Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-12-23
IFor the Free Prets.
CITY CHARTER.
Editors Frss Press

lFor the Free Preu.
CITY CHARTER.
Editors Free Press,
Before noticing the reply OF the Free
Press to my communication on the subject OF
the proposed City Charter, it may be well to Al
tempt to dissipate the fog in which the Pres
seems enveopel, or wishes to envelope others. by
showing the limits and population Of that pcr-
ton Of the town to which any arguments for
City Charter can apply, AM Of that portion
winch is set apart by the proposed charter for
a city
The township Of Burhngt, beng four by *
miles. contains tweuty-four miles Of surface.
Now block in regular form aud less than two
miles square, (being one sixth psrt Of the town.
can be So laid out as to cover all that part Of tine
town which can now or for fry years hence,
require anything but he simplest town orslui-
zaton-aud It is adding insll, to INJURY for the
Press to assume that that portion Of tie town
outside Of sail block comes within the pretended
benefit Of the City Charter or constitutes any e.
ement in its favor Ald what IS the form and
shape Of the contemplated city Take map
of the town and color that portion representing
The land within the described limits Of the char
Ter. and, without inJeni.uga jlke, insist that
It's profile Will rem... you Of namcess animal
living on his side with his nose at the extremity
OF Rel Rock Point, his legs IN the Lake, his
ack broke by Williston Avenue, his hind parts
At the Falls, and his large bushy tail spreading
away north over the intervals and terminating
al the mouth Of the riyer-measur.ng about tx
miles from the tip Of his nose TO the end Of the
TIL!
And what is the population that it is claimed
is suffering for the luxury Of paved streets
and sidewalks, lights, water and police The
Free Press Of the 9th inst, claimed that Sab, VI
5000 resided within the City limits, but it now
claims the number within that limits to be 5000
an extraordinary increase Of population in 50
short a period The population Of Burlington
by the census Of 1850, was 6,ll0-by the CEN
sus # 1860, it Was 7,7l3. being an annual IN
crease Of about l60-now assuming the increase
Of the last four years to have been at the rate ot
| 200 per annum, tina present population Of the
torn would be S5l3 What is to be iedue;ed
therefrom for the population on the 20 square
miles occupied by the farming interest If you
say 800, you have within the four square miles
1913 rather small pattern to require the
same organization and officers as London or
New York.
The Press saws that Union is mistaken in
| asserting that the procurement Of the Charter
was private enterprise. Was the petition any
thing but tn. act of individuals, and they,
hundreds If they were, but a small minority
Of these equally interested, to whom the paper
was never presented
As to the power of taxation Of the many by
the few, the Press seems to treat the fact Of con-
serriug on the City Council the power Of taxa
ton to the trifing amount of 80 cents on the
dollar, and that too without designation of the
beet or application, as not indicating any such
design and quite unimportant-and in great
simplicity, does not seem to dream how ready a
plant Legislature, under the influence of adrot
managers, would be TO grant to the City Coun-
ell, the necessary authority to raise money by
loan or tax, to carry out the large powers and
duties with which they are charged in tire char
ter; #, in fact, they need any such additional au
thority, to commit the City to any amount Of
debt.
The Press does not attempt to sustain by
any substantial fact or argument. the necessity
Of a change Of iowa government, and it may
well falter in the face of the long continued and
generally judicious, economical and satisfactory
administration If our affairs, and the prosperity
and security We have enjoyed. have never
until now, heard OF San often discoriant board
OF selectmen.'' and rarely Of an "inefhcient"
one. II the Press seeks to AVOID such az
sicuons by the adoption Of a city government,
ii will ind itself disappointed, as the elements
Of discOrd, if no, ineficiency, will be increased
in the ratio Of l6 to g. Who can nationally
expect more judicious selection of officers
when you have thrown awsy great portion Of
the conservative force represented by the farm
ing interest Boston lived and fouri shed un-
der a simple town charter from its first settle
ment until 1922, when it reluctantly gave it up
with population Of 5000. | think We may
stand it little while longer
The Press says "ths erpsnse is the main OBJ
lection to the Charter, and is in our humble be-
lief, wholly fallacious one" What does the
Press mean 1t will either cost more or not
is a question Of fact, snd there is no fslla,y
about it. The taxpayers will find the fallacy
in the assumption OF the Press. You add from
40 to so officials to the present number Sof Off
GERS Of the town. Your Mayor will want
room furnished in handsome style, and warmed,
watered and lighted. The board Of Aldermen
and Common Council, will each require room
furnished and provided in like manner. and all
requiring the various articles ofststionery-snd
all these of5csrs are to be paid directly indi-
restly, charter or no charter. A membership in
the board Of Aldermen or Common Council in
the large cities, though without any stipulated
p.y, is sought - lucrative position. The
Pres says "the salary of the Mayor viii not
sxseed what W nov pay the selsctmsn"-on
what authority The City Council and not the