The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-14

| cumvented by the good Republicans who
| rule things at the city hall. He bewailed
the terrible charges which had been made
| at times against City Auditor Rex and
| Commissioner Of Public Works Barclay,
and declared that everything that had
ever been said against or had been
| thought about them, especially II II was
against them, was all wrong and had been
proved so by expert witnesses.
| OF course Mr. BraZeau wants To go 10
| the general assembly again this year and.
equally Of course. he will not do so be-
cause he Is a Republican and only Demo
| Gratis are going 10 be elected from Paw
tucket next November But he laid on a
! lot Of soft soap and probably hopes TO
get his reward when nominations are
passed around
| The club also appointed a committee
whose duty Il will be To select a ticket
for the several offices which are TO be
| voted for I'm the first ward I'm November
/ II Is just a little early for this kind Of
work. but the men who compose the
Pothier club believe in getting in their
work before the other fellow has a chance
TO nail down the offices
II seems a great pity that all this work
should be for nothing, but II the mem
bers enjoy II no one ought 20 begTudge
them that much satisfaction.
WHAT is IN THE WlND7
President Wood OF the board OF alder
men could not keep a broad smile from
spreading over his fact last Wednesday
night when he heard the motion made by
Alderman Bennett, providing for an ad-
tournment 10 next Wednesday evening.
Neither he nor the other members OF the
board appeared TO be greatly surprised,
and there was no reason why they should
be. II had all been fixed up beforehand
wit Of m
lists have their plans all made.
II is not at all strange the people should
feel suspicious OF what is 10 be done at
this meeting. In the ordinary course oi
things there is nothing that needs the
early attention OF the members OF the
board: but the knowledge that Mayor
Higgins was TO leave the city TO be gone
for a period OF two months. thus leaving
municipal affairs in the hands OF the Re-
publicans without any restraining infu-
ence. is sufficient 90 give an explanation
for this special or adjourned meeting.
OF course. the men who are In touch
with the ring are not saying anything
about what II is proposed TO do. but there
is a reasonable belief that the police de-
partment is going TO get shaking up and
so anxious and hungry Is the machine
that it's members do not propose 10 waste
any time now that the mayo. has left
the city.
CHANGES TO BE MADE.
IL is said there is likely TO he one inn
portant change made. As is well known
the police department has been without
an active head for almost year. Chief
OF Police Randall A. Rice Is incapacitated
by reason OF ill-health from performing
the duties OF the office and its RESPONSE
bilities have fallen on Capt. Vananda who,
however capable. naturally feels unwilling
TO do some things he and everyone who
has knowledge OF police affairs knows
ought to be done.
Responsibility without full authority
never can bring the best results and there
is general belief that for the best IN
terests OF the city Chief Rice should be
placed on the retired list and a new head
eb named. Randall A. Rice has the conf
dence and respect of the people and the
men on the force and II there was an ex-
pectatlon that he would be able at an ear
ly date 20 take upon himself the duties
OF his position there would be no disposl-
tion TO retire him. But this is not the
case. Under the most favorable circum-
stances II will probably be a long time
before he can take up the work and I'm
the meantime the department Is suffering
Tor the want OF head
This much Is admitted by practicaiiy
everyone and IL is probable that had the
mayor been a Republican the chief would
have been retired some time ago But
the crowd that runs the city hall has not
Intended TO give Mayor Higgins chance
10 name chief of police. They have
been hoping something would happen 10
take him out OF the city so that they
would have a chance TO act without con
sidering him. and now that he has gone
away IL IL believed they will proceed ~
get In their work as quickly as possl-
BILE
II is said there are two avowed candl.
dates for the position OF chief one OF the
names heard I'm this connection Is that of
Lieut. George Sweet and the other T. Pa
troman Charles Hin Both have been
on the force many years. and both are
probably qualified TO perform the duties
OF tho office. The former has been I'm
charge OF the station nights for several
years and the latter has patrolled the
Main street square for tho past three or
four years. Both are well liked and the
promotion Of either would without a
/ doubt meet with general approval
WILL NOT Dc APPROVED.
But the thing which will not meet the
approval of tho citizens Is the taking out
OF the hands OF Mayor Higgins n duty
| which has been lodged with him by the
/ people Alderman Wood Is through force
i or circumstances acting mayor hut N ne
/ should come before the people as n can
I didate for that Office his chances Of belnc
selected would be mighty slim. lie Is not
/ the kind ~ man tho people want nj the
/ mead OF the city Rovernemnt Accident
/ has given him and the machine which
! controls him n little temporary power
but " that power Is abused II will De
sorry day Tor the Republican machine.
] To take advantage Of the fl-health OF
/ the mayor I'm order 10 carry out the plans
OF the machine is cowardly. hut II Is
I quite in keeping with other acts of this
same machine and consequently the peo-
| ple are expecting almost anything from
II.
PERSONAL MENTOR.
Dr. a. NJ. Ford OF this city. accompan.
I led by his brother. sailed the past week
/ on steamship Stntenham OF the Ham.
( burg American line. for European
| trip They will make Holland the first
| stopping place. and from there they will
/ go Tor visit 90 Paris They expect 10
]