The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-01-02

eested by the commissions engineer.
Plans for Improvements suggested ,ps 10y
committee, and those interested In I'm.
proved shipping facilities for the por,
OF Providence, at public meeting @ heiu
evening.
II is hoped that the commissions re-
port, which will be submitted 20 1 tne
sion will so demonstrate the necessity OF
improving our harbor facilities, pefore We
oan expect any materiai srow,n IN oui aa
marine trade, that the city or Providence
and the state OF Rhade Island Will JOIN
i'm a movement, with the aid OF the
national government, TO bring about the
desired results.
A NEEDED REFORM.
In sec OF chapter TX. OF the ordi-
nances OF 1887. IL was provided that NO
member of the city government shall
have ony personal interest In any con-
tract with the city, unless the city coun-
ell assents thereto by special vote" The
law department having given an opin-
ion that contract sherein" meant writ
ten contract" in 1893 the ordinance was
amended so that IL should read, mo
member of the city government shall
have any personal interest in any written
contract with the city, unless the city
council assents thereto Dy special vote.
thereby removing all obstacles which
stood In lne WAY Ol HltuAb'iS VI NitN
city government applying for and doing
city work. -or furnishing supplies TO the
city.
Our ordinances at present, provide
that mo member OF the. school com
mittee school officer. or teacher shall be
directly or indirectly interested In the
furnishing OF any supplies or materials
nor i'm the doing OF any work or labor, nor
in the sale or leasing OF any real estate
tract for any OF these purposes, In any
case in which the price or consideration
is TO be paid I'm whole or in part. or d.
rectly or indirectly out OF any school
. moneys" Why should such an ordi-
nance be applicable 10 the school de-
partment and not to ali other city Of
fcers? SO long as we have no further
prohibitive enactments there always VIII
be men who will endeavor to work their
way into the city council and sometimes
will succeed IN go doing, not for the pur-
pose OF benentting their constituents or
preserving the interests Of the city, but
only for the pecuniary benefit which they
may derive by procuring contracts-not
written contracts'--for work for the
city. or furnishing supplies for the city
through their influence as members OF
the city government.
From what have observed Of our mu-
/ am firmly convinced that we should do
as other cities have done and that we
should provide by ordinance that no
member of the city council, no member
OF any branch. no officer chosen or ap-
pointed by the city council or by either
branch thereof, shall be Interested in
private capacity, directly or indirectly, in
any contract or agreement for labor or
for any materials. goods--Mares- or mer-
,ha n ftirpfShal the CITY wherein
the city Is party interested, unless.
at least the same be expressly author
ized TO be made and entered into with
such person by some ordinance or order
of the city council; which Is practically
the ordinance Of a city I'm an adjoining
state II seems that at least as much
as this should be done in Providence "
we desire TO avoid In the future the
sea ndaI which inevitably results where
members of the city government are
allowed 10 enter into contracts or agree
ments with the city To do work for the
city or TO furnish supplies to the city.
which they succeed in doing many times
by virtue OF their position in the city
government.
In many Of the states, state laws have
been passed upon the subjact. Massa-
chusetts has a state law which provides
that a member OF either branch of n city
council or OF municipal board OF a city
who is personally interested directly or
Indirectly. in contract In which the city |
H. an interested party or a person who
alone or with others represents the city
in making such contract. who is 80 In
terested, shall be punished by a fine OF |
not less th,4i 30 nor more than 1900, or
BY such fine and by imprisonment for
not moro than one year.
New York has also a state law which |
provides that the mayor aldermen. school |
commissioner or any public officer nf I
any city shall not be directly or indi- /
rectly interested. whether as principal. |
surety or otherwise. I'm any contract. the /
expense or consideration whereof is paw /
able out Of the city treasury and he /
Greater New York charter provides that /
no member OF the board OF aldermen. head /
OF department. chief Of bureau. deputy /
thereof or clerk therein. or other officer /
OF the corporation shall be or become |
Interested directly or indirectly as con- /
tracing party, partner. stockeholder /
or otherwise. In or I'm the performance |
or any contract, work or business. or the \
sale or any article. tho expense. price /
or consideration OF which Is payable
from the city treasury.
New Jersy also has a state law pro-
hibting any member of any board or al
dermen or common council. or board OF
education or school trustee in any city
from being directly or Indirectly con-