Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-04
SUSTAIN vET0ES
Board of Aldermen Agree with
Mayor in Opposing Certain
Matters.
R. ". TAFT'S PROPOSITION
Mayor Says the Estate should Not Dc
Excused from Paying Assessments
NO Pay for Moses Murray
during observation-disclosures In
tercst for Loans.
R. W. TAFT'S PROPOSITION

The regular monthly meeting of the
board of aldermen was held Monday
evening with all of the members present
except Alderman Parker The usual bud
get of routine business was accomplished,
two vetoes presented by Mayor Burke
were sustained and another message
from the mayor was received with re-
ference to temporary loans.
MAYOR VETOES TAFT PROPOSITION.
| The resolution passed at II recent meet
ing of the board of aldermen whereby the
proposition OF r. w Taft, administrator
of r. :. Tafts estate be accepted as to
street assessment and that the city at
torncy be instructed to see that the suit
now pending against the city be disCon-
tinued received the mayors veto. The
terms of the veto, which was sustained by
tho board are as follows:
To tho Honorab Board of Aldermen:
| Gentlemen i feel it my duty to call
your attention to what deem very inn
portant matter, namely the resolutions
relating to the propositions of Il. w.
! Taft, administrator of the estate Of the
late Judge Taft After Il careful invcsti-
CATION of the matter | am thoroughly
convinced If you had made an investiga-
ton of the proposition and considered
it on its merits, and the probable embar-
easements it would cause the CITY in the
future in the way OF public improvements
and the collection of assessments for
the same. | have a right to believe
no such proposition would bc approved
by your honorable body.
| l have already heard one person say
that by reason Of your action on this
claim, he would also refuse to pay his
assessments. Now as to the facts. NO
vcmber % 1880? assessments amounting
to $2ul.91 for sidewalk and curl.inE were
levied against tn" above named property.
ON April r. 1891. $l,A95 was paid under
protest, to be paid back by the city if
the SAID Judge Taft was successful in a
suit he had brought and then pending to
test by chancery proceedings the legal
right of the city to make such assess
ments. Now during all these years. these
Improvements have been continually
made and pubic-spiritcd citizens have,
with a few exceptions. wholly owing to
this very suit. nobly responded by paying
their assessments. thereby making this
the most beautiful city in New England.
a word as to the legal right of the city
to make these assessments. ! would refer
YOU to the opinion of former city Attor-
Iuoy i. f.. Brown. Said report now on
Hle in this office reads as follows: "rho
cases upon this subject are conflicting but
the weight of authority is in favor of
the validity of such assessments" Now
as to amount of our claim. 1t is not. as
understood by you, as being only $i1.01
but in addition the interest on this sum
| for - years. also the interest on Sl5i9i
for Il little over four years making in
all now due the city about sl20. Gentle
men, in view Of these facts as shown and
lthc great embarrassment it would cause
III" 'itN IN the future in the way of pub
llic improvements, also believing that equal
rights for all, special privileges for none,
should b" our guiding princinl" in the
management of municipal affairs. I feel
it my duty to return To YOU the PROPOSE
ton of II. w. raft administrator. as en-
bodied in the accompanying resolutions
This property having been sold and now
the property of IL third party. | would
earnestly recommend that the city attor-
ncy be instructed to use his best efforts
to bring about an carly settlement of the
collection of the clam past due or an
early hearing of the case now pending
Respectfully submitted,
JAMES T.. BURKE. Mayor.
The city clerk was ordered to motif,
the city attorney to investigate the case.
Of all who are delinquent in their assess
mcnts for street improvements.