The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-01-07
MAYOR FOR MUNICIPAL Ownership Of
TUNNEL AND WATER FRONT PROPERTY

The city OF New York has been made the
metropolis mainly by its commerce,
which would never have been possible had
sne @ not seen tns % adyantages OF munich
All natural avenues OF trade and com
merce should be owned by. the munici-
pality, especially commercial navigable
water fronts, for harbor and dock pur-
poses. II we ara TO indulge in hiring
money 70 invest in the future, let IL be
Of our natural trade waterways as soon
as possible. The attention OF the board OF
easd to snd this s mPsr PSso hs they
petition the city council for Immediate
action.
ford Railroad company now controls the
steam and street railways OF the state,
having recently acquired the street rail-
way system from the Rhode Island COM
pany. IL has acquired rights I'm Providence
seems quite probable that in q short time.
controlled by said company, and thus
Providence, the natural commercial centre
OF the state, will be subject TO the dicta-
allies, whose methods OF acquiring fran
chises and special privileges extends into
politics, We should acquire the harbor
rights for the people OF greater Provi-
dence and future Rhode Island.
The finances OF this department for the
last fiscal year show an advance of s6.-
Ol6.H over the expenditure OF the previous
year year which Il due to the opening OF sey,
but much deserved Increase In the teach
ers' salaries.
year in the school population, necessita-
4 ting new buildings and an increased
teaching force. This requires a gradual
yearly increase In the sums set apart for
The pressing need is the completion Of
the Technical high school that the pupils
desiring this form OF education may be
There Is also need OF department head
quarters where all school officials can be
Gated in Ave widely scattered buildings
The main Offices are in a high school
building, causing more or less interrup-
needed In February for school purposes.
The Eight-Hour Day.
] wish to place myself on record In ia
Yor OF an eight-hour day for city laborers.
The 26 cities of Massachusetts all have
the eight-hour day for laborers on public
works. and in the majority OF those cit
les the minimum wage Is 81. Tho follow
Ing cities pay not less than 81 per day:
Boston. Beverly. Brookton 2;25), Cam
Gloucester. Haverhill. Holyoke Lynn,
Melrose, Salem, Somerville.
In the recent local discussion OF this
question the argument has been advanced
that the market rate of wages should be
the controlling factor in regulating the
wages OF city laborers. This is a. discred- |
tied and we'll nigh obsolete idea i'm pub
lie employ oyment in this country. II is rec |
ognized that there Is a labor question and |
that government should as a matter of |
public policy force the market in behalf |
OF labor: Such is the eight-hour doctrine
Of President Roosevelt. such is the course
of municipal legislation in Massachusetts,.
Police Commission.
The board OF police commissioners for
the city OF Providence was created under
~ IN.
Der session OF the general assembly, A ID.
1901, and was selected by a Republican
governor, WITH THE ADVICE AND
CONSENT OF THE STATE SENATE. |
All permanent members OF the commis-
sion have been selected from the Repub-
lcan party. Democrats have been APP
pointed by a Democratic governor when |
vacancies occurred and the senate was |
not In session, but they were legislated |
out or office as soon thereafter as the |
senate met The same machine influences |
that heretofore controlled the Republican |
party and have become a menace to the |
state framed the police commission laws |
10 serve partisan purposes-thls is ad- |
mitted The police force has been used |
Tor political purposes. acting under in |
structions OF superior officers and pre-
sumably with the knowledge and consent |
Complaint was made publicly by the |
Democratic party, but nothing was done |
by the commissioners toward investiga- |
ton or discipline. The only thing that |
fioted New York city, through graft and |
protection OF professional violators OF |
law, is the character of the individual |
members of the commi ssion. The term OF |
one commissioner expires Feb. 1, 1907
This amendment TO the police commits |
sion act transferred the power OF nomi- |
nation from the governor to the mayor, |
subject TO the control of the board of al |
derInen comprising ten members, eight |
OF whom have always been elected by |
the Republican party. The commission |
A. Tod Nnftf IA aha .1HNfA
grant licenses for the liquor trade, and |
all other purposes, and to control the en- |
tire police department; and to expend all |
appropriations for maintenance OF said |
department., independent OF the mayor |
and city council. Under these circum- |
stances, the mayor being deprived OF the |
power OF appointment the board OF al |
dermen alone can save the city from the |
corrupting influence of the menace TO |
the state by electing competent, con- |
scientious citizens. who will serve the city /
members OF the commission should not be |
selected from one political party. |
The Advisory Board.
In view of the fact that the city gov |
ernment has heretofore been selected by |
partisan ward committees or political par |
ties, and tnat it's proceedings have been |
directed by few members of the domi- |
nant party, i have deemed IL advisable To |
spirited citizens. Identified with the city's |
diversified interests. its progress and de- |
NelOpment, 10 serve as an advisory board /
and council for the chief executive along
non-partisan lines. l have. therefore. the |
distinguished privilege OF Announcing that |
the following named gentlemen have ac- |
cepted appointment upon said board to |
serve In said capacity without compensa- |
tion and with no other object In view than |
the public good:
Hon. Charles Matteson. sx-chief justice |
OF the supreme court.
Hon. Charles Dean Kimball, ex-gover-
nor OF Rhode Island.
Hon. Charles h. German, Ill. u.
Alfred Stone. architect.
samuel VI. Gray. civil engineer.
Edward r Carroll, NJ D.
Henry u. sharpe. OF Brown a. Sharpe /
Manufacturing company.
This IL the first time In the history OF |
Providence that such a board was organ |
ICED. I sincerely hope that the precedent |
may be followed, and that the advisory |
board. may become established as q promi. |
nent factor in our municipal government.
COMBINATIONS.
/ recommend tho enactment OF such I
laws. ordinances and rules as may be re. |
quired to provide for the following mat |
ters.
THE establishment OF a public market |
2-Providins adequate public comfort |