Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-02-22

tanning MS sentiments 10 all OF our OrganlZa-
tons. AS an organization we are interested
In the denomination of our friends, whose
terms of Office are shortly to expire. There
il my old friend John j. German, and we
want to know il Mr.. Edison, should he be
elected Mayor, will reappoint Mr. German.
for whom my friendship is sincere" Mr..
Edison said that he recognized two democratic
organizations | don't think he mentioned
Irving Hall he said he should cndcavor it
elected, to divide the patronage between the
two share and share alike be said he recog-
niLed the Importance Of keeping up these
organizations.
Q. Well7 A. Well, that was not quite
specific enough, and Mr.. Kelly asked him
frankly-Mr. Kelly is frank aud truthful
msn-about the other offices Mr.. Edison
said that he should divide them on the same
rriucplc, and he tactiy promised that the
first appointment of police justice should
go to Tammauy Hall, as the county Demo
crazy bad sccurci the last appointment.
O. What was the substance Of his promise
with regard to the three commissions A.
MIR. Kelly, as recoect it, said to him in so
many words :-"Will you reappoint these
gentlemen on the express desire of the Tam
many organization Z" Mr.. Kelly asked him
this for the purpose of having the thing I'M
derstood Twill you reappoint those gen
| tcmen,' he SAID, land give to Tammany
| Tall a fair division of the other offices 2" Mr.
| Edison assentcd.
MIR. Edison was thereupon put in nominal
ton for the Mayoralty and was subsequently
elected and he faithfully discharged all the
promises rcctcd above. Mr.. Edison in his
testimony denied the truth of Mr.. Haskins's
allegations it is but fair to say hut John
Kelly refused to answer any questions re-
garding them; SO that the weight of evidence
is decidedly against Mayor Edison.
But the Republicans show up quite as bad.
~ as the Democrats. One of the witnesses
before the legislative committee was Mr..
Pearson, Republican alderman, and he
told an interesting and instructive story
about the way the Republican place-hunters
make deals with John Kelly. 1t seems
that four of the eight Republican aldermen
-Mcssrs. Waite (wIo is not unknown in
these parts) Miller, Wendell and Pearson
met John Kelly at his house at the time oil
the deadlock in the Board of Aldermen.
Kirk "a rumseller) was Kclly's candidate fol-
President of the Board, but he could not b.
elected without the aid Ut Republican votes
OF the proceedings at the Kelly mansion,
Mr. Pearson testified:
Mr. Waite pulled out Of his pocket list
which he had prepared OF the seventeen com.
mittees of the Board of Aldermen and hand.
"a 1t to Mr.. Kelly, who complimentcd Mr..
Waite upon his industry and then passed the
list around Mr.. Wendell objected becaus,
he was put on the Lamps and Gas committee;
he SAID he preferrc to be on the Commit e
on Puslic Parks, for they might cut througl
some property in which he was Interest &c
unless he was on the committee to prevcnr
it.
| z. Did yen say that four Republican
Aldermen were invited? A. | understood
that the whole eight were invited, but thu
only four went to the house; | went on Mr.
| Mlllers invitation, expecting to get som,
Republican nominated, but Mr. Kelly wouc
not listen to The suggestion If change; h,
wanted Mr.. Kirk elected on the following
morning.
Q. Well, what was done about the com
mitlces ? a. Mr.. Waite WAS sitting aoul
side of Mr.. Kelly, and, as have said, h,
passed the list TO him the Aldermen speo
fed what committees they would like to bt
IN, and MIR. Waite made the changes; Mr.
Kelly said that If they were agreeable to hin
| he Ii ,d no doubt they would be SO to Mr.
Kirk after that Mr.. Waite took out lis
of the clcrkships ard showed it to Mr.. KEEL
ly; believe that 100000 is Appropriated
annually for paying the Aldcrmanic clerks
| MIR. Kelly said that each one of the Rcpub
Iicans should have a committee and a clerk
snip.
Q, Was the agreement carried out? A