The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-20
MORE CHICKENS COME HOME.

orsIv nartisan legislation. the law which saddlcd
a state-appointed police commission on the CITY
OF Providence are coming home TO roost' 10 the
dismay and discontinue OF the ring now in control
OF municipal affairs.
The cause OF present perturbation is bill OF
5000. contracted by the police commission by the
purchase of an automobile Some OF the city hall
rngsters are endeavoring 10 manufacture political
capital ont of this claim, by refusing payment, anu
bv declaring that the police commission must eA-
plain 10 the city council the need OF the machine
and request it to settle the bill, before payment Will
be made
There is little probability that the commission
will do snythiae oi the kind. 1t i not required
10 make any explanations requests concerning the
matter 10 the city council 1t acted full, within 'is
powers in purchasing automobile. aud the city
has other recourse than Z" pay TIC bill
There j. no more warrant i"r the holding lp oi
= oil for an automobile by the council committee
than there would be for the holding up OF bills Tor
horses purchased Tor the patrol wagons or ior
mounted pstrolmen. Both constitute supplies tor
the police department, which the commission rs
fully authorized to purchase Neither the council
nor any of its committees has any right 10 review
the commissions action, or to question Its adj
visibility.
The function OF the city is confined to the pay
ment OF bills certified to il by the commission as
correct
That is the law. That il is a monstrousy
unjust and unrighteous law none but the weak
city, will deny
But why should the partisans in the city
council make protest against IL Why should they
attempt to exercise power they deliberately and
with ignoble intent TO strengthen mcmevous
machine control, surrendered?
Under the law it stands today the city
council as the representative of the taxpayers has
absolutely no authority over the expend-
ture OF the nearly 100000 required annually Tor
the maintenance OF the police department. The
~ t,,t n he erS'
money is lodged exclusively in the police commits
sion and for its disposition the commission can be
held accountable directly neither by the city coun-
Gil nor the taxpayers
Such condition is outrageous 1t is plain
and iniquitous denial of the right of home rule,
Yet where does responsibility for it lie
1t is not with the city council which at the
command of Braytonism, petitioned the general
assembly for the passage OF a police commission
law that would not only take from itself every
scintilla OF control over of the most costly OF
the municipal departments but would at the same
time deny to the taxpayers all voice and vote in the
selection OF the who spend hundreds OF thou
sands OF dollars OF their money.
The city council of 1901 did not hesitate 10
inaugurate the grossly partisan movement that
resulted in this outrageous offence against he
rights of local self government 1t did not heed
the protests or The warnings voiced by the best
citizenship of Providence against the contemplated
spolaton.
.-ltAstened- only 10 the sinister commands OF
the Brayton oligarchy which sought to extend its
pernicous and pestilent power by making the
police department all active and aggressive agent IN
its political knavery
1t surrendered not only its own perogatiNes
but the rights OF the people of Providence 1t be-
trayed the trust reposed in it by the citizens who
elected it, and proved itself servile tool Of
dangerous and designing ringsters
To-day the city council is brought face TO face
with the results OF its own msdoing II would, il
Il could plav peanut politics with a 5000 automo-
bile bill but that petty satisfaction is denied
it BY It's own supine surrender TO the agencies of
mischief and msgovernment.
In its discreditable plight and utter helpless
none. Rather will decent citizens who have been
plundered OF their rights through its scandalous
betrayal OF sacred trust rejoice that has at last
reaped at least a small measure OF the fruit OF its
a,un disnrarrfnl action