The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-09
THREE MEN SET
THEMSELVES Up
CONTINUED from Page onc)

Allowing two minutes for the register
ing OF each man. which is too short
time II would take about 2s hours for
three men 10 register even 250O voters;
and the board has set aside only is hours
The annual cost for the maintenance OF
the board that refuses TO convenience
the people VINO snouid be its masters
amounts 10 pretty figure.
The city auditors BOOKS shows that last
year there were paid on account OF the
board of canvassers and registration the
following amounts:
Clerical assistance 10 board S2s96, OF
which $1,000 was paid for a clerk employed
by the year. and $1,000 for an assistant
clerk hired by the year; the balance OF
S296.S7 being for extra clerk hire.
For printing and binding, s379l.33.
Onlce expenses, S2S5sS.
Lunches for the board, S3l.O5.
Car fares. So
other expenses, including pay OF war
dens and supervisors and necessary cost
OF conducting the election. the bin OF
Sl64.45 I'm connection with the hearings
on the alleged frauds in the Third and
Tenth wards, $50 for lunches for police
and 81 for lunches for city clerks ONCE
bring the total expense to s22 $3.50.
Addison l.. Munroe. chairman or the
Young Mems Democratic club, said today
that the action OF the hoard was an
outrage. and a purely partisan one lie
referred TO the fact that the Democratic
party Is not represented on the board,
and that IL was evidently the object OF
the board 10 have as few Democrats repre-
sented on the voting lists as possible.
He considered the action OF the board
prompted by partisanship that has as its
sole purpose 10 prevent as many Demo
Gratis from registering as may be pos
sible.
Mr.. Monroe thought board paid $500
a year and practically for 10 months OF
the year having nothing 10 do could make
visit 10 each ward without lncon-
veniencing itself; and Mr.. Monroe In his
comments reflected the views of scores OF
men who were talked with. including
both Republicans and Democrats.
A wel-known Republican said: THE
decision was undoubtedly great dlsap-
pointment 10 the committee. The board
citing the law that requires the office to
be kept open daily is simply begging the
question
Everybody knows that the same condi-
tion obtains in every city and town; and,
though the city hall Is open daily, II Is
not any more convenient at any other
time in the year than now. Boards OF
canvassers and registration In other
places find IL convenient 10 visit the vari-
Gus wards during the active period OF
registration.
"We may theorize as 10 the duty of
every man TO register during the year. but
conditions confront the voters TO prevent
them from getting to the city hall. es-
pecially the Industrial Glass; and one
theory is upset thereby.
1T would seem to have been reason
able request TO the board. composed OF
three men who each receive $500 year.
who hire a clerical force TO do all the
office work. and whose duties cannot be
considered TO be laborious except during
the registration period and just prior TO
an election; but apparently the members
OF this board feel that they are not in
office 20 accommodate the people who pay
their salaries, but that the voters or the
people must adjust themselves to what
ever this board things Is for Its own COM
fort and convenience, -
There Ia one thing sure: the opinion
OF the people OF this city OF this board OF
canvassers, which was not any too favor
able prior 10 this decision, has not been
raised; but II has been lowered, for they
set themselves up as autocrats who say
NAaN tiit p'pplt must Npllic W ihthis anu
that they will not go 10 the assistance OF
the people. f
1T is safe prediction thatsthis we'll
paid autocratic board in the very near
future will be compelled TO recede from
It's position I'm this matter and that Its
members will be compelled TO be the SER
wants OF the people who pay them as the
law intended, rather than their masters.
II am a Republican. but l believe In
fair play. Every political party would
have benefited by the granting OF the
Tenth ward committees request and the
action OF the board is as certain TO react
against our party In the approaching cam
paign as the sun Is to rise tomorrow
From a party standpoint, as a Republi-
can. consider II an egregious blunder
that will make hundreds OF votes for the
Independent Democratic combine"