Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-09-06
ORDER TOO DRASTIC
Characterizes Action of
Board of Health.
Aldermen sustain Him in Declining 10
Carry Out order to Post the City
Water Faucets-Conl CONF
pany's sign Stays.

aldermen last evening, at which all mem
bers were present with the exception of
Alderman Parker, it was voted not to
sustain the mayors veto of the
measure granting permission for the
Citizens Coal company to erect the much
controverted sign on Church street and
the board voted to sustain Mayor Burke
in the matter of not posting public water
faucets, according to the demands of the
State board of health.
ILLUMINATED SIGN AGAIN.
The discussion OF the sign occupied
several minutes Alderman Morgan re-
ported that upon a recent trip to Boston
he took particular pains to observe
whether similar signs were allowed there.
He said he saw several in the heart of
the business section, some of them larger
than that Of the coal He NOV
ed that the mayors veto be not sustain
ed and an aye and nay vote was called
for.
Mayor Burke addressed the board, re-
reading his veto. which he said was based
entirely upon legal grounds. viz tina. the
board had no right to grant anyone the
privilege Of OCCUPYING the streets for the
purpose aforesaid. An informal discussion
N''H'' oii' ~ "dS IltlllblItu ADdl lifTt
were numerous other offenders on Church
and other streets, who were obstructing
the sidewalks with signs and merchandise.
Mayor Burke said this ease was the first
one against which a protest had been en-
tered. He said he was In favor of apply
ing the provisions of the law in all the
other instances of violation.
Alderman Pine said that the protest
against tho Sip,, u-n fha nc,1t 90 -ar
sonal spite felt toward Mr.. Brodie of the
Citizens Coal company. He thought per-
sonal grudges ought to be settled with
out invoking the aid of the city in the
transaction. Mr.. Pines opinion was sus-
tanned by similar words from other men,
bers.
alderman Meagher said the petition for
the sign was accompanied by a diagram.
specifying plainly the character of the
proposed sign. He said there was no at
tempt on the part of the coal company to
conceal or misrepresent just what it
would be. A very general opinion was
expressed that the test case ought not
to be made with the sign which had been
erected at considerable cost, since there
are so many other cases similar to IL.
The aye and nay vote followed. eight
~" VIZ ~ anu NE
Alderman Courtney, voting to sustain it.
Those voting nay were Aldermen Coffey.
Pine, Morgan, Reeves. Meagher, Barber,
kidder and Stone. All OF the signs of the
city which 1t is alleged are in violation OF
the law now therefore stand in the same
light.
THE WATER QUESTION.
Mayor Burke read his letter to the State
board of health in reply to the order re-
ceived from that body to post the public
water faucets of the city by August 81.
The letter stated that inasmuch as there
was not n single case of a contagious dis
ease In the city. he thought the require
ment of the board too drastic and that
the action was entirely uncalled for. The
opinion was freely expressed by the board
that no attention should be paid to the
State boards order and a unanimous vote
was taken. sustaining Mayor Burke in the
attitude he took in the letter (which he
sent.
ABOUT THE TRACTION CO.
The matter of violation by the traction
company of the provisions of their fran
chise was taken up again by Aldermen
Courtney and Meagher and on motion OF
the latter 1t was ordered that the clerk
be instructed to remind the traction com
pany to comply with the provisions of the
franchise granted in December 1S9, and
also with the provisions Of the North
avenue franchise. Alderman Courtney said
It was reported that the service on North
avenue beyond the Institute road would
be discontinued in another week and he
was of the opinion that " the cars were
not to be run except when the snow in
] arf tho tronL- chn,i11 ho rnrnnNnd
On motion of Alderman Meagher \
was voted to notify City Engineer
| Sinclair to prepare plans and specih-
cations for the underpass at Lakeside
the same to be reported upon by him
at the next meeting of the board OF
aldermen.
SHADE TREES AND GAS.
The special committee consisting Of
Aldermen Barber and Courtney ap'
pointed to investigate the killing OF
shade trees in the north part of the
city reported finding several trees
dead as a result. in their opinion, Of
gas escaping from the street mains OF
the Burlington Gas company. The re-
port was accepted and placed on hle
and the committee was instructed tc
consult with the city attorney In the
matter.
A resolution was passed extending
the time of r. n. Frechette, former
city constable. for the collection oil
unpaid taxes for 1905. Petitions re-
ceived for sewers on North Bend stree
and on Walnut street. south of Archi'
bald were referred to the street com
m~issioners. A petition for an electric
light at the corner Of Spring stree
and lntervale avenue was referred tt
the electric light commissioners.
A claim presented by a workman
employed in constructing the retain
ing wall north of St. Joseph's GENE
terry, for damages of 500 for loss OF
time, doctors care. bills, nursing ant
damage to person due to an injury
sustained while thus employed, wa!
referred to the street commissioners.
BILLS PAID.
The usual budget of bills was paid, In
Guiding one from E. W. J. Hawkins FOL
services for six months and for expense!
as chairman and secretary of the board
Of license commissioners The bill wal
for 1896. 60 and was submitted In itemizet
form, according to a previous request
The bill as presented extended two-third!
OF the length of the table around which
the board sat. Other bills ordered pale
or