The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-04

chine in Pawtucket could haruly DC louhu
IN a days journey. IL what they would
have the people believe were true they
have been deeply pained because or the
fling which was so very general that they
proposed 10 do things 10 the police de-
partment during the absence OF Mayor
Higgins.
They have declared over and over TO the
newspaper representatives that no one
had the slightest thought OF anything OF
this character and so insistent were they
In their declarations that II they were
not 90 well known II would almost seem
that they believed what they said. OF
course they did not really expect anyone
else would believe IL or II they did they
certainly had a pretty poor opinion OF the
ordinary intelligence OF their hearers.
OF course this does not apply 10 all OF
the members OF the machine but only 10
those whose narrow minds have led them
20 believe that whatever they said would
be swallowed without the slightest hesi-
tation. There are two or three men who
give considerable OF their time TO the
management OF party affairs who having
had little experience beyond the con-
fines OF their own district ward lines real
ize that such stories as have been given
out are altogether too thin and transpar-
ent. These men while deprecating the
from the acts of the party. are willing TO
admit that many OF the statements re-
garding what It was proposed TO do were
based upon facts.
These are the men who have had sense
enough 10 see that II the plans which
some of their colleagues had made were
carried out II would mean the loss "
many hundreds OF votes this fall. IL they
could have made the proposed police
changes without publicity II is quite prob
able that they would have consented to
the scheme but they knew that this was
an impossibiity and they learned too that
there was feeling throughout the city In
opposition TO taking power from Mayor
Higgins which had been vested In him
by the people
II has been a contest without precedent
and II would look as though the wiser
heads had won. Two adjourned meetings
OF the board or aldermen and in between
regular meeting and still nothing has
been done about the police. The most de-
termned fight was made Just previous 10
the meeting Wednesday night and at one
time there was the strongest reason for
believing that the radical element had
won out. But when the adjournment came
and no action had been taken IL is fair 20
presume that the battle for this time AT
least was over
II Is believed that this settlement was
not reached without something being
heard from outside OF the city 1t is quite
easy TO understand that some OF the state
leaders have had their attention called
TO this controversy that has been going
on within the party machine.
These same leaders have hoped TO see a
big Republican vote from Pawtucket this
fall but they know that II this shake up
nQa
scarcely be reason for making fight
II Is perhaps the influence which they
have exerted that has been the greatest
factor In the abandonment OF the plans
and IL is O. fairly safe statement TO make
that nothing will be done with the police
department during the absence OF Mayor
Higgins.
WHY NOT THE TREE WARDEN7
At the meeting of the city council last
wednesday night resolution was passed
making an appropriation OF $500 tc be
used for the preservation OF the shade
trees In the city OF Pawtucket. To any,
one who has been about the streets OF the
city during the past two or three weeks Il
will be apparent that 1t was high time
that something was done to prevent the
obstruction OF the elm trees from the
devastating effects OF the elm beetle
But II is strange indeed that the city
council OF Pawtucket can never do any
thing OF commendabie character with
Out tagging something political onto H.
Inere was one feature OF the resolution
which deserves censure. The resolution
provided that the money should be ex-
pended under the direction OF the COM
missioner OF public works and just why
II was not given to the man who some
months ago was appointed by the mayor
10 attend to just such work is one OF the
things no man has explained. In fact
there Is a question as 10 the legality OF
the expenditure which may be raised by
some one.
chapter s22 Of the public laws is the act
passed by the General Assembly provid-
Ing FOR the appointment OF a tree warden.
Acting under the authority given I'm that
act Mayor Higgins appointed to the posi-
uon Horace Edgecomb a man who is
quite well known in this city Mr.. Edge
comb has seen the devastating effect of
the elm tree beetle. and he has desired
TO DO something to destroy the pests. but
peing without funds 10 act, Il has beel
impossible for him 10 do anything
~ would be natural In most places when
the city council made an appropriation for
this work that Il would be given 10 the
tree warden, but as might have been ex-
pected, the Republican city council OF
WIS hON suing 10 allow the
sum OF $500 10 be expended by a Denocra,
consequently. when the resolution was
drawn IL provided that the commissioners
or public works should have the expcndi-
ture. Notwithstanding the fact that sec
ton OF the act creating the tree warden.
states that such moneys shall be expend-
eo oy him. This section read as follows:
Bee. T. Cities and towns may annually
raise and appropriate such sum OF money
a. tney deem necessary. 20 be expended
under the direction OF the tree warden I'm
sxtermjnating Insect pests within the
limits or their public ways and places and
IN the removal from said public ways and
places oil trees and other plants upon
which such pests naturally breed: Pro-
vided. however. that where an owner or
lessee or real estate shall. 10 the satisfac-
ton OF the tree warden. annually erter-
inmate all insect pests upon the trees and
other plants within the limits ~ any pub
nc way or place abutting on said real es-
tate. such trees and plants shall be ex-