The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-30

According TO the latest story which is
OF the earmarks OF having been inspired,
the plans OF the Republican machine in
reference 10 the police department have
been fully agreed upon and they are go
sng to be put through next Wednesday
night no matter what the cost.
This plan is to make Charles II. Hill
chief OF police after Chief Rice has been
placed ON the retired list with a pension,
and then three patrolmen are 10 be nom
mated by Acting Mayor Wood and con-
firmed by the Republican board OF alder
men. II Is given out that in doing this
the Democrats can find no fault because
st n proposed TO make such excellent ap-
pointmentt that all the rest OF the people
in the city will rise up and call the Re-
publican machine blessed After all OF
the positions are filled according 10 this
story, the Republicans are going TO let
the mayor name the rest OF the patrol
men, but just what that means Is not
fully understood. II all OF the vacancies
are nlled II Is case OF where There
amt no core" and Mayor Higgins when
ne returns 10 the city will find a police
force fully made up for him by the kind
and obliging Republicans.
a prett1er program was never laid out
by q political machine. The leaders ap-
pear 20 think that because they place
Charles r Hill at the head OF the depart
ment the people will find no fault with
their acts. but In this they are sadly at
fault Patrolman Hill Is first-class off,
Ger and Chief OF Police Hill would with
out a doubt be an efficient and able off,
cial, but that fact win not lessen In the
slightest degree the Indignation that will
be felt by the people OF the city when
they ind that the acting mayor has been
permitted 20 do things which Mayor Hig
gins has been ready 10 do for a long time
but which. because Of partisan opposition.
ne could not do II I'm the past the Re
publican machine had not prevented the
confirmation of police appointments by
Mayor Higgins the situation might be
different. Perhaps II was no more thin
fair that with both legislative branches
OF the city government Repub
liean there should have been some Re
publican appointees on the police force
during the four years which have passed
since Mayor Higgins became Chief Elk
ecutive Of this city. But the fact OF the
matter Is that during that time there has
been but one man placed on the list Of
ratrolmen OF the same political faith as
that OF Mayor Higgins.
NO RESIGNATION YET.
One thing which does not please the
Republican machine is the fact that they
have been unable TO secure the resigna-
tion OF Chief Rice. That Official Is loyal
10 the man who was elected 10 the head
OF the city government OF the city, who,
in spite Of the fact that they differed po-
litically. has always been his friend,
granting him many favors and putting
the utmost confidence IN him
The only thing left rs to declare him
incapacitated by reason OF age or Ill
health and thus virtually remove him
from the Office which he has filed so ably
for SO many years.
There has probably not been a minute
for the past year when Chief Rice would
have refused his resignation TO Mayor
Higgins IL the mayor had asked for II.
but II has been the desire of the mayor
TO permit the chief TO retain the office as
long as he wished TO do so as a reward
for faithful service rendered TO the city.
But the Republican machine Is not so
corsiderate OF the feelings OF this vet
eran and. having the power TO replace
him by one OF their friends. II is going
60 be done. II required lot Of confer
ences 20 reach a fnal agreement. because
II Is pretty generally admitted that TO
carry out this program now means that
there has been given up all hope Of car
srying the city bye the Republicans at the
fall elections
g However the Republican machine has
this hope was really lost when the last
name was placed on the registry list
June 81. Since then the party workers
have been going over the lists very care
fully and they have at last reached the
point where they can see nothing but de-
feat staring them In face and so II is
believed that as there Is nothing TO be
gained by waiting they might just as
we'll take the plums that are waiting for
them.
In one way this conclusion TO reor-
ganize the police department I'm the alb
sence OF Mayor Higgins Is most unkind.
From the very first the Independent"
organ OF the Republican machine has re-
peatedly declared through its local repre-
sentative that nothing OF the kind was
90 be done and an attempt has been made
20 show that everyone who even thought
such a thing was laboring under a delu.
sion Now after the trick has been TO
all intent and purposes done. there has
got 10 be eaten a lot OF crow. which may
not taste very good.
II may be just as well for the Repub-
licans TO start in TO strike n balance now
as wait TIL after the next election. on
one side can be placed a chief OF police
and three patrolmen and on the other a
mayor. a state senator and six members
OF the lower bsuse OF the general assem-
bly,. In addition 20 that may Isso be
added good, hard night for control Of
the city council This is the cost which
must be paid for after the trick has been
turned what possible chance there was
for success before has been wholly lost.
SPECIALS LAID OFF.
Last Saturday night Acting Mayor
Wood laid OF two more OF the specia ls
who have been doing patrol duty during
the vacation period. They were Officers
Burns and Healey who owed their ap-
pointment 20 Mayor Higgins In their
place he ordered 10 work couple Of good
Republican workers. one OF whom has
been named I'm connection with n probable
appointment on the force next Wednes-
day night.
So far as known there has not beer
the slightest word Of objection 20 the
manner I'm which either of the men laid
on have been doing their work In fact
II IL admitted az the police station that
there "a scarcely a better officer on the
regular force than officer Burns. He Is
one OF the men who some months ago