Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-07-09

In the Chronicle today about your veto
ing the Borough Street railway bill. II
you've really vetoed that bill all I'll
have to do is TO say, Sorry can't stay
longer and get out"
mo" said Bennett, that announce
ment wasn't authorized. I haven't We
toed the Borough Street railway bill
In fact, haven't made public any de-
cision on II, Whyw
I'm glad to hear Il, and, that being
the case, III invite myself TO a seat and
stay awhile. Say. your honor on tho
level, that Borough bill was the rawcst
thing tkat ever came across. Gee, but
they did their work with n meat axr'
Then you weren't one OF the alder
men who voted for IT."
"Me1 Nothln' doing. I don't belong
to Dick Horrigan's solid thirteen He
can't buy and sell me Mt his own
terms like no does them thirteen geez-
ers."
"And yet, alderman, from your rep
utation''-
From my reputation I'm a crook,
hey? Well, there's crooks and crooks.
And I'm one OF the other kind, IL I'm
crooked at all, which I deny most en-
Enthusiastically. At least l follow no
Horrigan whistle"
"Then why are you here in regard
to the Borough bill?"
Perhaps it's on the theory Of set
thief to catch n thief"
WELL" laughed Bennett. amused In
spite OF himself by the alderman's
franlsness, Eat least you call a spade
spade"
81 sure don't refer to 1t vague, but as
'utensil.' You don't need any foot.
note explanations In one syllable when
Jimmy Phelans talking. Every move
n picture, II l hadn't been through
the game from shuttle to cash in.
would l be wise to what the Horrigan
crowd IS framing up on you now?
Say, I've done some raw work in my
time, but this Borough business is the
coarsest yet. They must think you're
the original Mr.. Good Thing"
you speak as II were to be made
responsible for
And amt your" cried Phear. Sure
you are. When the people get wise to
what they're up against and COM
mence to do their scream will they re-
member that So-and-so framed the bill
and that such and such aldermen vot-
ed for It? Not them. What the public
will remember is that you signed It..
It'll go screechin' down the corridors
Of time as the iniQutous Borough
franchise bill that Bennett signed
Catch the idca?"
yes" said Bennett grimly; II I'M
derstand But what ! don't see is why
you should have taken the trouble to
come here and warn me Of this.
You've never shown any special fond
ness for me hitherto"
That's right But I've shown
punches Of unfondness for Chesty Dick
Uorrigan. And Horrigan's the man
who's rushing the Borough bill through.
Lord, what bill! It's so crooked that
who tried to walk along 1t would meet
himself coming back. Why, your hon
or, r.
"Mr. Wainwright, your honor" said
Ingram at the door; says he won't de-
tain You long"
LET him in II you like" suggested
Phelan. Il can wait. Shall l 60 into
the other'@
"No. Wait here If you choose. His
business isn't likely to be private"
I'm sorry to break in on your rush
hours" said Wainwright as he adj
vanced to greet the mayor II won't
keep you long Good afternoon. alder
man."
"Howdy," returned Phean, walking
over to the far end Of the office. where,
by falling into deep and admiring
study OF q particularly atrocious por-
trait Of some earlier mayor. he denoted
that he was temporarily out of the
conversation.
"I'll come to the point at once, Mr..
Bennett" began Wainwright. II call
ed to see you about the Borough Street
railway bill"
"That's an odd coincidence" answer
ed Bennett II was going to call you
up this afternoon and ask your opinion
Of 1t. What do you think OF the meas.
ure?"
what does he think OF It." mutter-
ed Phelan. addressing the portrait in
an aside that was perfectly audible.
"What does he think of It? And him
ownin' the rival road! Oh, easy! Ask
him n real hard one"
you're mistaken. alderman" re-
turned Wainwright blandly. II am =
clined to favor the passage Of the Bor-
ough bill"
Phelan shot one keen glance Of In
credullty at the financier, then wheeled
about and resumed his rapt study of
the portrait.
Eyes" continued Wainwright. II ad-
NIT that my City Surface line is In a
way the rival Of the Borough Street
railway, but In big city like this
there's surely room for both lines to
carry on prosperous business. so why
should they try to injure each other?"
"Why. oh. why?" echoed Phelan,
again addressing the portrait. Can
be gettin' SO old that I've begun hear
in queer things that's never said?"
Wainwright paid no heed to the in
terpolation. but went on:
"Of course the franchise will be q
good thing for the Borough road, bu,
1t needn't hurt the City Surface line
Resides, the passing Of the bill made
Borough stock rise from SO to 81. Then
when that unauthorized announcement