The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-17


'nisht with 20 members present. After
the reading of the records, which were
approved. the regular routine was taken
up and Mr.. Balch. chairman OF the com
mittee on ordinances, secured the floor.
He was about to speak. when the chair
man stated that he found that certain
business was upon the table. which
must be considered by the council.
Mr.. Balch gave way and Chairman
kendrick read the following communi-
cation from Mayor Miller. which was In
affect his veto to the amendment OF the IN
which shorters the term OF office OF the
members OF the fre commission. whose
terms OF office arc as yet unexpired. and
making the term OF office for the MEM
bers but one year I'm the future.
The message follows:
CITY OF PROVIDENCE.
Executive Department, City Hall.
Dec. is. 1905.
To the Honorable, the Common Council:
] herewith return TO you without my
approval AN ordinance In amendment OF
section q chapter 13 entitled Fire De
partment and OF section OF chapter 30,
entitled Officers of the City and Their
The provision OF section OF chapter ~
which this ordinance would change is
that the city council in convention an
nually IN January shall elect "one nre
Section 2 OF chapter Il Ia as follows:
1.-THE members OF the board OF fire COM
rnissioners now In ofyice shall continue 20
serve for and during the terms for which
they were elected respectively. and In the
month of January, 1900. and annually
thereafter. In the month OF January. the
city council In Joint Gonvention ion shall hal elect
the term OF three years from and after
the first Monday In February following
such election and until his successor is
sAA AAA A~t eAx~l1 1AA
however. that any of said commission
ere may. at any time. he removed from
office for misconduct or incompetency by
a two-thrds vote OF the city council in
In said board of fire commissioner by
reason OF death, removal or resignation.
such vacancy shall be filled by the cleo
tion of another person a member OF
said board, and such person SO elected
shall hold said ofYice for the rema lnder
OF the unexpired term"
The ordinances OF which this il part
became operative Jan. I. 1900.
THREE NEW MEN.
Said Section ?. ~ amended, will provide
that The members Of the board Of lire
commissioners now In office shall continue
10 serve for and during the pres mt uluni-
cipal year and until their successors arc
elected az herein provided. On the Grst
Monday of January. A. II. i21t ana 81
nually thereafter on the first Modd,y ~
January the city council in joint conven-
ton shall elect three suitable men ID acl
said board of fire commissioners who /
shall hold Office for the tar'1 IT one year
and until their successors el ted ana I
ouafihed"
The change now proposed by yoh ne ap. I
pears from the ordinance I'm amendmcnt I
submitted 20 and passed by tho city coun- /
ell, Is that instead OF having the mem
bers of the board OF fire commissioners /
IL
elected each year. 30 that always there I
shall be in the board two men who have I
had experience I'm conducting the Are
department, hereafter each year three .
new and entirely inexperiencer men may
be elected
Why should such a change in the pro-
visions of the ordinance be made. and Is II
. reasonable changer
All must concede that in our states and
cities the general provision in the lsws
establishing boards for the management
Of important interests Is that 'he terms
OF office OF all the members shall not
expire at the same time. but At different
times. so that such boards shall not he
At any time under any circum-
stances. Of entirely inexperienced men.
Examples in own state OF boards so
constituted are:
The state board Of education. and board
of trustees of the State Normal school.
The state board OF charities and correc-
lion.
The state board az health.
Board OF control OF the State Home and
bchool
Board of managers OF Rhode Island Col
ege OF Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Harbor commissioners.
State returning board.
Police commissioners for the city OF
Newport
Police Commissioners for the city OF
Providence and others.
And In our city:
Fire commissioners.
Park commissioners
Commissioners OF sinking funds.
Board OF canvassers and registration
Assessors OF taxes. and others
NONE MORE IMPORTANT.
IN no board. for whatever purpose or
tanlzed. can it be moro important than
y board Of fire commissioners Of n city. !
hat never should those In control OF the
apartment be AZ any one time all
Iew untried and inexperisnced men. FOR
n no department 81 city government
} practical knowledge, and experience