The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-25
PAWTUXET VALLEY
Tax Collector N0wtOn'S Record
Other Notes Of Interest
To VaIl0yitaS.

Coventry is now almost finished with the
collecting Of the taxes, and he has estab-
lished a record for himself that will long
remain in the town. lie has. in fact,
done what no other tax collector in this
section has ever done. and TO make his
work the more difficult. instead OF getting
the backing Of the machine party which
is running things I'm Coventry. they have
opposed many OF his steps and have
passed votes which have hindered him
and have made all the trouble possible
for him since he begun-for why7 Simply
because he tried and did his duty as far
as IL was possible.
In Coventry the tax collectors Job is
not awarded by the vote Of the people.
but is sold 10 the lowest bidder at the
annual financial town meeting. There
fore when Mr.. Newton declared war
against the machine 'ue i'm the town and
went 10 the financial town meeting with
the intention OF getting the position. ma
chine adherers were there ready for him.
He outbid all others. however and took
the position for less than 800
Never had the position paid so little be
fore but Mr.. Newton doggedly held that
he was going 20 collect the tax and that
he would come out ahead.
He startled the council by stating that
he was going TO collect the poll tax. This
was startling. as usually about 40 Of the
easy ones" are all Of the poll tax payers
who pay. Mr.. Newton got after them
and those who refused he served warrants
upon; The council stood with horror
at such a proceeding. but the collector
kept on. Finally he had the list down
10 but a. Then the machine could
stand the strain no longer and the board
got together Mr. Newton. however.
kept on and had one man arrested and
sent 10 Cranston for refusing to pay
his tax This finished IL. and within
few days the tax assessors got together
and voted 10 remit all the remaining poll
taxes Then President Arnold OF the
council kindly paid the man out who was
A. -tAe-eta+a- -warkhnuse-- Then<all the
machine workers settled back in their
chairs. Collector Newton only remained
inactive a short time. however. and
within short time he began on the per-
sonal tax payers.
This was the signal for fresh fears on
the part Of the council. and when Mr..
Newton had collected all but about so,
these latter being unwilling 10 pay. he
expressed himself as ready TO proceed
against them. Another hurried call was
issued by the board OF assessors and at
special meeting held II was voted TO
remit all unpaid personal taxes. This
again there was relief among the machine
men,
Since this time, Mr. Newton has been
busy with the delinquents on the real
estate list and recently advertised a large
number OF for sale. As this proceeding
Is usually considered a joke many failed
10 pay and then the sales began. Mr.
Newton has succeeded through his appli-
cation TO his work in collecting nearly all
OF the axes due the town at this time,
there being but few now remaining.
There Is no way that the council or the
assessors can remedy this evil so the
collector is collecting taxes for several
years back, and is reaping a rich har-
vest through his fees.
Mr.. Newton has bid In the Job for the
coming year. this year securing the bid
Mt the rldlculously small figure OF sos.
He does not intend TO collect the tax
probably as he has not qualified and real
ozed what the next collector Will have
to contend with, when II they walt long
enough a kind council or board Of as
SCISSORS will remit them. This is only an
other evidence OF the boss rule and there
are many among the taxpayers who are
very outspoken I'm their remarks against
the present administration.
WHY THE WATER RACE ENDED.
The residents of Natlck and Apponaug
as well as many others through the town
OF Warwick. often wonder why the race
between the PawtuXet Valley and the
| Warwick and Coventry water companies
20 extend their lines into the aforemen-
TONED territories. ended so abruptly, The
tale Is numerous IN way.
II was over a year ago that the Paw
tuxet Valley company began n mad race
down Main street I'm Riverpont. GUAM
titles OF pipe were brought and were dis
tributed along Main street. and the super
intendent OF the company, Albert +. Hin
also chairman OF the Warwick school
committee said that the pipes were TO
be extended into Natick The residents
began al once 10 talk OF water service
In their homes and a fire department
Then the Warwick and Coventry had
pipes delivered along the road from Wes-
colt TO Natick Two gangs OF men
worked like beavers burying the pipes
the Warwick company starting from the
Natick hill and working toward River
point and the PawtuXet Valley men
, working I'm other direction.
Both companies were going in the same
| territory and business was 20 be n brisk.
| At this time. however. the Warwick high
school which was then being built at
| Wescott was reached by the Pawtuxet
/ Valley company. The high school was
connected with their service and when
| this was done the company somehow lost
| interest I'm the proposed extension and
| nothing more was done about II. This
was year ago. but the compar' has
made "A move since 10 further extend
! its lines. The Warwick and Coventry
company also lost interest when the at
mosphere OF competition cleared and
| they did not see their competitors trying
60 reach Natick and ApponauR So to-
day passershy see the numerous pipes
laying by the rusds.dcs between the two
villages. but the residents OF Natick and
Apponaug are still waiting for the water
service.
NOTES.
The regular band concert was held last
evening at the Arctic Centre square and
large crowd was attracted The band
played well and the audience seemed "a
be pleased. .
Pasquelia Petraca. a saloon keeper OF
Wescott was served with n warrant this
morning BY Sheriff Michael u Lynch foi