Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-05
SINKING FUND.

SINKING FUND
The sinking fund is made up wholly of
the notes and bonds of the city Why
not cancel Il certain amount of these and
10y 50 much, reduce the gross debt since
the sol" purpose Of a sinking fund is to
meet and pay the debt as it natures?
This | do not insist upon but recommend
it a., in my Judgment. good business pol
icy. An individual who had PAID and tax
en- up his note would not hold ii against
himself but would cancel il. Why should
municipal corporation do otherwise?
THE LAKE FRONTAGE.
The matter Of public dock has recent
ly been brought to general notice and has
revived public discussion Of our rights to
the water front. Assuming the utility of
a public dock, which is dcbatahlc. then.
/ in order TO it's erection and maintenance.
/ legislation granting the power therefor is
| advisable ana probably necessary, To
that end. and Ia empower the city TO keep
open the approaches of the streets to and
upon the lake, | introduced and advocated
"A bill in the Senate of 1870. This received
no homo support and failed
The question Of the rights of the NUM-
cipality in the lands bordering upon the
| lake is not a simple one. dts discussion
| has naturally evoked more talk than il
has disclosed knowledge. II can only he
| settled by the law as applied to the OBJ
| scure history of the frontage. Suits have
| been brought through competent counsel
| and tho whole matter should he SYSTEM
| atically pressed to right conclusion
| Meanwhile il is idle to apply hard names
| to the corporations or individuals who
| were made welcome to take possession.
| create values and build up the business
| Of the community at time when water
| lots were cheap, or in the public view.
| worthless II the town and city of Bur-
limo tf,t, tlnnfr int.
tests, the fault is theirs.
EXEMPTIONS.
The law cXomptirE manufacturing AND
other industries for period of ten years
when the town so votes" should IN
amcnded so as to make the term five
years. as was formerly the law. The pc
riod of ten years is unreasonably long ant
works injustice to the uneXempted tax
Ipayers. The provision that the cXcmp
tion can only he had If the town (city) 81
votes" does not alter the case. As
practical matter for us, the voice of tn
. people is not always adequately express
ed at n city meeting, for many reasons
one of them being that the city Hal
where meetings are held cannot accom-
modate one-third of the voters.
: THE DEPARTMENTS.
= have little comment to make upon tn
} administration of the different depart
ments Their condition and wants ar
| fully stated in the reports Of the severa
, officials So far as | can discover, the
have all been managed honestly and wit
4 reasonable economy OF course 1t is on
t business to see to ii that they are KEEP
= up to high standard of efficiency.
CONCLUSION.
r Every administration has a natural am
= btion to identify itself with some pub
lie improvement 10 mark It's history, an
V the days OF borrowing and of eXtende
p, public works are the pleasantest. Bu
- debts nave To be- paid, and my conelusio
= Is that without permitting any of III
city's prop' rtN 10 tun down, or the ell
Y cheney of the public service To he impair
ed. we should maintain. Tor The present