Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-05-04
DEMOCRATS ELECTED
D. w. Q. Clapp superintendent Of
Streets, +. o. Sinclair Of Water.
Appointment Of the Former Not salts.
factory 70 Mayor Burke aAd the
Democratic Aldermen, who
wanted reter Sheeran.

| as superintendent OF streets Monday by
the board Of street commissioners has
raised the biggest kind Of q row in the
Democratic party and the end is not In
sight by any means In this connection
| charges OF bribery are flying through the
air. specific acts being mentioned freely
IN the presence Of dozens Of mon.
The commissioners were to have met
Monday afternoon at four o'clock to
| organize but the meeting was delayed
because of pressure brought to bear upon
commissioners Hicks and Daley. the
democratic members. to appoint Peter
| Sheeran. who was supported for the Office
by Mayor Burke and all the democratic
aldermen. Commissioner Daley was called
to the city clerks Office early in the
afternoon. fle was hedged in by the dem
ocratic members OF the board of alder
men. all 81 whom were present and who
backed up tho demand Of Mayor Burke
that sheeran he appointed. Mr.. Daley was
docile and readily acceded to their de-
inands. With Mr.. Hicks the conditions
were different. He wanted Mr.. Clapp for
superintendent and all the influence. dem
ocratic or otherwise could not shake
him from his position.
The controversy became heated and
finally the meeting OF the aldermen and
the commissioners was adjourned to the
private room In rear or the clerks Of
| fee. Clerk McMnhOn and his assistants
being sent into the main Office and the
! door between the two rooms being
| closed. BEHIND this closed door the
| storm ragged for many minutes, the ex-
cited voices of those inside penetrating
to the outer room. The verbal demands
Of the mayor and aldermen were not
considered sufficient and they finally
subscribed to document which stated
that they wanted Sheeran appointed.
1t Was seen at last that the influence
exerted could not change Commissioner
| Hicks and he in company with Mr.. Daley
joined Commissioner Brown, the repub-
lican member of the board. who had
remained in his Office, smiling. while
tho other commissioners were scrapping
with their political brethren.
Owing to the lateness at which the
meeting OF the commissioners was called
it was impossible to cast many votes
for q superintendent. The board organ
ICED by electing Mr.. Hicks chairman,
after which the question of a superin-
tcndcnt came up. The names OF Mr.
Clapp. Mr.. Sheeran and MIR. Hicks all
appeared upon the ballots. although Mr..
Hicks was not candidate and so as
serted several times. At six o'clock the
commissioners were no nearer a decision
than in the beginning and an adjourn
ment was taken until seven in the even.
| ing.
The evening session was OF short dura-
tion. 1t was evident that Mr.. Hicks and
Mr.. Daley could never get together and
Commissioner Brown finally ended the
agony by casting his vote for Mr.. Clapp
and the new superintendent was de-
clared elected.
Mr.. Clamp was called to the ONCE Of
the superintendent in the city market
building and was in conference there for
some time with Commissioners Hicks
and Brown and Mr.. Stevens. the retiring
superintendent.
Mr.. Stevens has been superintendent
an able and successful Official. He will
not enter another line Of business at
present.
WATER COMMISSIONERS ORGANIZE
The meeting OF the water commits
sioners was held at the city hall at two
o'clock. The board organized by elect
ing T. +. Conlon chairman. The board
is composed OF Mr. Conlon. ]. +. L.anou
and G. w. Kelley. the latter being the
successor of j. J. Flynn.
There was practically no controversy
over the appointment OF a superinten-
dent to succeed +. II. Crandall and f..
o. Sinclair the city engineer. was APP
pointed. Mr.. Crandall has been con-
nected with tho water department for
~ years and for ~ years has been its
superintendent. He went into the de-
APARTMENT Immediately upon graduating
from the University OF Vermont and
was virtually reading meters while the
other members OF the class were re-
ceiving their diplomas.
Mr.. Crandalrs adaptability for the
work was soon recognized and i'm two
years he was made superintendent,
since which time the Burlington de-
partment has steadily grown in size
and efficiency and is now numbered
Iamong the model ones in New England
Mr.. Crandall was superintendent when
the new intake was laid and also when
the reservoirs were built. In addition
to making the system an excellent
water supply Mr.. Crandall has also
made II financial success. In retir-
ing from the water office Mr.. Crandall
becomes associated with II. NJ. McIn-
tosh and they will do general engineer
ing work. having an office in the Hay.
ward block.