The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-21
PAWTUCKET POLICE
SHAKE UP AWAITED
Speculation As 10 What the Republican Machine Will Do When
the Aldermen Meet Next "Wednesday Evening. Fear Of a
Split Was One Of The Reasons That Prevented Action Last
Wednesday, Little Crsdercs Given Story That Chief Rcss
Resignation Ras Been Prepared for Long Time

It's design on the ponce IoTce or mas lhVte
simply been a postponement TO a date
which the men who run things feel will
be more favorable?
That Is the question which is generally
asked on the streets during the last two
days, Since the fizzle OF last Wednes-
day night. when the board Of aldermen
met and adjourned after transacting sim
ply routine business. there has been a lot
OF surmises OF course the friends Of the
machine declare that no one had any In
tention OF doing anything about the po-
lice. but they are having a great deal OF
difficulty in making anyone else believe
what they say.
There are rumors that there is just the
least tiny split which IL the matter was
forced might become OF rather serious
character and this Of course IL Is desir-
able TO avoid. Then there are other sto-
ries that when II came 10 the question
OF providing a new chief OF police 1t was
found that Chief Rice would not hand In
his resignation.
Now all these stories are interesting
and while perhaps none OF them is wholly
true IL is possible there Is a small amount
OF truth in all OF them, and. coupled with
the fact that any move I'm relation to
changes In the police force while Mayor
Higgins Is away might cause a public
outcry. IL Is quite fair to suppose that the
machine Is not going 10 make any move.
TALKED OF SPLIT.
AS for the 500 called split. that probably
don't amount to much. There Is without
n doubt difference OF opinion among the
members OF the board OF aldermen as TO
who shall be elected chief Of police pro-
vided anyone Is placed in that Office at
this time. There are two officers who
have been considered I'm connection with
the place and both OF them have their
friends. There are members Of the board
who want TO name Lieut.. George Sweet
and there Is q rumor that he has long
since been promised the place. Then
ahere are those who believe that officer
Charles Hill Is the best man for the job
and II is said that promises of a similar
character have also been made TO him or
to his friends. On Wednesday evening
there were joking remarks regarding a
division OF opinion passed about among
the men at city hail. but IL is scarcely
fair to say that there was any yelled
meaning about these jokes.
Still both OF these officers have their
friends on the board and II II came TO a
direct vote both OF them would be heard
from Just how far II would go before
some compromise was effected cannot be
told and II II came TO a compromise 1t is
among the possibilities that neither OF
these men would get the place.
NO RESIGNATION.
Regarding the resignation OF Chief Rice
there have been stories told to the effect
that this has been In the hands of the
party leaders for quite a time. Such a
story lacks the earmarks of truth. be-
cause the mayor OF the city is the man
10 whom the chief OF police would nat
urally send his resignation. and II is pret-
~ sure that Mayor Higgins has not re-
ceived any such communication.
Knowing the friendly relations that
have heretofore existed between Chief
Rice and Mayor Higgins It seems like
casting a reflection on the character OF
The former 10 intimate that he has waited
till after Mayor Higgins left the city 10
send in his letter OF resignation.
The News Democrat has not said at
any time that the resignation OF Chief
Rice had been received II has said that
there was talk OF electing a new chief
OF police and there Is not the slightest
Aoubt that this has been fully discussed
and that IL the matter had not received
so much publicity the FIRST steps at least
would have been taken last Wednesday
night
There are other ways TO bring this
about besides receiving resignation from
the present chief. II is known that for
nearly a year Chief Rice has been quite
fl During that time he has been unable
TO perform the duties OF his office and all
this time there has been the need OF a
strong Official head I'm police headquarters.
NO REFLECTION ON HIM.
Then. too. Chief Riee is not by any
means a young man and to place him on
the retired list would be no reflection
On him either as a man or as an offi-
o1al. For many years he has served the
city and served II we'll. He is admired
and respected by the entire community
and by none more than by the men who
have come In direct daily contact with
him. He has never been connected with
any OF the petty political squabbles which
have stirred up the department at times.
but he has ever been ready 10 do his full
duty as he saw IL regardless OF what
was the political effect Now that he Is
al and unable to perform his official du-
ties there ia very few who would raise an
objection TO placing him on the retired
list.
The Republican machine realizes all this
and without a doubt II would take steps
at once 10 replace him with a man OF
its own choosing II IL were not afraid e
brave public opinion. II Is a good thine
for any community when the politlca
machine which has been running things
as has this one. gets TO n point where 4
begings to consider public opinion Thl!
one has been a long time getting there
and the years that have passed In which
Il gave no heed 20 the protests have beer
long and dreary. but a change has beer
effected. These men begin to see tn,
writing on the wall. There Is an elec
ton not far away and when that tim'
comes II is desired to make az least
respectable showing
COUNCIL IN DANGER.
Now that Il Is almost certain that tn,
next mayor and the next delegation &
the general assembly will be Democrat
there h feeling that even the member
OF the city council are I'm danger ant
that N once the people are awakened the,
will make a clean sweep. leaving the pres
snt machine absolutely powerless. In fac
there is the best OF reason for believing
that there is a good chance OF this bcin
done.
To take away from Mayor Higgins thos
prerogatives which belong TO the offlc
which he holds even though IL can b.
legally done, will meet with the mos
severe condemnation. II the police de
partpent needs an active head and 4
there is need OF filling vacancies on th'
force OF n there is need OF additiona