The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-30
Continued from Page oneo

Continued from Page One)
'If the commission decides TO purchase
a horse. horses having always been used
IN the department" said well-known at
torney to-day. that is not considered an
extraordinary expenditure. but when II
decides to buy an automobile 10 use in
hunting up license locations and actually
saving the city time and money, that Is
declared extraordinary" and the bill Is
held up until the entire city council can
pass upon It,"
"If the department was about 20 exceed
its appropriation. or II 1t had ever exceeded
the appropriation granted It, there might
be reason in closer scrutiny OF its ex-
penditures.
IF there was reason for doubling the
wisdom OF those i'm charge OF the depart
ment, the three commissioners or Secre-
tary Samuel Gee, who purchases the sup
plies. there might be reason for consider
ing the advisability OF replacing the per-
son at fault: and the mayor and aldermen
have the power TO remove any commits
sioner who may be incompetent
1T is quite another question, however,
as TO whether the mayor or both branches
OF the city council can exercise control
over any part Of the appropriation for the
maintenance OF the police department.
once that appropriation is made, and good
lawyers concur In the opinion that the
councilmen knew this well. but that some
OF them. actuated by political motives.
or listening 10 suggestions from ambi-
tious political writer's. are posing as
watchdogs OF the treasury at the ex-
pense of the, police commission, but
will be found. after they have sat
ished their inordinate vanity-by posing
long enough. declaring that the expend-
iture for an auto OF $500 from the appro-
priations made last year for police pur-
long enough. declaring that the expend-
iture for an auto OF $500 from the appro-
priation made last year Tor police pur.
whatever the city council may decide
about the matter. the bill will be paid
and that II will be the citys money that
will pay II. whether the matter is taken
into court or allowed 20 drop where II is"
Chairman William III. Luther, who is
using the automobile, the black ghost,
Is not borrowing any trouble over the ac-
ton OF the city auditor and the committee
on claims. He has not decided 10 vouch-
safe any explanation Of the purchase
other than has appeared In the news
papers. the reasons being given I'm full at
the time the purchase was made by unani-
nous vote OF the police commission and
after consideration OF all the reasons for
making H.
Mr. Luther could not be induced 20 say
whether he contemplated appearing before
the council committee or making any fur
ther explanation for the benefit OF those
who seem TO desire 20 humiliate at least
one Of the commissioners.
As yet ne has received no invitation 10
explain and has not considered the course
he Will take. He will do nothing however
until the full board Is IN the city and can
consider what action Is most appropriate
under the peculiar circumstances
When Secretary Gee was asked to-day
whether there was any danger OF exceed
Ing the appropriation Of s4lO 600 made for
the present fiscal year, which ends Sept
80. he said
mot the slightest. We shall have. IN
from $1,000 70 $1,000. unless '1S; we prt repise ~
some more OF the police signal cables In
the second district as we have already
done I'm the sixth district This work has
been paid for out of our appropriation
while before the creation OF our commits
sion there was always a special appropria-
ton for such extraordinary expenditures %
''Our policy has been 90 husband our re-
sources and keep the equipment of the de-
partrnent at the highest possible state OF
Efficiency. In this we have succeeded ad-
mirably, as the paraphernalia to-day is
better than IL ever was before. and. un.
less we do more than the usual amount
Of repair work on buildings. wires. etc.
we shall not come near using up the ap-
preparation. In no case will there be a
M Gee explained that frequently the
department has purchased supplies near
last II well into the succeeding year. and
even then had converted back into the city
frce sury a part OF the appropria tion. only
once since the commiseioners have been
An charge han the city auditor feared a
defcit and then his fears proved un-
2scrstary Gee hsc - up-tO-dste system