The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-22

Pawtucket City Hall Rulers Create New Offices
While Mayor Is Away and Reward Friends
Taxpayers Must Settle to Tune of $1,000 Per
Year. Action Sprung Suddenly. ID.
Deputy chief-chsrles f. Hn


Police William j. stanton.
Patrolman-James Jeffries.
Police Station Janitor-Thomas Nc
Hugh.
The city hall machine did the trick last
night and there was not the slightest
hitch i'm the program. There was no pub
lie sentiment To fight against this time
because the machine had seen 10 II that
no inkling OF their plans had reached the
ears OF the public There was nothing TO
fear from the voters because the election
was out OF the way. There was nothing
10 fear from a Democratic mayor for the
mayor of this city having been called by
the people OF the state TO higher honors
had gone away for a couple OF weeks TO
recuperate after the heat OF the cam
paign. There was nothing TO stand In the
way and so the trick was pulled OF ana
although there was opposition from the
Democratic members of the city council
still that didn't amount TO anything be-
cause of the smallness of their numbers.
The machine had given its orders ana
they were carried out. Even the acting
mayor up and did his part as readily as
did the others. and when the meeting
had adjourned there was a new man at
the head OF the police department and
two new offices had been created which
cost the taxpayers OF the city the sum
total OF $500 per year.
That there was 10 be a meeting of the
lower branch OF the city council was not
known yesterday until well toward night.
At least IL was not known TO anyone out
side Of the machine which runs things at
the city hall. Apparently this machine
had been making it's plans for some time
or a least since IL was known that Mayor
Higgins was TO absent himself from the
city. But the genSral public were given
no inkling through the newspapers be-
cause the representatives OF those pa
pers were not given any Information re-
garding the matter II was the regular
meeting OF the board Of aldermen and
late i'm the afternoon city Sergeant Allen
was sent out To give notice to the MEM
bers OF the lower branch that they had
been called I'm special session to act on
three ordinances which were TO the in
troduced
one OF these ordinances provided for
two new positions i'm the police depart
ment, a deputy chief OF police and a
clerk OF police. Another one provided for
salaries for these two officials and the
third made change in the fiscal year of
the city SO II would conform To the mu-
nicipal year "a nearly as possible
These three ordinances were introduced
I'm the common council and sent To the
committee on ordinances. Then there was
recess and in about 10 minutes the com
mittee was ready TO make its report
which was. OF course, favorable TO the
passage OF the important measures. In
asmuch as the report was sufficiently long
TO have taken more time to write than
was spent by the committee IT is reason
able TO suppose that this too was all
written long before last night and that
all the committee was called upon TO do
was 10 allow its chairman TO attach his
eli hal limo
lost. The ordinances having passed the
council went at once TO the board and as
quickly as possible they were signed by
Acting Mayor Wood and then without
loss OF any minutes the job was completed
by the appointment OF men TO fill the Of
fees created which appointments were
confirmed by an obliging boar dof alder
men all but two OF whom had fitted the
collar OF the city hall machine to their
necks and didn't dare to lift their voices
in protest.
Not since the time some Is years ago
when President Benjamin Davis of the
board OF aldermen appointed ten police
men, when Mayor Hugh j. Carroll was
attending the Democratic national con
vention at Chicago has there been such "A
high-handed game i'm this city as that
which was pulled OF by the machine last
night. The Republican party had just
elected a mayor OF its own selection who
would take office I'm about six weeks and
certainly there was no such crying need
for police head that IL was necessary To
act at this time The conditions In the
police department were not n bit differ
enc from what they have been for many
months But there are rumors 20 the eff
feet that the machine. having met with
unexpected success In electing its mayor.
r. just n little afraid that when he takes
the oath 20 do his duty will not be so
much OF tool In their hands as they
could wish. Under the present conditions
with Alderman Wood as acting mayor.
they had no fear.
The game was ono which had all been
planned last summer when Mayor Hig
gins went TO California But IL was first
exposed In the columns OF the News
Democrat, and then the other papers with
the exception OF the Aldrich- Perry organ
took UP the battle for the people. and
after that there was an absolute denial
that anyone had ever given thought TO
taking advantage OF the absence OF the
mayor. IL Is possible that the machine
told this story so many times that II al
most came TO believe itself but I'm that
rest of the people of the city. SO much
stir was raised over the matter that the
machine did not dare 10 turn the trick
then. but instead waited till after the
election and pulled II OF
OF course there was no one nresent I'm
the seats reserved for the public 20 watch
the proceedings. II was because the ma
chine did not want the people there that
they were 80 very secret Ia calling the
meeting OF the lower branch Political
machines dislike publicity and the one
which wlelds the whip In this city Is just
like all the rest