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

e NEWS-DEMOCRAT, T
a sort of back-handde way the action o.
Mayor Higgins in placing certain specia
| police officers on duty on the streets o.
the city. II is said that the appropriation
made some time ago for the payment o
special officers has been exhausted anc
that until the city council decided te
make an additional one no one really has
any right 10 create deficit.
on general principles this is excellen'
argument. but In the matter of police
protection II is rather weak. The prop
erty OF the city must be protected. There
| is a rule I'm force which permits at this
| time four members OF the force TO be
| away on vacations at the same time. In
their places must be employed specials
| The regular force is not large and when
ever man is sick his place must he
| filled by a special. II this is not done
then the beat has to be left uncovered.
Acting on tho principle OF economy
| there was time last spring when one
| OF the most important sections OF the city
was left without police officer for more
than week because the regular man was
sick and II was claimed that there was
no money 10 pay specials. The city IL
growing In size and with Its growth will
come need for more police. There Is at
the present time a vacancy on the force
caused by the board OF aldermen. who
Will not approve the appointment made
by the mayor.
The Republican board taking it's orders
from the machine which controls IT has
held up this appointment not because the
man named s inefficient. but because he
is not Republican. Mayor Higgins h-s
been the chief executive of this city now
for about four years, and during that
time he has had very few vacancies on
the police force 10 fill. But the aldermen
Insist that the men named shall be die
tated by the Republican machine. and sd
long as the appointing power remains
with Mayor Higgins. there seems bound
10 be a difference OF opinion.
While these differences exist and the
city Is without the proper number of regu-
lar police. II is up 10 the mayor to pro-
vide a sufficient number OF specials TO
fault for this action and claim that ex-
travagance is being shown are likely 10
feel the force OF public dlsapproval. IL
the city council has failed TO provide the
money to pay these men IT is quite time
they did so.
OFFICERS LAID OFF.
Mayor Higgins yesterday issued orders
suspending Patrolmen Lennon and Camp
bell pending an investigation into their
acts I'm connection with the break which
occurred Tuesday night at the store of
Kennedy, Cough a. Murray.
According TO the stories told officer
Lennon found the rear door OF the store
open shortly after II o'clock. and he went
couple OF feet of the safe and notified
the officer on duty at the station While
he was doing this officer Campbell re-
mained outside of the store on the side
walk Mr Murray, n member OF the
firm. reached the store about midnight.
ana when he got there the safe had been
broken Into and the contents taken away.
Investigation made at that time showed
that entrance TO the store had been made
through window. the glass OF which had
been broken.
The inference is that the break in the
safe had occurred between the time the
onicer called up the station and 12 o'clock
when Mr.. Murray reached the place. but
that previous TO this the window had
the inside. The claim Is made that the
officers should have made a thorough in
vestigation OF the conditions inside the
store and that IL that had been done the
safe would not have been broken into
and perhaps the robbers who are believed
to have been inside OF the the store al
the Time the officers were there. would
have been secured.
AT any rate the mayor believes ID is a
matter which should receive Investigation
and consequently he has laid the two Of
hcers on 1t is probable that charges will
be made 70 the board OF aldermen
Both officer Lennon and officer Camp-
Dell nave been on the force n long time
and their records are for the most part
TROOPERS ENTERTAINED.
Inc members or Troop A had little
social gathering at the state armory last
evening ana IL proved TO be quite an en-
joyable affair. Invitations had been
given to quite a number OF the friends OF
the command and there were also present
Maj. Charles Allenson and most of the
his stafr
The first thing on the program was
a chowder which was served In the base
ment OF the building. and II was a good
too. After that had been dis
posed OF an adjournment was taken to
the company room and there Capt. Nc
Kenna made the announcement that this
affair had been arranged for a special
purpose. but one which through no fault
Of his could not be carried out 1t had
been intended TO present TO Mai Alenson
n saddle and full horse equipments as "A
gift from the men OF Troop A, but word
had been received from the people who
had the order that II could not be deiv-
cred till the latter part OF next week He
expressed his great disappointment, but
he hoped that the major would realize
what the men had intended TO do and
take the will for the deed assuring that
his possession before he returned from
camp.
Maj Alenson returned his thanks TO
the men OF the command and said that
not having had any knowledge OF what
was proposed there was OF course no dis
appointment for him. When the equip
ments were received he would try and
give his thanks I'm better way. He
spoke Of some OF the things he desired TO
see done at Quonset Point next week and
expressed his belief that the camp would
be the most successful I'm the history OF
the state militia.
Following the remarks OF Mai Allenson
other members of the staff were called
upon and responded. as did also one or
two other gentlemen who were present
as guests. There were In addition 10 the
speechmaklng several songs and recita-
tions by members OF the troop and a
very pleasant evening was spent.
BIDS TO CLOSE MONDAY.
The bids for furnishing the city OF
Pawtucket with a pumping engine Of i5.-
900 900 gallons capacity in connection
with the changes and improvements
which have been ordered for the water
works will close Monday noon OF next
week. The city council has made an ap-