The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1905-03-04
FAIR PLAY NUMBER TWO.
Makes Reply to Fair Play No. /, Re-
gaIding Political Issues.

Editor Of the Barre Daily Times
VIII you please allow just word in
reply to some of the statements made
in an article which appeared in yester-
days issue and signed by "Fair Play"f
Fair Play seems to feel offended at
certain statements which were published
by the Robins Press Committee in criti-
cism of the platform put forth by Mr..
Barclay as a candidate for reelection.
IL was not the intention, we believe, of
that article to criticise Mr.. Barclay as
citizen, but simply of his platform,
which, we believe, is the duty of each
and every citizen, ii they detect in it a
false or unsound statement.
When a man puts forth platform
and asks the support Of his fellow citi-
zens for reelection, that platform inn
mediately becomes public property, and
must stand or fall on its merits alone.
In this platform, as has been plainly
and undisputedly shown, Mr. Barclay
makes a statement in regard to the
finances Of the city, which is misleading
to the tune Of $15,S27.S4. In JUS
tice to the other candidate, this mis-
leading statement should not 20 nm
corrected. Fair play for both candi-
dates is what will lead to a Just and
fair election.
Fair play No. / would have your
readers believe that the mayor has not
been extravagant in expenditures and
that whatever extravaganza expenditures
have been made, were made in spite of
his opposition; also, that the finance
committee are more responsible for any
extravaganey which may have existed
I than the mayor himself.
Section 6 of the city charter reads
as follows. "The Mayor shall be the
chief executive officer OF the city. He
shall use his best efforts to see that
the laws and the city ordinances are en-.
forced and the duties Of all subordi-
nate officers are faithfully performed
he shall take care that the finances Of
the city are properly expended and shall
bring before the board of aldermen
whatever he may deem worthy of THEN
attention, for properly and faithfully
carrying on the affairs of the city,"
1t will be readily seen by this that
4 it il the especial duty Of the mayor tc
look after the financial expenditures
of the city. No other member of the
4 city council mas SuCH dutHOllLy OF Suti
duties placed upon him, either by ths
charter or ordinances.
The finance committee, as a commit
tee, have nothing whatever to do viii
preventing extrayagant expenses; Their
duties as a board are simply an audit
ing board. No bills can be paid unit
they have inspected the vouchers and arr
satisfied that labor and materials calleC
for have ben rendered to the city. Be
fore any money can be spent by any de
partment, it must first be appropriated
from the general fund Of the city; this
can be done in only one way, by tht
passage Of resolution, which cannof
be passed until it has laid over from
one meeting to another, and then j
| subject to veto by the mayor AM
one who viii take the occasion to lool
up the records for the past year vii
find that Mr.. Barclay has not vetoed
single resolution calling for an appro
priation of money for any purposes
| therefore, he must justly be considere'
to have sanctioned every expenditure.
If there is rent due which has no
been collected, the mayor is the one in
diyidual who, more than all Others