Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-06-18
City's Debt to Be Increased for
Electric Lighting
Plant.
$4,000 THE AMOUNT
Action Taken at n LargcIy-Attcndcd
and DiscOrdant city Mccting-Cnn-
did Discussion of Question Ir,pos-
siblc--Lcgnlity of Vote May he
Tested.

The city meeting Thursday night at
the city Han for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning whether the citizens wished to
have bonds issued for the establishment
OF n municipal electric light plant re-
solved itself into Il word war of person.
alitics that at times was far beyond the
control of the chair and when the final
vote was taken authorizing the issuance
OF bonds to the sum of $4,000 for the
purpose there were many who questioned
the legality of the action of Mayor Burke
in declaring the motion carried.
Ihe meeting was called to order by
Mayor Burke and j. II. Macomber was
elected clerk. After reading the petition
foi the meeting and the call for the same
the mayor declared the question open for
discussion. +. NJ. Horton Immediately
offered the following resolution:
Resolved, the city of burlington
construct or purchase and maintain an
electric light plant in accordance with
and for the purposes specified in act No.
23 of the acts of the General Assembly
of 1902 entitled IAN act to authorize the
city of burlington to construct and MAIN
tain an electric light plant"
That the city council be authorized and
directed to issue negotiable bonds of the
city of burlington to an amount not cx-
cooding Sl5o,oW at such times and in such
sums as said city council may deem nee
'Htl y I'l tnt INI IbS'S ldllltu III tillS
resolution. said bonds to run for a term
not exceeding 80 years and bear interest
at a rate not exceeding 4 per ccA per
dnnum. payable semi-annually.
rh city council in accordance with the
provisions of said act shall do all things
necessary to carry the purposes of this
resolution into effect.
T.. X. Coon moved that the resolution
be adopted and the motion was seconded.
Before the vote was finally put the sew
oral hundred men who packed the hall to
the doors alternately applaudcd and
Missed the speakers. those who sought a
fair discussion of the matter were at
tackled on personal grounds and general
disorder prevailed.
Elias Lyman was tho first speaker and
opposed the resolution. lie was followed
by Y. \. Bullard ana both mon occupied
the floor several times during tho even
ing. the latter at times catching the
crowd with personal thrusts 1T Mr. I.y-
man. which had nothing to do with tho
question under discussion. Ex-Gov. L. A.
Woodbury.. JOIN O'Ncil, G. r. Barney and
G. p. Smith opposed passing the rcso-
luton and j. Il. Kelley. Michael Nc
kinzic, j. Il. McMahon, j. w. McGeary
and c. L. Jones spoke in favor of it.
During the discussion Governor Wood
bury moved that a committee of three.
with Mayor Burke as chairman, he to
appoint the other two members. be APP
pointed for the purpose of INVESTIGATING
the cost Of lighting the city and that
committee to report at an adjourned city
meeting to he held in six weeks. This
motion WAS lost.
Mr.. Smith said that tho city ought to
consider the matter carefully and wished
to have the board of aldermen instructed
to mako a contract with the Consolidated
Electric co, to furnish lights for ono
NpDt "a 1 the tulrra ~ mo -. ,IAr. 80. -.