The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-07-26
MAYORS
LETTER
UNHEEOED


mandamus proceedings TO compel tho
B"ard of Tax Assessors OF that city 20
allow him to view tho records OF the
boards meetings and 90 have a copy %
them
Mayor Higgins attended the meeting ~
the board Monday afternoon and made
q formal demand in writing OF TN" right
20 gee ana copy certain records and
mcmorada. the mayors letter WAS placed
on iil' aud The board took no favorable
Following is the letter
office Of the Mayor.
~. Pawmcket. r. d.. July "A. 1910
city ~ Pawtuckot, and the clerk
Gentlemen-Last week appeared be
fore this board and requested that be
allowed 10 examine certain records Of
july 10. 1875. | was later given pcrmis-
sion 20 read these records. but the clerk
Informed me that ho been ordered by tho
board 10 refuse 90 allow mo 90 make a
tho clerk confirmed his prior statement
HUd said thar -Tr-tTd been specially in
suructed By The board % take the action
ha dd
now formally demand tho right TO
take a copy OF any such record in this
office All records here. As Zoo every
other department Of the city. are public
records. and are open 10 the inspection
or all citizen. without regard 10 party.
class, creed or color. Not only have our
citizens right 20 inspect. but they have
right 20 make such copies or extracts
from said records as they desire.
] am reliably informed by i member
~ this Board OF Tax Assessors that ON
July 10. 1905. the board assessed for per
sOnal property a list ~ names presented
10y Mr.. Anderson, and purportiug 20 come
from tho chairman Of the city commit
tee OF one political party That List does
not appear ON the records OF this boa ri
Vt.4I H. oh. t.f.
July II. 1915 As a citizen and mayor ~
Pm wtuCket / now demand the right 90
soc that list and 10 make a copy thereof
II might not he amiss FOR me to submit
further that such list should have been
spread upon the records of this board.
whore 1t would be open 10 the inspection
OF any OF our citizens and taxpayers.
Among the minutes OF the board FOR
July TO- 1916. is a resolution declaring that
this board does make an assessment I'm
accordance with certain records and
memoranda now on file IN this office,
subject 10 corrections etc T demand the
right 20 see the records and memo
rands" herein referred 20 and also the
right To- make copies OF the same II you
insist that the copies shall be made by
officials OF this department alone. then
demand such copies and hereby tender
such fee for making said copies as Is
reasonable and proper.
The matter Of keeping All city records
open 20 the inspection ana supervision
of the public Is one or the most Senst-
tive nature II that privilege be denied.
then the officials temporarily I'm office
become the masters, not the servants,
Of the people and immune 20 any re-
Quremcnts OF the public or the taNpay-
ers Your records and your actions the
people are entitled TO know. The right
OF inspection is SO ancient that ] cannot
believe YOU will assume 10 deny N. The
chairman 90 the board intimated last
week that the records were not yet COM
plete. The law requires that Your rec
ords be completed on July 10 1910. and II
was July L.. lGw when was Informed
by your chairman that the records had
not been finished.
have no desire 20 be hastN or un-
reasonable in this matter. but ] deem II
for the interest OF the citizens of Paw
tucket that | should have an inspection
and copies OF any of your records tina {
appear on your books or that should APP
pear there As citizen and as the
MAJOR OF the city. I therefore demand
the right 10 inspect the list voted on July
10 1895. and the right to take copies OF
such list or the records and memorable
before referred 60. or that your clerk fur
nish me with certified copies upon the
payment or tender OF payment OF the
proper lcgat-fee for copying. Respect
fully. .e.