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

NIHonS lnC recommendations made by tWC
Democratic executives, Governor Higgins anc
Mayor Mccarthy in their inaugural messages, are
two which, if not the important, are certainly
OF such vital to the state and to the city
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 election to any state office OF
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 ineligibity not to be evadec
by resignation from either house during the tern
for which such member was elected"
1t was, no doubt, in pursuance of that timely
recommendation that Senator jerks of Pawtucke
introduced yesterday bill for an act making
members OF the general assembly ineligible ito any
Office of profit trust election to which is by the
general assembly, or either branch thereof"
This measure was referred TO the committee
on judiciary, but favorable report upon it, if it is
ever reported upon, by that notoriously partisan
body, is extremely improbable. Nevertheless, such
legislation is demanded by a very large majority
OF the people who have witnessed with impatience
and at times with indignation the reprehensible
log-roing that has resulted in the election of leg
islators to judicial and other positions seemingly
a reward for partisan service
The Improperly of such elections must be evi-
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 on merit character and capabiity
alone, and not in payment for party service rem
..,x Al. t..1fo II -.
1t is no defence to say that men who have beer
thus promoted to the bench to other high posi-
tions in the public service have proven wise anc
able judges efficient public servants. That sucl
has been the is piece OF good fortune whioi
has come to the state in spite of bad system tina
should be destroyed without delay.
The enactment of the bill presented by Sen
ator jerks yesterday will put end to that sinis
ter system and though little hope of favorable ac
ton upon it under existing conditions b,
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 peri
and may be productive of public scandals
Among Mayor McCarthys recommendations
on which large share of public attention is just
now focused, is one which calls for the prohibition
by ordinance OF contracts between the city and
members of the city government and for COM
petitve bidding on municipal contracts.
There has been just and well-founded com
paint by taxpayers in the past that their interests
were not properly safeguarded in the matter OF
making contracts for public work. 1t has been
their belief that work has been given to members
OF the city government their favores in contra
vcntion of the spirit, if not 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 opportunity to bid on municipal contracts,
ceased their endeavors because they regarded
them futile so long there existed what they
believed TO be ring which to their mind was 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 favortism 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 no uncertain way at
the polls next November.