Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-04-07
new CITY GOVERNMENT
E. B. Taft Reelected President of
the Board Of Aldermen.
Mayor Hurke's Message Nead-AImost
n Clean Sweep among the City Of
Notwithstanding Committees
Appointed

The first meeting of the newly elected
board of aldermen was hold Monday
afternoon ut $50 o'clock, all the aiuer-
men being present. Previous to calling
the meeting 10 order, City Clerk j. ~.
Macomhcr administered the oath of Of
| flee to Mayor Burke and Aldermen Taft,
stiles. Courtney. German and Willard.
Clerk Macombcr announced that the
! iirst business of the meeting was TO elect
president TO serve during the ensuing
year Aldermen Coney pres. nted the name
| of Alderman shea. ana Alderman Reeves
| presented the name of Alderman Taft,
| who has served during the past year. A
! ballot was called for, and Alderman COT
| ley and Reeves we're appointed tclicrs.
| 1t took three ballots 20 select n lWcsi-
| dent Alderman TAFT being declared eject
cd on the third ballot The first ldilot
stood. for Shea >: for TAFT >. Another
ballot was ordered which stood. for T..
Is TAFT !; for Taft /; for Shea 4. Alder
man Shea suggested another ballot,
| which was taken. Tho third ballot stood,
| for TAFT c; for shea 4 and Alderman
| Tait was declared elected. Upon taking
| the chair Mr.. Taft said that he hoped
| that they would have n successful year
committee composed of Aldermen
Courtney and Reeves were appointed to
wait upon Mayor Burke Tho board then
listened to the reading of the message by
the mayor. which follows:
TO tie Honorable tive Boa'd of Alder
mem
Gchtlemen:-1n compliance with the
| provisions of the city charter ] herewith
submit for your consideration II state
inont of the financial condition OF the city,
January J. 1901 / also submit for your
consideration matters of Importance. and
l earnestly request that YOU give them
| the attention they deserve
The bonded debt of the city January
| ]. 1901 was 1861. 600. less sinking fund of
N',sS.1S, leaving the net bonded debit of
| the city sol III So for further details |
would REFER YOU to the tr.asurcr's report
| | wish now to call your attention to
statistics which 10 my mind are very i'm
| portant, as they clearly show in large
measure the cause Of our constantly in
| cfcaSlnE tax levy They are as follows:
During the last ten years. while our
TAX levy shows an increase of over fifty
| per cent, and our population an in
| crease OF forty per cent. our grand list
| on when our taxes are levied shows an
| increase of only twenty per cent
In view of these facts | feel il nv duty
TO impress upon your minds the import-
ance of giving this matter your serious
| attention. for the following reasons.
! me IN" grand list of our city or
Whl'h our tax levy is based shows sucr
S"HiI increase as compared with tn.
iafSo increase as shown in our tax low
| ana also the increase in our population
IL. must be evident unless these conditions
are changed only one result can follow
namely constantly increasing tax levy
"a tning which can and should be remodio,
AT once. and ] would respectfully submit
| the following remedy:
| The city has undertaken to do ccrtai,
| things for the benefit of the people. sucl
| Il 0t ~