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

engaged in the annual task OF making vot-
ers for the Republican party. and Incl
dentally in finding money for the carry
ing on the city government for the COM
ing year. The latter duty is the one which
4 supposed TO occupy the time OF the
members OF the board. but II is the
b former that Is most important in their
minds and In the minds OF the men who
manipulate the affairs OF the machine.
II Is hardly necessary TO say that there
are hundreds OF people In this city who
will soon find themselves according 10
the records in possession OF couple OF
hundreds OF dollars OF personal property
when as a matter OF fact they would be
sadly troubled 10 raise such a sum IL
called upon to do so. on the other hand
there are men in the city who would be
quite willing TO pay tax on a small
amount OF personal property which they
are the possessors OF. but who will look
IN vain when the tax book comes out for
their names.
The fact is the board OF tax assessors.
elected by the Republican machine will
do what Il can 10 keep that machine
In Office. and by reason OF the authority
II exercises To place names on the per-
sonal property lists its power is I'm some
ways the greatest OF any board under the
city government
II IL the common boast of members OF
the machine that they do not have 10 hus-
registry lists because having control OF
the board OF assessors when one OF their
men happens 10 forget 10 register his
name can be placed on the personal prop
trty list and then with the payment of
couple OF dollars or more before cleo
ton day his vote can be secured. on the
other hand there are men In the Demo-
cratic party who are possessed of suffi-
cient personal property and who have for
years been placed on the list OF personal
property taxpayers who never fail to get
registered each year because they know
II they do not do this the chances OF see
ing their names on the lists would be
very slight At any rate they are not
disposed TO take any chances
This distrust OF the tax assessing board
W the result OF its own acts 1t IS abso-
lutely known that ~ has yea after year
refused 20 place the name OF one man on
the personal property list. although he
has been before II and taken oath TO the
ownership OF sufficient property 10 entitle
MIN TO have his name on the list This
case has received lot OF publicity and
therefore II is well known TO the people
The people believe there are other caeps
which have not been made public, conse-
quently they have little faith I'm this
board
6iTUlITHIc PAVEMENT.
IL appears quite evident that the peonIe |
"A
OF IL have been laid and now there an
pears TO be desire TO see lot more
OF II put down
Wolcott street. North Bend street and
Main street between Garden street and
l.onsdale avenue, are now torn UP while
,his pavement Is being laid and the resi- I
dents along Mineral Spring avenue are
asking that that thoroughfare be treated
IN the same way. There Is no question
ABOUT It's value as a pavement but the
tning which the city council has 10 con-
sioer Is the cost. Bitullthic pavement. at
least the kind which is laid by Warren
Bros, Is expensive and the cIty is not
nnoing II an easy matter TO raise funds
lot ordinary running expenses II is
hardiy likely any more work OF this char
acter VIII be ordered this year
DESERVES MORE MONEY.
There is no question of milk irsnev,,or
receiving larger salary The nreser,
inspector has been called upon 10 nut IN
great many hours o. hard work tbls
year and this labor Is going TO Increase
lrom year TO year The salary at tho
present time Is $500 and It Is probably a
.hat ~ is the most poorly paid Office
In the city government considerinv tba
amount OF labor involved.
AN EXCELLENT REPORT
The report which Chairman John w
Little made at the meeting of tho schoai
committee Tuesday evening is ono worth,
oi speciai attention. II was concise and
eonprenensive and contained a lot OF
Iacs which were OF special interest 10
all friends OF the public schools.
me reference 10 the decision OF Com
oner ranger on the text book con
roversy was expected. Mr. Little is No,
satsned with that decision and is NOT
AFRAID 10 say so. He. however. has an
psrentiy got TO accept Il. and realizing
tnis, ne asks that the general assembly
pass law which VIII fix the responsibiI
ity OF the school committee II the CON
ciusions ne draws from the decision that
the school board has now the rIgb, to
spend all the money II cares TO for school
purposes Is correct there is no douht a
chanse should be made I'm the laws Con
servatfve citizens believe II is altogether
TOO much power TO be placed I'm such
body. In the opinion OF Mr.. Little. the
board could build school houses and run
the city into debt as deeply as n soes q,
and the only thing the city can do Is 10
pay the bills This Is an extreme view
ana one that II not likely TO be generally
accepted.
DESERVE A BRASS HALO.
II all that was said at the meeting OF
the Pothier club the other night is true.
there are certain men who are lenders Of
the Republican machine at the city han
who deserve brass halo. The Po,hier
club is an organization that holds meet.
fngs in a hall on Amy street It's mem.
bership Is composed of French Canadians
and whenever there f. a campaign oY, n
flashes into the limelght
Once or twice Il has received a little
special notorieiy because Il has ever been
ready 70 espouse the cause Of the ma
chine. no matter wha, the machine was
doing.
The other night there was a meeting
and among the speakers was J. H. s.
Brazeau, who for the past two years has
been a member of the legislature from
this city. Mr.. Brazeau is Republican
and In The legislature has always bcen
ready 10 vote for any measure advocated
by the Republican machine lie even
supported the police commission bill from
this city. and certainly that took about
az much courage % a kind az could rca-
sonably be expected Of any man
a.