Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-06-01

A. MiGht be Expected. the Alleged Dc.
liaquents Are All Republican,
Opinions Submitted by city
Attorney Brown.

steTaW Stevens, FORMER sure rtftenuent vi
streets. included in his report for the
last quarter items for work amounting
to 1900. not a dollar Of which represents
work done this year: that Alderman stiles
accepted a commission nf s25 on the pur.
chase of horse for the fire department
and that n. Il. Brown. street commits
s"uer has teen negligent in the dis.
charge OF his duties. In the message he
asks TINT IL the charge against Alderman
Stiles be found true he be requested to
resign his Office.
IN addition to the mayors plessaSc a
resolution was passed requesting Mr..
Brown to appcar before the board Mon.
day evening tn show why he should not
be removed. The bond submitted ny u.
| w. {. Clapp. as superintendent of streets
was returned tn the beard with an obn-
ion from city Attorney Brown to the
effect that it was insufficient. Attorney
Brown also rendered a report on the leg
| nlity of tho ordinance prohibiting the use
OF sof. coal.
| MAYORS MESSAGE.
The mayors message follows exactly
as written:
At special meeting of the board of
aldermen. hold on tho 10Th of this
month. Herald Stevens, cx-supcrintcn-
dent of streets. presented a quarterly
statement for the period beginning
January |. 1908. to May /. 1905. and on
account OF the nature OF this report as
excepted by YOU, I feel it my duty to
call your attention to tho same. Not :
withstanding the fact as you will
sec by referring to his report for tho
year 1904 he reports balance of
A.6t in the treasury. with no out
standing bills unpaid Included in the
expenses for the first quarter OF tho
| present year as reported by Mr..
Stevens, which sum amounts to over
$4,000. is about $4,000 for work on
streets. repairing tools and other OK
penscs. not one dollar OF which repre-
sents work done this year. As YOU are
| aware tho reports of the different de-
partments arc for tho benefit of the
public and are supposed to deal honest :
| ly with the same. but when you con-
| slider the nature of these reports
| think it is time for MS to begin and be
more vigilant in looking after the
city's interests before any such reports
are accepted. Mr.. Stevens. although
generally supposed by the public TO
have vacated the Office on the first of
tho month still retains the books and
combination of the safe at the present
time and refused to turn them over to
| the proper person.
A change in the management
lof the water department was
also made on the first of the
present month. F. o. Sinclair sue
ceeding J.. II. Crandall, but when the
retiring superintendent left the office
line changed the combination of the
safe and kept same and books in his
possession for one week before giving
them up to the proper person. a week
later in looking up matters in the Of
flee it was found that Mr.. Crandall
lhad the check book in his possession
Jalso the old checks. and when asked
for them returned the book but re-
| fused to return the checks by saying
they had been destroyed. You also
know that at the present time the
mayor of your city. like Mayor
Weaver of Philadelphia. is en-
joined by the courts because
lin the exercises OF his oni-
cial duty in the interests OF the people
and with your assistance in what believe
to be a perfectly legal manner he tried Il
prevent a wOuld-be briber in holding {
position Of trust and honor involving thu
supervision OF spending $4,000 of the peo
lples money. Tile evidence OF attempted
bribery. the penalty for which according
| to the laws Of our State may be Ave years
| IN State prison, are now on file in thi'
office in the form Of sworn afsidavits b.
responsible persons.
| Another important matter ! feel II my
duty to call your attention to In a rurhol
which has been current rejecting on g
member of your honorable body and aftei
investigating the matter / find that suit
rumor appears 10 be well grounded and i.
| to the effect that the chairman of las
years fire committee charged commits
sion of SIS on a horse bought by him o,
the 25th of August 1904, for use in the fire
department If after investigation thi!
rumor proves true ! would recommend "a
least that said member be asked to max,
restitution to the city and also that he h
requested to resign his seat rs member
OF the city council.
We also find that ~ X. Brown, one o
our street commissioners. since the second
day of this month has repeatedly refused
when requested by his associates In once
to participate in any meetings in the per.
Torrance of his sworn duty as street
commissioner. Gentleman. believe it I,
he my duty to call your attention to these
Things as from sources which / fully he.
lieve to he true these same abuses have
existed for number of years and I thinl
it is time to cry halt and insist that fol-
the future the city of Burlington shall ant
must have an honest administration OF
its municipal affairs and | would respect.
fully ask the hearty cooperation OF youl
honorable body in bringing about this
much desired result.
| BROWN MUST EXPLAIN.
| The mayors message was accepted
and placed on file, after which the fol-
lowing resolution was offered by Al
| derman Courtney:
Resolved, That y. X. Brown, street
| comm sioner Of the city OF Burling-
ton, be and is hereby charged with be-
ing guilty Of negligence in repeatedly
refusing to perform the duties of his
| office since the second. day OF May
when so requested by his associates In
office. to the great detriment of the
City OF Burlington; and also being
guilty of bad conduct In helping Ia
elect to office as superintendent Of
streets a person whom he knew to he
UNIT to hold so important position
Therefore out of courtesy to Mr.
Brown be 1t resolved that tho city