a copy o fthis resolu
ton be suitably engrossed and forward
ed 20 them by the city clerk"
on motion OF Mr.. Gushing the board
adjourned as stated above.
After finding the board adjourned tn,
council adjourned also.
NOT A POLITICAL MOVE
In an interview. Mayor Miller after
ward told the News reporter. that thi:
action Of asking from the supreme cour-
instructions regarding the election waI
not a political move In any sense OF tn,
wori. 1T is what consider for the bes
interest Of the CITY," no said. and thii
man will be elected for a long time. thre,
years and we want him 50 securely
| placed that his acts cannot be assaf1et
by trlckeries or legal technioahties
hope 20 hear fro mthe supreme cour-
! very soon and the board r. called for mex
Thursday and n the opinion r. received
by then and makes n proper we will col
the council and set this matter out n
| the way"
As soon az Mayor Miller received n COP,
OF the ordinance and approved 70 Mr.
slade went right 20 work on the pay rol
and soon had arranged for the payment
a large number Of city employees who hav,
been without their salaries for a numbei
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