The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-09-11
is POLITICS BEHIND
COMMITTEES REFUSAL :?
Police Department Should be Granted Additional Appropriation
Many Citizens Think Guardians of City Controlled by Men
of Honor Who Would Not Have Asked Increase Were il Not
Necessary. PatroImen Are Overworked Mayor Nc
Carthy's Speaks for More Men,

Is politics behind the refusal to grant
an increased appropriation for the police
fierce, as requested by the police commits
sion?
Control OF the fire department Is I'm the
hands OF men who are not unpopular with
even II not in sympathy with the ele-
ments that control the city council The
fire department, which Is said TO be one of
the most costly per capita In the country,
gets an Increased appropriation and more
men.
HAVE PEOPLES CONFIDENCE.
The police department, which Is controll-
ed by men who have the confidence Of the
people OF Providence, II not the politi-
clans who run with the machine, gets
s10. 900 less than 1t asked for current ex-
penses, and absolutely no consideration OF
It's request for an appropriation sufficient
TO enable the commissioners TO add 6S men
TO the force, as requested by the seven
police captains who set forth the impera-
tive needs OF their districts. 1t does not
even get hearing from the august
finance committee which is charged with
the duty of making up the city budget
On the finance committee are some men
who are not popularity supposed to heark-
en- when the machines voice Is heard nor
cringe when the party lash Is snapped.
Yet this committee does not see it to
send for any member of the police COM
mission to lay before Il the needs of the
police department. nor to offer any expla-
nation whatsoever.
II was rumored on the streets today
that the chairman OF the committee. Mr.
K. ID. Pearce of the First ward desired
To send for Chairman William III. Luther
of the police commission, and let the
chairman state to the committee some OF
the facts that he had gathered in support
OF the boards request for larger police
force, but a member arose and declared
that he had seen the chairman OF the po-
lice commission, and that official did not
care to appear before the committee, de-
spite the well-known fact that the ohair-
man was ready and anxious to state why
the board should have the additional ap-
preparation.
When asked today whether he had au-
thorixed any such statement To be made
to the committee In his behalf, Chairman
Luther said: II certainly did not have
| no desire to enter into any controversy
| with any member OF the committee. II
| may be that there was a nlisunderstand-
ing that can be satisfactorily explained.
but 1 expected TO be called before the
| committee. and had instructed the clerk
| OF tho commission to obtain data which
| l intended TO present TO the board IL ~
| did call upon me. even went SO tar' one
day when 1 proposed 10 spend rev
hours out OF the city, to ascertain that
| I would not be wanted. no as not 10 IN
| convenience the committee.
When Chairman Pearce was asked TX
any member had made such statement
In the committee meeting, he refused 10
say declaring that he did not think II
was proper to discuss the committees
action outside OF the committees meet
ings.
CITIZENS IN FAVOR.
Citizens generally believe the council
should grant an additional appropriation.
'It ls plain from the statements made
% the police commissioners by the seven
captains OF distrlcts-men who thoroughly
understand the police needs OF their dis
tricts--that the public good requires more
patrolmeri in order to properly protect life
and property" said Mayor Patrick J. Nc
Carthy today.
The commissioners. acting upon the
recommendation OF the captains" he con-
tinued. have asked for an appropriation
sufficient 70 Increase the force by 50 men.
The matter should be considered carefully
by the city. council and The aodDuonn1 sp-