The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-16
Common Council Votes $780,.
600 for This Purpose. (
PRES. KENDRlCK GAVE HISTORY
Minority Protest Of Monument Commission
Laid on Table Without Reading and
Expenditure Of $4,000 Authorized.

Last nights meeting OF the common
council was a short one, only about an
hour having been consumed but there
We're several matters OF interest came up.
among them the matter OF the paying for
the relocation OF the Soldiers and Sailors
monument and the Burnside monument.
some $4,000 in all.
a communication from the minority Of
the monument commission which opposed
the sites for the monuments was laid on
the table by the council. without having
1t read, on tho grounds that the only
thing the city could do was TO pay for IL.
that IL had no authority 10 locate and
that as the council did not appoint the
commission and there was no majority
report the reading OF minority report
was not proper and necessary.
Chairman Kendrick and Councilmen
Parks and Balch endeavored TO have the
communication read, but without avail.
Mr.. Tower insisting upon his motion to
lay on the table and debate being ruled
out
There was an interesting feature i'm con-
nection with the passage Of the resolution
20 build the addition for the Technical
high school. when President John E
kendrick took the floor and gave tho
history OF the manual training here and
stated that IL Rhode Island was to keep
up her industrial supremacy she must
pay more attention 10 manual and tech
nical training. Alderman Reynolds was
present at Mr.. Hendricks invitation to
hear his statements.
The resolution carrying sl50OOO for this
purpose was passed with but one dissent
ing vote
The common council met at D m.
and with a quorum present the records
were read by Clerk Hayden and approved.
and the council at once proceeded 10 con-
slider the brief docket OF the evening.
if1fffE- MONUMENT APPROPRIATION
on motion of Mr. Parks OF the finance
committee the council suspended rule Il
for the purpose OF considering the aub-
stitute resolution for the payment Of $751;
1926 as state tax in place OF the one
passed two weeks ago.
The change was made necessary. he
said. by the recent enactment OF the
legislature. The resolution passed and
the other one was rescinded
IL was also voted on Mr. Parks motion
10 pass resolution TO hire 500 600 for the
relocation OF the monuments I'm Exchange
place.
Mr.. Tower raised a question in regard
10 The minority report OF the monument
commission, saying that as there was no
majority report the reading OF a minority
report TO the body which did not appoint
this commission was not proper He
moved 10 lay the report upon the table.
The chair ruled the motion not debat-
able and after some objection Mr. Tower
withdrew his motion IL it was considered
as a communication.
The chairman said he did not see that
the word minority appeared.
IT was brought out by Mr. Tower that
TWO OF the members Of the commission
who signed had already resigned. 1t was
said by the chair that the men were mem
bers al the time and Messrs Parks and
Balch said II should be read
The chairman read the letter until he
came TO place where IL was specifically
stated IL was minority report and Mr.
Tower renewed his objections and the
matter was laid on the table
The resolution for $4,000 for this pur-
pose was indefinitely postponed
1t was voted to add $40 600 10 the con-
tlngency account on motion of Mr.. Parks
THE TABLED LETTERS.
The letter from the minority members
OF the commission reads as follows:
To the Honorable the City Council OF
Providence:
The undersigned, constituting a minor
lty OF the commission upon relocation |
Of monuments in the city OF Providenc, |
beg 10 offer an earnest protest against tho !
action Of the commission in deciding hy /
? vote OF four 10 three 10 remove the sol I
iiers' and sailors monument from its /
present position to the centre OF Exchange /
place. and We respectfully submit the fol- !
owing reasons
First the present site was approved by |
III the surviving actors from Rhode Island |
n the stirring scenes OF the civil war. |
lhey were present almost TO a man when /.
he monument was dedicated TO the mem
'ry Of their heroic comrades who had
given their lives for the perpetuity OF
heir country.
The presence Of these survivors gave
pathetic interest to the occasion. which
an never he forgotten by those who
in II. Most Of these faithful
have gone to their rest and
{ is now proposed ruthlessly and for no
aid reason to root up and destroy the
ssociations connected with that dedica-
ion. which time has hallowed and made
lear to Sc many.
SHOULD Re TOGETHER.
Moreover. the monument was designed
~ the artist especially for the particu-
ar locality whereit now stands I'm front
" the city hall of tho city OF Provi-
lence. which was already projected al
hough not erected.
Second. what Is known as Exchange
lace, or the open plaza I'm front OF the
ailway station. Is a glory 60 Providence
{ Is unique. There il no city IN this
ouutry which possesses outside ~ its
arks such a plendid open ground avail
BILE for military or other functions
Why need we mutilate this open space
nd impair its symmetry by removing
his monument to It's centre? Leaving the
Oldiers ana Sailors monument on its
resent site dominating Exchange place
rom thew est. and placing the statue OF
burnside In front of the now postoffice
n the east would make the positions
ppropriate and arflsilc--
Al one end OF the plaza would stand
no monument 90 those brave and pa
riotic soldiers who feel In that fierce and
loody struggle and ~ the other end
'ould behold the statue In honor of
'hode Islands foremost soldier
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