Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-02-20
Mcdonald Replies.
THE VIEWS or AN AL
DERMAN.
Has Something to Say About
Swasey's Platform:

As an alderman for the last two
years l have been in position to know
a good deal about the Official acts and
conduct of both MIR. Swasey and Mr..
Gordon. Since Mr.. Swasey has seen
fit to comment upon Mr. Gordon in a
way no. warranted by the facts, l
think he ought to be corrected. MIR.
Gordon is not responsible for throwing
any highway damages for any year into
next year. Some of the cases COM
menccd this year were not commenced
early enough to dispose of them fully.
The cases that were commenced early
enough for this purpose have been in
MIR. Swasey's hands. and any delay con-
nected with them is due to his neglect.
In the case of the Fork shop he has not
prepared the same and has thrown the
case forward. although MIR. Gordon to
my knowledge. has told him to got it
ready. There ought to be no land dam
ages in this case thrown upon any year.
Long before MIR Gordon WAS mayor this
company built into the highway, US the
city claims, and now ask large damages
for getting out. The president Of this
company is one of Swaseys backers.
The case is a good instance of the wis
dom of the policy of Mr.. Gordon to
protect the public rights. If the town
had been as vigilant years ago a. the
city has besn under his, administration
we should never have had this contest.
Mr.. Swasey has always objected to MIR.
Gordon conducting cases because Mr..
Gordon got no pay for his serv ces and
Swasey did. The Beckley street case
has been delayed by MIR. Swasey's
representation" Last summer the
street commissioners laid out Bolster
street and widened Hillstrerv, and went
rs far as they could until the city attor-
ney made out tine necessary papers.
The matter of making these papers has
been in his hands for months, and he
h.s heeea heeea repeatedly requested to CON-
ple,e them, but has not done SO yet.
MIR. swassS s->,sss;;7ss - slss--s:. tie cit;
ought to have proceeded immediately
after the contract with the Barre Water
Company was made to fix the price.
Mr.. Gordon and the aldermen did pro-
ceed at once to prepare the case and got
expert evidence and investigated the
subject and have asked MIR. Swasey to
help. What has MIR. Swasey done to
get the case ready? Nothing to our
knowledge. lie even asked to have all
cases delayed for nearly four months Sc
that he could attend the Legislature
Mr.. Gordon,-not Mr.. Swasey whose
duty it was, but who neglected it,
tried to bring the case on for hearing
last August. and arranged = day. bu'
toond that one OF the principal witnesses
and one of the commissioners could not
attend to it when the others could. One
of the city experts has delayed his re
port until i. was burned up just before
he was ready to send it in. Mr.. Cor
don has repeatedly urged this man te
forward his report, and ii has been re
pea,edly promised, but it has not beer
received yet. 1t was the duty of MIR
Swasey as city attorney to look after
such cases, and to inform the council il
there was any OCCASION for d.fferen
course than that what has been pursued
Nobody has put anything in his way o
hindyrcd HIM. and we never heard on
word from him to tho effect that tn
case was being delayed without sutfi
cient cause until he consented to ru
for Mayor. He now tries to shirk tn
res esponsibility for his own failings upo
Mr.. Gordon. Our experience has bee
that Swasey does not prepare his case
thoroughly, and will 20 into cou1
without sufficient preparation. Th
two cases that have been left to his Ell
tire nlanagement,-the Augusta VIII
comb case, and the Phelps case-turne
. ou, disasterously to the city. III
Whitoomb case was one thrown ov'
from the village. The bailiffs awarde
one hundred and fifty dollars. M
Swasey tried the case and the city hs
to pay over seven hundred dollars II
cluding costs. In tho Phelps CASE /
udopted his course against the advice
the mayor, and was thrown out Of cou
! on his own evidence. In the contest'
u cases on Main street his courage fall
' him after the first days hearing and
e recommended a sacrifice settemer
But Gordon had the case prepared A
stuck to his guns until the city won.
Mr.. Swasey says that as II citizen
never indorsed the contract with
Barre Water Company as city ATTIC
ID new he did. The council would not
D. on it until be sanctioned it. He nev
\. suggested that the contract was not in
opinion authorized by the vote Of
city. never knew he held such
opinion until he published his platfor
In such case has the city attorney
right to hold his opinions until he
ID running for office against man W
y. has favored him so much, and who
" assisted him 80 ably in his workp
F. hs looks upon his duties in this W
of what will he do when he is elec!
V. mayor He is inconsistent with hi
'. self. In one place he says the contr
n. was not authorized by the city. and tn
savs there appears to be no way