The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-06-01
MAYORSPOKE
ON CITY
AFFAIRS

Municipal affairs" was the subject OF
Mayor Augustus Miller's address to the
Mems club OF the Calvary Baptist church
last night and lie again handled conditions
existing in the city. without gloves stating
that he was ready and willing 10 stand
back OF his statements about the wide
openess OF Providence. which he made he
fore a mems club OF another Providence
Baptist church few DAYS ago.
Chairman Luther of the police COM
mission was one OF the interested auditors
of the mayor and he heard a part of the
mayors sentiments about the state ap-
pointed police commission
Said he: THE mayor under our system
is the chief executive OF the city, a term
which means different powers in different
localities. The powers OF the mayor here
are very much limited He presides over
the board Of aldermen and has the veto
power over the city council, He has to
sign notes and contracts for the city. but
he does not have the power OF appointing
the heads of tEe municipal departments,
"One department. that has been taken
away from the mayor is that of the police
certainly one OF the most If not the most
important department. of government in
this or any city l objected then because
they took away our privilege OF home rule
one OF the vital principles OF government
for which our forefathers fought I said
at the time that | did not believe the de-
partment could be as well managed under
state control as by the people or the city
OF Providence. and l must say that my
contention then is not changed today"
CONSTANTLY MISQUoTED.
Referring to his previous address at the
Cranston Street Baptist church he said: :
One paper devoted more space to the
head lines over the report than 10 it's re-
port I am convinced that what I said
then was so and | have not changed my
opinion Affairs are not satisfactory un-
der state control. am proud, however. TO
see that there has been little activity by
the police commission here since ] made
those remarks, for after their utterance.
came out the notice regarding waste pa
per on the streets.
The commissioner Of public works told
me he had tried hard TO keep the streets
clear of paper and had notified the police
repeatedly, but that nothing was done.
After some remarks credited To the
chairman OF the police commissioner in
relation to the matter the mayor said a
notice has appeared on the dumps.
The persistent and apparent system
with which he is msduoted by the morn
ing papers was referred to by Mayor
Miller. who said he consequently did not
take much stock in it's reports. II. how
ever. its report OF an interview with Mr..
Luther was correct, he said that the po-
lice commission only had oversight of the
waste papers only after they had been
placed on the dumps.
CLOSED UP ONE SUNDAY.
ION the Sunday following the other ad-
dress things were different In this CITY.
on the next Monday several people came
10 my office and said that not a place
had been open the day before. that none
OF those vile places where men and
women could GO Sundays to get LIQUOR
were in operation.
II don't know about last Sunday. hut
that was what happened the Sunday be-
fore.
II have the highest regard for the
chairman OF the police commission of
Providence. I have known him many
years and not because he Is here tonight.
but because I know him, and say that
| think he is endeavoring TO do his duty
and striving 10 All his Office con
81 do believe, however. that H. instead
NJ holding his office by appointment OF
the governor. he held IL from the mavor
with the consent OF the board OF alder. /
men and came I'm consultation with the |
mayor regarding affairs I think the ad- /
OF the department would be /
great deal better"
lie spoke OF the history ~ the provi. 1
lence police commission bill I'm the general /
assembly and referred 10 the work OF tho /
assembly of 1924 which has just finished
ts existence for doing things that should /
iot have been done and leaving undone
icedcd legislation.