The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-05
Financial Condition Of the City Holds
The Place Of Impo aRCe in a Very
Strong Document.

! means that the tax rate this year will be
| increased, and that the amounts TO he
| appropriated for these departments I'm
! September. 1903. will be Increased by at
least the amount Of these deficits
My immediate predecessor. before being
called TO the position OF mayor Of our
| city. was for II years Its efficient city
| treasurer and in both his inaugural sd-
dresses to the city council the financiaf
| condition of the city was fully considered
| by him. with many pertinent criticisms
| and suggestions Coming from one so
familiar with the subject they are worthy
| OF great consideration
In those addresses. and i'm the addresses
OF his predecessors. the attention of the
city council was called 10 the question
of our present system of taxation. and
recommendations for a change In the
law, which Is much needed, We're made.
Not dismayed by the fact that such
legislation previously recommended by
the city council failed 10 pass the general
assembly. as Mayor Granger said In his
address In 1901, THE city should not cease
from annually bringing before the gen
eral assembly the injustice and inequity
OF the present laws, and from demanding
their repeal and the substitution OF a
scientific system OF taxation"
The committee on finance. in its report
to the city council last year on the de-
hciencies In the different departments. TO
which 7 have previously referred, closed
it's report with stating that IL recon-
mended, as Ii had previously done, that
an application should be made 10 the
legislature for a statute which would
provide for the taxing of all tangible per-
sonal property located in the city, with
out reference to where the owner may
claim residence.
The political party of which | am
] - I.EA
| the people at the last election. demanding
| fair and equal taxation, including the
| taxation OF visible property In the city
, and town in which IL is located" This
! Is certainly Of great Importance to the
/ city OF Providence.
The government OF a municipality like
| ours cannot be carried on without large
expenditures. None are more interested
! I'm having proper protection to their prop
erty than citizens OF wealth. yet we find
| them sometimes most unwilling 10 pay
! their proportionate share OF the expenses
incurred.
! We find here that this ls so: some in
1 our city unwilling To pay what Is as
| sessed lawfully and equtaby against
! them. by a compact with the authorities
J OF some of our country towns, are en-
| abled to claim their residence In such
| town and TO he taxed there upon such a
| sum as may be agreed upon with the
| local authorities regardless OF facts, and
! thus to enjoy for a large portion Of the
year the privileges and protection which
! our municipality affords. without paying
] their share for the benefits received.
| Such a condition Is most detrimental
| 10 us and becomes a burden upon our ctl-
zens of smaller means who have their
/ little homes here. which are taxed, anc
| their little savings In our savings banks.
| which are also subject To taxation.
Taxation which IL necessary. should be
| just 10 ALL and the system provided
should give every opportunity for the fur
therance of all true interests OF our city.
PUBLIC WORKS.
SEWERS.
All the improved sewerage system in
the Moshassuck division ls completed. ex-
| cept portion OF the section running
through Branch avenue and that pron-
| ably will be completed In the spring As
all OF the sewage in the northerly section
~ the city r. now going into the sewers
| and being taken care Of at the precipita- =
tlon works AT Fields Point the commits
sioner of public works calls attention 10
the filthy condition Of the river as II
passes under the bridges I'm the centre OF
the city, which is evidently caused by
sources of pollution outside the city
Of Pawtucket. after being officially notl-
fed or the existing nuisance is trying to
| remedy their part of this dehlement and
| IL l. recommended that action he taken
10 prevent the further dehlement OF the
| Moshassuck river from any source es-
| pecially since the city has gone To such
great expense to take care of it's own
| sewage.
| The right Of way has been obtained for
| building a large sewer through the valley
from Gladstone avenue TO Academy ave-
nue.. when this sewer Is built II will
give the necessary outlet for the balance
Of lateral sewers In the Mount Plcasanj
section. There Is also an agreement with
the Butler Asylum for the right OF way
| for n sewer 10 drain the land In tho
northeriy section of the Blackstone Bou
levard. II II expected that these sewer,
Will be completed during the present year
II Is cotFeded that the precipitation
works are complete success the sewag,
being well taken care of I'm q very eco
' nomical manner. The narrow-gaue,
railroad built from the sewer tanks {,
the tracks Of the New York. New Haver
A. Hartford Railroad company makes .
great saving To the city by handling ma
terlal with small locomotive instes,
Of using teams The work IL done bet
ter and costs from si2 10 si5 dollars pet
day less
uskrtn u-Anrrg