Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-04-10

shore"
Such a park should be situated as near
the city as possible, end should have a
good beach where children could play and
bath with safety. A tract of land sum
GENTLY large and supplied with plenty OF
| shade and good beach could be secured
| to- day at sum considerably less than
$4,000. Nothing, I believe, could prove a
greater blessing to tho families and ospe-
cially the children Of our working people
| than the possession of such all outing
place.
A QUESTION OF BUSINESS.
| As touching the workings Of the city
| council and of the various departments,
wish to suggest what seen 10 me to be
| the necessity Of adopting better business
| methods in expanding the city's money
end in laying out the various appropria-
tions, etc.
At present monies appropriated ara OK.
pended withoumt reference to the op4nior
| of the entire board or the mayor as to how
| they should be expended. In minor Mat
tors this Is proper. but in extraordinary
expenditures, ard especially whan thr
same are in excess OF the approximations
it is to my mind highly improper. Fur
ther, large and important expenditures are
often made without any thing to show why
when or by whom such expenditure was
| ordered.
| do not call attention to these matters III
! a spirit Of icism, but simply to show
that some of the methods in vogue with Us
would not be considered business methods
by "a private cor poratIon, and to ask your
| aid in deciding upon Bnd Inaugural tins
those which might be better and safer.
| | wish to recommend In this connection
| the establishing by your honorable body
| OF new committee to be called com
Inittee on finance, or committee on way
and means, or by some better name. II
should BE- tho duty Of this committee tc
| Keep itself informed at all times as to the
| condition of the finances Of various de
rartments ard appropriated to the use OF
various committees, and II should he tho
| duty of all committees in expanding mon e,
| in oXcess of a specified sum, Except IKE
| and regular eNpenscs) ard in making nj
! extraordinary expenditures, except II
cases Ct emer rency, to do so only With tn
! approval of this committee. Matters relat.
! ing to finance and matter. of importan ,,
relating to certain expenditures should ID,
| lefoi red by the board to this committee fol
report before action is taken. and further
this committee should be required in Ike
matters to come to the board for authori y
This suggestion is offered to Your honor
81 1c body with the request that il ~
adopted with such Improvements as ma,
he suggested by careful study of tn
Question
The present contract for lighting GU
streets by electricity will c, pire IN Septcn
Der. 1903. / call your attention to this fl r
with the suggestion that It will be piopr
for your honorable tcdy. during tho com
Ing year. &c formally dec ide whether or ~
in your opinion it would be wise bushes
| ! oiicy for the city to undertake the in
stallation of municipal lighting plant
IN CONCLl SION.
| The past ycsr has been one Of suhstan
| tial growth ard development and one u
which there las been an urIucstionah
| increase in values Of real estate. Tina
these are facts apparent to business MOI
outside cur city is to my mind fully pro%e'
hY the willingness of such men t. invrs
the" moray in busiress property within
our city. The prospects for future Erowtl
end prosperity We're, ! believe, never bet
ter than at the present time.
/ In conclusion | urge Uron each one o
You the necessity of economy, painsllkin:
care and wise forethought in the manage
mont of the public bus incsa during tn
corning yea, end premise NY hearty co
| { rcration in every measure that cooks I,
the lest interests of all Gu" citizens.
Respectfully submitted.
DONLY c. HAWLEy,
Il Mayor
/ The message was accepted placed on Ill
and ordered printed in the next city report