The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-05
Warm Debate on Resolution
introduced by Councilman Smith
MONUMENT MATTER UP AGAIN
Acting Mayor Reynolds Sent Message
FaurIng Appropriation Of $4,000
for Moving Monuments.

All was quiet and serene at the meeting
OF the common council last evening until
Councilman smith OF the Fifth Ward
arose and presented "A resolution requir-
ing tho city solicitor to apply To the gen
eral assembly during It's session In jan
uary for such legislation as shall require
the tax assessors OF the city To notify In
each year all parties who are taxed for
personal property for the first time. and
also all persons whose personal property
tax is To be raised I'm any year so that
the parties may be able TO appear before
the assessors and make statement as To
their liability for taxation.
The presentation Of the resolution Offer
ed target for the verbal pyrotechnics of
the gentlemen present such as has not
been offered before this year and as soon
as Mr.. Smith had taken his seat there
were a number OF speakers willing 20 talk,
among the most active being Councilman
Fletcher.
Mr. Smith I'm presenting the resolution
stated that IL was not for personal rea-
sons that he advocated the measure but
for the protection of the poorer property
man and the ones who were not conver-
sant with the laws upon the same subject.
lie stated also llat llt same lOluS utu
been attempted in previous years but had
met with TO success but the time was
ripe for the action now and he moved for
the passage OF the resolution. Mr.. Flctch-
er OF the Seventh Ward opposed the
measure saying that Il gave the tax dod-
gers chance 10 come In and swear Off
every bit OF per enal property and was
Just like sending a notice 10 a thief that
he was about 20 be arrested He said
that the action contained in the resolu
tion was the most dangerous that haa
been enacted In his entire experience az
p member OF the council Councilmen
Ross. Tower. Higgins. Parsons and BHfcn
spoke on the measure the most of them
favorine II. Mr.. Ross moved that II he
placed I'm the hands Of the ordinance COM
nttee This motion was lost and when
the roll call on the original resolution was
had II was found that Mr. Smith had won
The vote stood % TO :.
The other matter that provided the life
of the meeting was the question Of ap-
propriating $4,000 for tho relocation Of the
Burnside monument and the Soldiers and
Sailors monument
MESSAGE FROM MAYOR
Just as soon as the president had called
the meeting 90 order and the clerk had
performed the preliminary duties Of OPEN
Ing the session the question OF the relo-
cation of the monuments and the expen-
diture OF the sum or $4,000 was brought
before the meeting by a message from
Acting Mayor Reynolds After the read
Ing OF the message Councilman Tower
moved that the council vote 10 hire the
sum mentioned and another debate fol-
lowed
The message Of the mayor was as fol-
lows:
Gentlemen Of the City Council:
7 have received from the Commissioner
OF Public Works a communication rela-
tive TO the Burnside Equestrian Statue.
now standing on Exchange place. sur
rounded by wall OF stones and gravel
This statue was placed I'm its present po-
stion by authority and direction OF the
commission on the relocation OF monu
ments, created by chapter 1917 Of the Pub
lie Laws Of Rhode Island passed Decem-
Der II. 1902. said chapter having been en-
acted at the request Of the city council Of
Providence. expressed by resolution No.
33l. approved October Il. 1892.
II has remained an obstruction I'm a pub
Tic travelled way since last February. over
ten months. During this time until No
venber L. l905. the contractors for the
new postoffice used space around the
statue for storing materials etc. and
kept the same lighted according TO law.
On said November H. 1906 said contract
ors Informed the commissioner Of public
works that I'VE have taken down our der
rick and put everything back IN place
and think we can keep all our materials
inside OF our fence In the future. there
fore we Will not do any more lighting
around the monument after this date"
hence the communication from said com,
missioner OF public works who very
properly doubts his right 10 expend from