The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-13
MONDAY, AUGUST I3, 1906.
FOR THE TAXPAYERS CONSIDERATION.

at the city hall give the taxpayers little oppor-
tunity to learn how their money is being used
whether it is being prudently expended being
wastefully employed. The ring which has en-
trenched itself there has completely established
a system of secrecy regarding public work that it
is only with the greatest difficulty that anything
relatng to its operations be discovered.
1t is because of this policy of secrecy that it
has but just been made public that an agreement
was entered into months ago by which
Thomas Z. Manney, Republican representative
from this city in the general assembly, is to make
repairs and additions to the plumbing system at
the Manual Training school at sum not to exceed
$4,000.
Perhaps the matter would not have come, to
light even at this late day had it not been that the
resentment of member of the city government was
aroused because the work was given to another
and not to- himself. This man has Jared well at the
hands of the committee on city property and the
work he has done for the city has reached total
OF $1,000 or $4,000 a year.
And this work he has been awarded and has
accepted in spite of the provision of the ordinance
that mo member of the city government shall
have any personal interest in any written con-
tract with the city" The ordinance was not
openly dehed in giving this man work, but it was
plainly evaded He was not given written" con-
tracts but verbal ones by which he has prospered
amazingly and has been enabled to give material
political aid to the city hall ring.
The obvious purpose of the ordinance was to
prohibit members of the city government from per-
forming themselves or having any interest in the
performance of any contract for municipal work.
The purpose is proper and laudable. 1t is to pro-
tect the interests of the taxpayers from the raids
<@f f<aSe I'D Ar
written" contracts offered an opportunity for
evasion that the city hall ring not slow to take
advantage Of
The practical effect of this evasion is that the
rights and interests of the taxpayers are not safe
guarded as they should be. Much work for which
competitive bids should be asked is awarded out of
hand to favorite of the ring and the taxpayers
are called upon to pay the bills.
Not only Is this evasion of the spirit of the
ordinance costly to the city but it is palpably
unjust to contractors and others who have no
afhliaion with the ring. Many such men in the
past have presented bids only to see them turned
down" and the work given to some favorte. Re-
peated experiences of this sort naturally discour
aged them from further attempts to secure muni
eipal work.
In the matter of the plumbing work at the
Manual Training school there is food for serious
thought by the taxpayers who already regard their
burdens as unnecessarily heavy, if not absolutely
excessive. The ring in this case appears to have
the letter OF the ordinance with it, but it has
wholly violated its spirit and intent
Permission Is claimed to have been given bv
the city council to have this work done without
asking Tor competitive bids the ordinance pro-
vdes. If that is true the council itself dsregarded
the rights OF the taxpayers in a manner most
reprehensible.
Here is case involving the expenditure of
$4,000 At least that is the limit fixed i'm the agree
ment. The perturbed member of the city council
was made angry it is charged, because he offered
TO do IL for $1,000 less than the maximum limit
From trustworthy and authoritative source il
is learned that the work could be done for S65oo
and would have been done at that figure had il
been submitted to fair and open competition These
are facts that challenge the attention of property
owners.
In any other city such conditions once re-
vealed would be followed by a most thorough
investigation In Providence such an nvestiga-
tion is impossible long as the city council re-
mains what is is-a subservient tool OF Bray
tonism.
Until the taxpayers rise and crush the city
hall ring that not only rewards its favorites with
fat contracts but placates dsgruntled ones with
other contracts, given hush money. there will
be no lessening OF the burdens OF taxation nor
will there be any change in a system OF managing
municipal business that offers many opportuni-