The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-07
RANK PARTISANSHIP.


Never has there been a more scandalous mis-
of official power to further mischievous parti-
san schemes even in this state in which machine
manipulation in constant and notorious, than IS
revealed by an examination OF the personal property
tax list just completed by the board OF canvasseIs
OF Pawtucket
1t has been for years a matter of common
knowledge that the board of assessors there has
been used by the Republican machine to assist it
in maintaining its sinister hold upon the municipal
government by excluding from the list the name OF
every man not positively known to endorse Repub-
Ican rule and methods.
Democrats possessed of personal estate of
much greater value than the sum fixed as emitting
them to vote for members OF the city council have
repeatedly requested that their names be placed
on the list of personal property taxpayers but these
requests have been regularly and contemptuousy
refused.
Nor has this brazenly partisan board hesitated
to remove from the personal list the names If
Democrats, for no other apparent reason than that
they were Democrats, while the list has been
padded by the names of Republicans, many OF
whom neither possessed nor had any reasonable
hope of possessing property worth the sum for
which they were assessed
machines rank partsanship the names of number
been stricken from the personal property list.
Among those who have suffered by this outrage
are Councilmen Hughes and Fitzpatrick.
For their exclusion there is neither warranr,
justification nor excuse. 1t is high-handed at
tempt to render them ineligible should they seek
reelection to the Offices they now hold and to
dicfra a1t
the precaution to register before the expiration of
the registration period on June 80 last
Mr.. Hughes it is understood, anticipating Just
such trick, rendered it abortive by purchasing
real estate; but Councilman Fitzpatrick and the
other Third ward citizens who have been made
victims OF such outrageously partisan action have
no remedy
The names of the two councilmen have been
on the personal list for years. They were there
long before they became candidates for or were
elected to public Office.
Their personal property today is more valuable
than it was last year or during any of the many
years their names remained on the list unques-
toned and unchallenged Why are they stricken
off now?
Will any citizen of fair and open mind believe
otherwise than that they have been subjected to
this outrage and to the peril of disfranchsement
as the result of deliberate and shameless scheme
10 TOD the democracy OF every possible vote in the
coming electionl
This contemplate display of partisan rancor
is chargeabe directly to the maevolent activity OF
Braytonism's tricksters in Pawtucket The mcu
responsible for this monstrous abrdgement of
political rights the men who conceived and
carried out gerrymander of the ward lines in
Pawtucket by which one OF the two Democratic
wards was wiped out of existence.
They are the same men who attempted to
fasten state appointed police commission on the
city year and half ago, and who were deferred
from making partisan reorganization of the police
department during the absence OF Mayor Higgins
only by fear of the wrath of the people.
They will, however, gain nothing by their as
sault upon the rights OF citizens of the Democratic
faith through the nstrumentality of the board of
assessors. The Third ward will continue to send
Democrats TO represent il in both branches OF the
city council.
On the other hand, outrage so wanton and
indeiensible cannot fail 20 arouse in every decent
citizen determination TO punish those responsible |
Tor It, nor can there be any doubt punishment will
be administered in effective and sautary measure
at the polls next November.
l'F BANK SUPERVISION