The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-11

the people OF this city at present, and un
less all signs fail these subjects will b,
| uppermost I'm the minds OF the people or
election day. Both came up at the meet
ing OF the board OF aldermen on Monday
night and since then they have been gen.
orally discussed wherever people congre-
gate.
| appears to know just what is going tc
be done Alderman Smith OF the First
| ward wants the department investigated
| so he says. but II is apparent that he
| chiefly wants to investigate Mayor Nc
| Nally. But Alderman Smith doesn't care
| TO officially start the matter so he brings
In petition signed by a few citizens ask
| ing that this investigation be made. The
| signatures are those OF most respectable
citizens, hut a glance over the list will
convince anyone that they have about as
much knowledge of police affairs as IL
| they lived in California and that they
have shown great willingness TO pull
| the alderman's chestnuts out OF the fire.
Then after this petition was accepted, :"
for that was the motion which was made
and no one really knows just what was
meant, the board proceeds TO engage spe-
cial counsel on its own hook TO assist it
self I'm making the investigation. After do
ing all this a motion is unanimously car
tember.
1t may be possible that the men who
are engineering this game knows just
what they want to do. but II would re-
quire lot OF explanation to have the
general public understand II.
In the first place IL must be evident 10
anyone who knows anything about the
conduct OF city affairs that the resolution
providing for the engagement OF special
council is not worth the paper II Is
written on. The special counsel
In this case Is William NJ r.
Bowen OF Providence. a lawyer. with a
reputation for drawing up long bills and
submitting them to the general assembly.
for passage. This he probably does as a
relaxation from business but IL Is scarcely
possible that his loyalty to the Republ-
can party OF which he is an active mem
ber will be so great that he will be will
Ing to give his advice to the members OF
the board OF aldermen OF this city
In this proposed police investigation
without at least n few dollars recompense
and judging from past experience the
bill will not be a very small one
But the resolution which was passed
creating him the special counsel provided
no appropriation and neither was Il n
joint resolution. so that lit is difficult TO
understand wherein Mr.. Bowen holds any
official position towards the Central Falls
board OF aldermen. Certainly IL he Is to
receive any money from the city for the
payment of his services IL will require a
joint resolution passed by both branches
or course this may all be gotten over
later by the presentation OF a bill from
Mr.. Bowen for services rendered and
then IL would be In the power of the two
Dranches OF the city council to order Il
paid. but IL after he had given his time
the members of the city council concluded
that II was not particularly valuable they
could refuse to pay the bill and with his
knowledge OF the manner In which he
was engaged he would not be likely to
have any standing In court even II he
should attempt to collect in that way.
The other feature I'm connection with
this proposed investigation lies in the fact
that 1t has been decided TO put the whole
matter over till the next regular meet
ing which occurs Sept g. This was what
the resolution provides for and then II
further provided that when the board
meets on that date IL should adjourn 10
meet on Sept q at which time there
should be public hearing on the police
question.
That Of course means that the whole
matter is going to be made q political
question, and an attempt will be made
10 make the police an issue In the coming
Ihere are rumors of rather sensa ational
charges TO be brought against certain
porssgpns' but perhaps these rumors have
nothing for basis. No one has appar-
emily dared to make public these charges
ana perhaps when the time comes the
whole matter will fall fiat.
THE GAS QUESTION.
The other matter which is still caus-
ing lot OF talk is the gas FRANCHISE
which has been turned down by the
common council, To anyone who has
Sep Sep5 run OF political affairs in this city
rather laughable to see the men so ac-
i've IN opposition TO contamination OF
,hhe gas contract. and especially to read
tney nave written to bolster up their
slde The two men who have been most
prominent in this are Robert Broome and
oscar Newell. Mr.. Broome was once n
most profound admrer OF the Republican
machine and of Its workings
Ihat was when he was in it's favor TO
the extent that he was made n member
OF the board OF tax assessors Then after
year or two he was replaced by some
one else. and from that time for several
years he was very bitter against the ma
chine. OF which ne was at one time n cog
Durlng these years he posed as a goo
goo. and then not being satisfied with
OF the Independents. he again gave his
allegiance TO the machine for wear or
Two. Now he Is out against Il again and
IN MS written communications regarding
the gas question. he declares that rather
than give the gas Company an exclusive
franch'TC he believes the people would
prefer to give up gas altogether and burn
Kerosene Indeed he derlares that the
product OF the Standard oil trust gives
much better light. and his recommend
alton OF this means OF illumination reads
like one OF the patent medicine RECON-
uendatlons usually do. lie has tried IL
and IL ILLS every want.
Mr.. Newell Is another writer against
the gas franchise He declares that 10
grant IL would he 10 place on the people
q terrible burden and he II strong in his
remuneration of the gas trust But most
people remember the time only few
years ago when Mr. Newell was mem
Der OF the general assembly. and he was
always ready TO give his vote I'm support
of any -mnxe-MhIeh- Republican ma.
chine made In favor OF the trusts which
run the state OF Rhode Island His votes
IN favor OF the bills which were asked
Tor by the great street railroad corpora
ton which has its headquarters In Provi-
uence. are on record so that his opposi.
ton 10 this request made by the Paw.
tucket Gas company would seem 10 have
something behind a.
AS matter OF fact the gas COM
panN has made very good oHar IN