The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-21

Msyor-elect Patrick J. Mccarthy mar
aged 20 draw out at least four aldermen
or the question of new police comm.s-
sioner yesterday afternoon at an infor-
NAL conference held with all the mem
bers-elect Of the board Of aldermen IN
the mayors office In city hall.
He shed no light on his own personal
preference for police commissioner.
In partly outlining his policy, he urged
the creation OF a committee with power
20 inspect the books OF the gas, telephone.
electric light street car and other quasi
public corporation the establishment or
the office OF public weigher OF con I
revision Of the transfer system; ieLislf-
tion prohibiting members Of the city GOV p
ernment from doing any outside business
with the city In a commercial 'ine, anC
rules permitting council members 90 call
upon committees 10 report upon penol1g
matters also upon due notice, to inter-
rogate committees relative TO matters un-
der consideration.
At S:45 O'Clock Acting Mayor Reynolds
was made the chairman OF the confer
ence, which lasted three hours Tho dis
cussion was earnest and at It's oonC.d-
sion Mr. Mccarthy gave out the tollo"lhG
statement.
"The board elect met this afternoon
al the request Of the mayot-elect 10 dis
CUES the rules which are 10 govern it,
proceedings during the coming yea. a.
well as 60 talk D. er matters OF q iuDilc
character
"One OF the measures brpusn- M for
consideration W. the aG tfahility az
adopting joint rule whereby MEMOIRS
of the city council may. upon lue notice
having been EivCn, require tdt several
committees 10 rep''t upon pe .tng ma
ters, which may nave been .tteiTed toI
them.
I'VE also talked over the adoption of a
rule whereby any member could. att"r
due notice had been given. interroga,'
those committees relative TO perdihg
I'VE also took under consideration ~"
adoption ol an ordinance regulating the
making &C contracts between tn ,.'y srd
members 80 thG city council.
I'VE brought up and dis 'usscd the sd
Visibility OF appointing a spccill c'm-
mittee 10 inquire into ana rep1rt upon
equitable charges for gas, the telephone.
The electric light service. ana IN fact. 1
the public utilities IN genera.
Another matter that occupied our at /
tention was IN reference 10 The Account |
exclusive franchises secured from the
city for equitable returns OF the cUy'S |
portion OF their gross earnings.
These corporations enjoy exclusive
rights OF doing business in our city. They |
have fixed the prices TO suit themselves. |
IL IL my opinion that the city ought &C. |
know whether these prices are just
1T was suggested that there should |
he a complete revision OF the method ~ |
fers
"The police commission appointment
was referred TO. but no action was
taken
Acting Mayor Reynolds and Alderman
Dunn We're said TO have been among
those who opposed the mayor elects
idea that city councilman should not be
allowed TO make contracts with the city.
III We are TO restrict the councimen
from doing business with the city, il
will discourage business men from en-
,sf.. I,sfrs
out some now In it, is the way Mr..
Reynolds is said to have stated Il. while
Mr. Dunn's opposition was put on the
ground that the prohibition was not broad
enough. a IL did not include attorneys
and every other profession and trade.
The mayor elects idea that q Demo
crst should be put on the police COM
mission stirred up tho seven Republican
aldermen.
IF the Democrats had control would
they put n Republican on the commits |
sIon?" asked Mr. Higgins. II would"
said the msyor-eleci.
Alderman -eect Spicer OF the Ninth
ward said: Il don't favor any Democlat
or any Republican other than Col Harold
J Gross" and eulogized Mr.. Gross I'm
fattering terms. lie also referred 20 the
published candidacy OF Col Arthur H.
Watson: ard Mayor elect Mccarthy said
ne would never appoint Col watson,
whom he termed IAN out-and- out co
poration man and In no wise M for tho
position. The Republican machine wants
a wide-open city. ana that's why his
candidacy IL being urged. | know Col
Watson OF old" he said.
Il know him. too. said Alderman
Reynolds
Yes you should" replied the mayor
elect; YOU supported MIN quite a little
when he was In the city council
IL also disagreed with him on a num-
Der Of things. though. was the answer
Alderman elect Higgins said thai, he
hadn't pledged himself FOR any candidate
but he intended 10 vote for the best man
at the right time. and 10 vote Just as his
conscience and business Judgment direct
Alderman Parker said the position
called for a good business man, one who
would not take vacations. but would at
tend strictly TO the business of the police
department, as the salary was high
enough for the incumbent 10 give his at
tention TO the work devolving upon him
Alderman Dunn. who is himself can
oidate. said he believed that the Demo