The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-06
to Committee Hold
ing Up Measures Re-
fcrred to it-AIderman
Parks Speaks Right Out
In Meeting and Riles
Mr.. Reynolds - Mayor
Peurs Oil on Troubled
Waters.

lively DEBATE was preclplisueu III tne
board of aldermen yesterday by the ac-
ton OF Alderman Parks In calling down
the finance committee, which had held
an ordinance revising the fec system of
this city for nearly six months without
making any report on IL. He took Alder
man Reynolds - task and in the course
of the discussion some hot shot were fired.
The alderman from the Fifth ward
flushed and protested Indignantly that he
was honest aud had striven TO do his
duty and finally the mayor appeared In
the role OF pacificator and poured oil on
the troubled waters by suggesting that
the alderman from the first ward might
accept the assurance pf the alderman
from the fifth that a report would be
made at the next meeting of the board,
which suggestion was accepted.
During the debate Aldermen Peterson,
Dunn, Spicer and Fletcher said a few
things and there was considerable ten
sion. the burden OF most of the remarks
being that the majority OF the aldermen
were tired of having measures pigeon
holed by one or two members of a com
mittee.
The proposed ordinance amends section
l. chapter le revised ordinances of 1892
and requires the city auditor 10 report
annually the amoUnt OF fees received by
city officials as returned to him by the
passed was TO have taken effect Jan. g
had It not been held up in the COM
mittee.
THE DEBATE.
The ordinance by which the city officials
are required TO make their returns of fees
received. together with list of the Of
ficlals who may be affected. was read to
the board at the suggestion OF it's au-
thor. Alderman Parks who declared that
IL was only right that the people of the
city should know who were receiving fees
and TO what amounts. III these fees were
I'm the aggregate. found to be IN excess
OF compensation commensurate with the
work done by the officials. the public is
being imposed upon and a scaling down
should be inauguratcd. he said.
The board was about to adjourn, hav-
ing disposed of the routine business be-
fore IL, when Alderman Parks rose and
said that last June he had presented
a bill for an ordinance relating to FL
nance" which had been referred TO the
committee on finance. That committee,
he said had made no report lie re-
quested the committee to take the matter
up and act upon 1t, met the committee
last "Wednesday afternoon. explained the
proposed ordinance and informed the
members that IL report was not made
Immediately he would take action 10
hiring the matter before the board.
Alderman Reynolds, a member of the
committee on finance. said that the rea-
son the committee had not made a re-
port was that the members were In
doubt as to the 2xpediency OF the meas
ure as IL has been presented for their
consideration. Personally hc had no OBJ
joctions TO an ordinance which would re-
qure an accounting of fees. but the
bill had been drawn each and every Of
ficer OF the city. whether he performed
an act in which the city was directly in
terested or did stroke OF work for him
self In his office hours, would be required
10 account for the fee which he received.
The proper way To proceed. he said,
would be to ascertain what was wanted,
then go TO the general assembly and ask
for the right TO demand the desired re-
turns He said that by statutory law
certain officers were collecting fees and
he asserted that the city council has no
right TO question what these officials did
with the money they received
MIR. PARKS REMARKS.
Alderman Parks then said:
1T looks to me- from what the gentle
man from the Fifth ward says, as IL the
committee on finance does not Intend TO
make a report at all. l let this matter
rest from July until September. when |
asked the alderman from the Fifth ward
TO look into II. | also consulted the city
auditor and was told by that official that
he heartily approved Of the measure and
EXPRESSED surprise that some action OF
tho proposed nature had not been taken
long ago.
1T Is not fair 10 the employees of the
city who have stipulated salaries that
others should go out into the community
and collect fees and put them In their
pockets Ask one OF these favored OF
ncials, favored by law, what his fees
amount 10. and he will say that he does
not know.
ut seems to me that there is some
thing which the committee on nhdhce
does not approve of; otherwise the mem
bers would be willing TO make a report
IL the city in the future desires 10 place
certain officers on the salary list. how is
the city council to know how To NIX inc
salaries unless IL gets some ldea OF 'he
fees that are taken and thereby arrives
ut a just compensation?
"If we have department, the ices Vi
which are excessive. then the money
which is collected over and above a fair
compensation Is coming out OF the COM
munity We desire 10 give compensation
commensurate with the service rendered
and thereby make the records of the city
complete"
Mayor Mccarthy suggested that the pro-
posed law would be a desirable addition
to the ordinances OF the city.
TO FORCE REPORT.
Alderman Parks then moved that the
board request the committee on finance
TO report at the next meeting.
Alderman Fletcher objected inasmuch
as the common council had adjourned sine
die and no time would be gained. At the
same time he suggested that the gentle
man from the First ward send TO the
committee on finance the list OF officers
as read and that that list be made part
OF the ordinance.
Alderman Dunn seconded the motion.
and said that IL was high time that the
public knew what its servants were doing
Alderman Spicer also seconded the mo-
tion.
Alderman Peterson said that while he
was not opposed Co the ordinance. he felt
that action at this time would be inoppor-
tune. for the rea 'on tl.at ono branch %
the city council bad adjourned sire die
He believed however. that there WAS =