The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-12

the party whip and with the lash cured
tightly about their necks. the Republi-
can members OF the Pawtucket school
committee at the last regular meeting
OF the year. held last evening, turned
down the best truant officer the city ever
had and elected the man who has been
waiting a whole year for a chance to get
back into his old berth. This was all done
because Edward +. Butler, who has held
the position for the past year and who
has been active and alert TO the needs of
the department, is a Democrat. and for
absolutely no other reason. And then,
having performed this act which has no
possible excuse, the board turned rouno
and showed by its acts that the members
did not believe the candidate whom they
Just elected was as capable as the man
who had been deposed and voted to reduce
the salary by 500.
This last vote was the only unexpected
action of the evening II was as unex-
pected TO the majority of the members as
81 was 10 the man who was elected. Mrs.
Fowler was the one responsible for IL,
ard while Chairman Little and other
members OF the board tried their best TO
Keep the subject OF fixing a salary from
being brought up. still when the motion
- make a reduction was made by her,
they did not care to show opposition, and
the only member who stood by her guns
and voted to give the newly elected official
the same salary as that which had been
paid during the last year was Mrs. Tobie.
THE MACHINE REPRESENTED.
1t was apparent that while the Republi
can machine had fixed the slate so that
there was little doubt of its going through,
IL thought best TO keep one OF its very
own TO remain on guard. and this may ac-
count for the fact that Lester w. Mill
man, who is 10 be a member OF the com
mittee next year and who Is considered
the personal representative OF the city
machine, was on the scene early, watching
for any possible sip and just before the
meeting Chairman Burgess OF the Re-
publican city committee dropped i'm Just
10 look over the field and ostenslbly to
hand in a list OF the names which he
wanted 10 be elected for census enumera-
tors. Here was another evidence OF the
care which the Republican machine uses
TO look after Its own I'm this city. for even
in the selection OF such insignificant Off
cials as this there was no intention that
any of the money OF the city should be
paid over TO any Of the wicked Demo-
Gratis.
1t certainly must be humilatlng TO men
and women OF intelligence TO thus be
made to feel that they have really nothing
20 do of themselves except to vote for the
men and things which are first settled on
by the city machine. Anyone who visits
meeting OF the PaStucket school board
must be impressed by their apparent In
telligence judging from their looks, but
those who watch the things that go on al
these meetings soon realize that they are
mere puppets placed there TO work out the
viii of the men Who manipulate every
other branch OF the city government They
are told that certain men must be elected
10 office and not a single one of the Re-
publican members dares to lift a voice in
opposition. They are told to vote for a
certain measure and with meekness that
is certainly surprising IN Tho least
IS voted for. This is what was done last
evening. II is what has been done at
practically every meeting during the past
year and IL is what will be done with
even more unanimity during the year to
come because for the next twelve months
there viii g not even the restraining in
nuence OF Democratic minority to ask for
information. The machine never gives
its tools any reasons. IL is not for them
10 question but all they have to do Is to
act as they are told.
CALLED TO ORDER.
II was S:25 p IN. when the meeting was
called TO order with Chairman Little ,n
the chair and all of the members prest
ert. The records Of the last meeting
we're read and approved.
The monthly schedule OF bills amount
Ing to s936lF were read and approved
The chair called for reports from
committees and in the regular order
called Tor a report from the commit
tee on promotion and truancy Mr.
Thompson, who was elected in Novem-
ber TO MI out the unexpired term and
who, on taking his seat at the last
meeting. had been given the COM
mittee assignments OF Mr.. Millman.
rose and moved that Henry IL. Sager
be elected truant officer.
This action started little con-
trovcrsy between DR. Gormley and
Chairman Little, the former claiming
that nomination OF this character
was not report from the committees
and that while IL was not of special
Importance, yet since the chair had
called for committee reports there was
no other business TO be considered
Chairman Little ruled that even
though he had called for reports. still
II was entirely proper for any mem
ber to bring up any business at any
time.
DR.. GornTey then placed the name
OF Edward p. Butler in nomination for
the place. declaring that he had proved
himself thoroughly efficient during his
term of office, and that there was
nothing that could be brought against
him except the fact that he was a
Democrat
on roll call vote Mr.. sager was
Mr.. Butler
BURGESS LIST OFFERED.
Still on the call for committee re-
ports, Mr.. Thompson offered the names
OF the six men who had been brought
TO the board by Chairman Burgess
OF the Republican city committee for
census enumerators. and Miss Cullen
objected, declaring that II this was a
committee report she had no knowl-
edge OF having had a meeting OF the
committee, OF which she was a mem
ber The chair made the excuse that
Mr.. Thompson was not acting simply