The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-01
There Was a Hot Time in The Fire Dis
trici Meeting Last Night
Oscar N. Cocmbs Was the Successful
Candidate Other Local Items.
East Providence branch of The Taunton avenue
Telephone 1872, East Providence.

Last night the great contest for the
superintendency of the watchemoket fire
district. which had been especially In,
teresting because OF the large number Of
candidates In the field. ended in a meet
ing In which there were some rather
sensational developments before the bal
loting was commenced. Some OF the
before coming into the meeting and a
number OF others who had been reported
as running for the position did not re-
ceive vote.
| Oscar NJ Coombs succeeded In landing
the plum. although there are a number
who claim that the matter may have to
| be adjudicated by the supreme court be-
fore he will have any too strong a grip
on II. Previous to the ballotng there
were not over 100 voters In the hall. but
while the votes were being cast many
more drifted In and by the time that the
polls had closed nearly 800 had voted.
This Is a much larger number than
usually turns out at district election.
the large number showing that some
active work had been done by the can
dtdates towards getting their adherents
out to the meeting. AS nothing but real
estate and personal property voters cut
any fee In meetings OF the district the
number OF votes cast may be considered
large one under any circumstances.
The meeting was called TO order by
Moderator Hon. A. N Cunningham The
point was at once brought out that the
meeting was thought to be illegal be-
cause OF the form of the notices which
n ~ ha
citizens aired their Views on the subject
Town Solicitor Babcock informed the
meeting that although the notices were
beyond doubt defective he did not con-
slider that they were sufficiently so to in
validate the meeting and that in his
opinion due notice OF the meeting had
been given, and that II was perfectly
proper t2 proceed to the transaction OF
the business for which the meeting had
been called. In support Of his conten-
tion' he cited rulings OF the supreme
court.
Several citizens arose at the conciu-
sion OF the remarks OF Mr.. Babcock and
attempted to air their views. but their
voices very naturally got tangled up with
each other and the attempt on their part
to save time by all talking at once only
resulted In dire confusion. Mr. Cum
ningham tried to get some semblance of
order out Of the confusion but he might
just as well have tried to warm up the
town hall lawn with an oil stove. After
the speakers had yelled themselves
hoarse and then taken their seats with
out any one being the wiser for what
they had said, Louis o. Walker arose |
and attempted to speak.
Before he had fairly warmed up to his !
subject several others also got up and |
tried to ventilate their opinions Mr. |
Walker assumed look OF resignation 4
and thinking that his voice would be lost !
In the babel he resumed mis- seat and |
proceeded to watch the performances 1
After the din had subslded Charles A. !
Burns got up and addressed the chair
''Mr. Walker has the fioor." shouted
the moderator
sitting DOWN" shouted Mr.. Burns.
At this Moderator Cunningham looked
around the hall and saw that Mr.. Walker
was reclining In comfort and a chair at |
the same time.
You have the floor, Mr. Walker" he
said, pointing a finger In the direction OF
the gentleman addressed. Mr.. Walker then
felt that II was up to him TO say some
thing whether nc wanted to or not and
he got up and did his duty In the talking
department.
william A. Palmer, after some perse-
verjns efforts succeeded in getting before
the house a motion that the meeting pro-
ceed to the election OF officers as called
for I'm the warrant.
Hon 8 s. Rich arose and stated that
he had arrived late and asked what all OF
the excitement was about and was in
formed what had been done up To the
time OF his arrival Mr. Rich called for
the original warrant under the authority
OF which tho meeting had been called
Clerk Murphy stated that he had not sup
posed this would be required and that he
had left II at home.
William q. Bliven then took hand I'm
the proceedings by moving that the meet
Ing adjourn, but this motion was not
seconded.
At this stage Of the proceedings the
remembered that In opening
the meeting he had forgotten to read that
call and announced that on this account
the proceedings would nave to be CON-
menced over again. The call over which
there has been so much discussion be-
Dause OF omissioss noted I'm yesterdays
News was then read as bllows.
Special meeting Of the watchemoket
Ire district viii be held In the town hall
Monday. November 3D. 1893 for the pur-
pose OF electing a first assessor TO fiIl the
vacancy caused by the death OF orlani
Freeborn and for filling any other va
'ancy or vacancies In office II any such
sxist at the time of said meeting.
The board OF canvassers will meet ut
he town han, Saturday. November 2s
'or the purpose OF canvassing the voting I
list Per order
JAMES r.. MURPHY. Clerk.
Mr.. Palmer then moved thar the meet
ng proceed with the election and the mo-
Ion wls seconded While the moderator
vas counting the hands Mr.. Rich Offered
IN amendment which made the motion
cad that. the meeting proceed with the
election ~ officers IN legal manner.