The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-27
A STRAIGHTFORWARD LETTER.

~ KAlOIllFOkWh kD Il lex.
The letter of Hon. Clarence A. Adrich accepting the Democratic
nomination for mayor is worthy of the most thoughtful consideration
of every citizen, whatever his party affiliations may be, who intends
to discharge his highest civic duty by casting a ballot at the election
on November 7 The tone Of MI. Aldrichs communication is calm,
conservative and convincing. Nowhere in it can be found any of
those plattudes in which candidates for public office frequently in
duge, either for the purpose of evading a discussion of dominant
issues Or in order to befog the people rs to the real attitude of tA
candidates toward those issues.
Mr.. Aldnch expresses his views concerning matters that 1T of
vital concern to the citizens of Providence in a direct and forceful way
that leaves ae aeHbt as to his attitude, First and foremost he places
the matter of local selfgovernment and says he believes the city of
Providence is competent to manage its own affairs. He very properly
points out that there appears to be no good business reason why the
police department of our city should be controlled by men appointed
or elected by state officers, any more than the school department,
treasury department, fire department, park department or the depart
nent of public works"
That statement is a pregnant one. 1t reveals the extent to which
a partisan legislator could go if it dared in the direction of robbing
the taxpayers of all control over departments for the maintenance of
which they are heavily assessed. If the police department, which
costs the taxpayers about 100000 annually, can be removed entirely
from all accountability to the taxpayers whose money sustains it why
not every other department in the municipality? Is this not a thought
deserving the careful consideration of every taxpayer in Providence,
and i it not potent enough to induce a general ranying to the stand
ard of those candidates who pledge themselves, if elected, to radically
amend the iniqutous police commission law or repeal it altogether
and to restore to Providence that right of local self government of
which it has been robbed by political fuglers for mischievous and
mercenary purposes?
Very properly does Mr.. Aldrch direct attention to his efforts
while a member of the house of representatives to secure the creation
OF a small, efficient and able commission for the management of the
public schools. The bill he introduced by the request of the Public
School association contemplated the election by the people of five
commissioners who would replace the present top-heavy, curnber-
some and constant pickering school committee. That bill passed the
house of representatives, but went to the graveyard of a senate COM
mttee. Why? Mr. Aldrch refrains from stating the reason, though
he no doubt IS a S we'll aware of it as ar the thousands and thousands
of citizens who sincerely desire a more businesslike, efficient and
economical administration of public school affairs.
Those responsible for the throtting of the school commission
measures in the senate were the ringsters who feared the election of
commissions by a general vote OF the people would menace their
sinister hold on the public school system. They dared not trust the
people, so they strangled a worthy measure and prolonged a school
administration that is anything but competent, wise and economical.
1t was partisan politics that caused the death of the commission bill,
just as it S partisan politics that has put before the people in this
campaign a constitutional amendment that is simply a crafty COM
pound of deceit and dissim lation-
This amendment, as The News has repeatedly explained, on the
pretence of giving Providence a larger representation in the house of
representatives proposes a redistrcdng scheme which really means
a gerrymander, under which the voting power Of the citizen will be
all but destroyed. On this matter, as on all others, Mr. Ahreh is ex-
plcit and straightforward. He says: IF any part of our local affairs
Is to continue to be managed at the state house, II ~ especially inn
portsnt that our representation in the house Of Representatives should
be in proportion to our population. TO the end that e should have al,
least our proportionate voice in the enactment Of laws for the special
management of our local affairs. This is aside from the inherent in