The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-11
TWO RECOMMENDATIONS.

among the recommendations made by two
Democratic executives Governor Higgins and
Mayor Mccarthy, in their inaugural messages, are
two which, if not the most important, are certainly
OF such vital to the state and to the city OF
Providence that they should be promptly enacted
into law
In his message to the general assembly, Gov
ernor Higgins declared there should be law "ren-
dering members of the general assembly ineligible
for appointment or election to any state Office or
position during the term for which such men were
elected, the incumbent whereof is appointed by the
governor or elected by the legislature or either
house thereof such inegibility not to be evaded
by resignation from either house during the term
for which such member was elected
1t was, no doubt in pursuance of that timely
recommendation that Senator jerks of Pawtucket
introduced yesterday a bill for an act making
members of the general assembly ineligible Ito any
Office OF profit or trust, election to which is by the
general assembly, either branch thereof"
This measure was referred to the committee
on judiciary, but favorable report upon it, if is
ever reported upon, by that notoriously partisan
body. is extremely improbable. Nevertheless, such
legislation is demanded by very large majority
of the people who have witnessed with impatience
logrolling that has resulted in the election of leg
isators to judicial and other positions, seemingly
as reward for partisan service
The improperly of such elections must be evil
dent to all citizens who have proper appreciation
OF the fitness of things and who believe that public
Office, whether it be in the judiciary or elsewhere
should be filled merit, character and capabty
alone, and not in payment for party service rem
dered in the halls of legislation.
1t is defence to say that men who have beer
thus promoted to the bench or to other high posi-
tions in the public service have proven wise and
able judges efficient public servants. That such
has been the case is piece OF good fortune which
has come to the state in spite of bad system that
should be destroyed without delay.
The enactment of the bill presented by Sen
,ator jerks yesterday will put an end to that SIMS
ter system and though little hope of favorable ac-
ton upon it can under existing conditions be
reasonable entertained, it will serve at least as
proof to the people that the Democratic minority
in the general assembly has made an attempt tc
put an end to practice that is fraught with peril
and may be productive of public scandals.
Among Mayor McCarthy's recommendations
on which large share of public attention is just
now focused, is which calls for the prohibition
by ordinance of contracts between the city and
members of the city government and for COM
petitive bidding on municipal contracts
There has been just and well-founded COM
plant by taxpayers in the past that their interests
were not properly safeguarded in the matter of
making contracts for public work. Ii has been
their belief that work has been given to members
OF the city government their favorites in
vention of the spirit if the letter OF the law,
and that a consequence this work has been much
more costly than it should have been or would
have been if the system OF open and unrestricted
bidding had been followed
There are, too, many contractors for various
kinds OF work who, after repeated failures to Sc
cure an opportunity 70 bid on municipal contracts,
ceased their endeavors because they regarded
them futile so long there existed what they
believed to be ring which 20 their mind deter
mined TO permit none but its own members or
their friends to obtain any public contract.
There is evidence, in the makeup of the more
important city council committees for the present
year, OF desire to give the taxpayers and citizens
generally less cause to complain of favoritsm or
extravaganza. But reorganization will not meet
the present and urgent need OF the situation
What is called for is legislation along the lines
recommended by Mayor Mccarthy, and unless
that is forthcoming the resentment OF the citizens
is likely to be manifested in uncertain way at
the polls next November.