Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-11-04
Much Discussion over Bills of Po-
licemen and gs4 Policeman.
fnyor Declares He VIII Never Agree
TO Paying Offlccr Milcs-Aldcrmen
Refuse TO Recognize Former
Onicer Finnernn's Claim.


more talk. and very little new bust
ness was performed. A bill presented
by officer Christopher Miles for s5s,
Tor services MS policeman from Oc-
sober to November I, and a bill for
$500 presented bv ex-Policeman j. II.
Finneran, caused most OF the vocal
Efforts.
When the bill OF officer Miles came
before the board motion was made
That the mayors warrant be drawn
Tor the amount. A motion was also
made that It be referred to corn
nittee. Eventually after much talk
The bill was ordered paid by an aye
ind nay vote
Mayor Burke stated that he would
never sign any such bill for the rea-
son that It was Illegal and that he
might be impeached for doing So He
stated that 1t was a matter that lay
wholly In the hands OF himself and
the police commissioners
H. r. Brown, representing Mr. Miles
stated that the mavor had not acted
fair to Mr.. Miles or the city. He asked
mat the mayor be made to present to
the board the findings OF the police
commissioners relative 70 the charges
Drought by the mayor concerning G.
WI harrington. Jr. Mr.. Brown also
stated that the mayor had thus far
neglected to bring charges against
MIR. Miles, for which he was sus-
pended.
mayor Burke replied that he was
making the charges in the order that
the compla 'nts were made to him. The
harrington affair had come TO his at
tention several weeks previous to tho
Marcus affair. He accused Mr.. Brown
Of pettifosging.
Next a communication from the no.
ice commissioners was read. which
asked that the license OF G.. NJ. Far
rington. Jr. to drive hack, he revoked
ny inc board. The communication
was accepted and placed on file
motion was then made by Alderman
Mccartney that the license be revoked
and Alderman Cowles objected, SAYING
tnat that method would be a star
chamber proceeding.
II was finally voted that Mr.. Far
rington be asked t. appear at the
next meeting Of the board and show
cause why his license should not he
revoked.
petition was also presented ask
lnE for the discont of the
blasting OF rocks on the quarry OF w
s. Phelps because Of danger and an.
hoyance The petition was referred
to the committee that has under in.
vestfsation the cost to the CITY OF
crushed stone
petition for temporary side
~hlk on Lyman avenue was referred
20 the street commissioners petit
lion for an electric light at the cor
ner of North street and Mansfield av-
enue was referred to the electric light
commissioners. A petition from the
New England Telephone & Telegraph
company asking to erect three poles
on Strong street between Drew and
Blodgett streets, was referred to the
street commissioners.
A communication from Whalen
brothers. aski,a that a larger water
main be placed on Main street so that
they might comply with orders of the
state board of health in reference TO
two stand pipes, was referred to the
water commissioners with power to
act. communication from the New
England Telephone & Telegraph COM
pany, asking for n bond extension in
reference to the Main street conduits,
was referred to the city attorney.
The report OF the smoke committee
that had to do with the ordinance
for the prevention OF the soft coal
smoke nuisance. was accepted and the
committee discharged. The ordinance,
with amendments, was read the third
time. The amendments makes the or
dinance that It does not affect the
lake front or factory district
A report from the electric light COM
nissioners was read, advising that an
arc light be placed at the corner OF
North Bend and st. Mary streets and
on Loomis street. at the corner Of
Booth and 1sham streets. The report
MAS accepted and adopted.
A bill of $3.50 for damages to eight
trees by gas in 1904 was presented by
Rose Asselin and referred to the city
attorney.
The report of the committee. COM
posed of Aldermen Gosselin. McCaff-
rey, O'Neil and City Attorney Villas,
appointed to Investigate the bill OF
1900 from ex-Off1cer J. H. Finneran
for services as policeman, was read.
There were two reports, majority and
minority. the three aldermen submit.
ing the FORMER report. me major
lily report was to the effect that ex-
Oficer Finneran had oeen illegally
discharged by ex-Mayor Bizelow and
recommended that $3.50 be paid Mr..
Finneran The minority report, sub
mitted by City Attorney Villas, recon
mended that the claim not be paid al
It was not legal. Both reports, which
covered many typewriter pages. were
accepted and placed on Ale.
Alderman Sullivan then made a motor
that the bill OF $3.50 be paid,
Alderman Cowles objected strenuously
mying that It was nothing but a plair
attempt OF robbery. He stated that q
.loud had been thrown over the eyes o
the committee and board MS well by ar
attorney, whose finger prints could b,
'ound all through the majority report
Alderman Sullivan then spoke. saying
that he thought something ought to b,
given Mr. Finneran. He stated that MIR
Finneran was discharged because Of poll
lcs and said that he wished he could liv'
10 see the time when the city would b.
conducted by an Independent party.
Said Alderman Cowles: Lets pass tn,
hat then. If the aldermen from the fourtl
ward think that Mr.. Finneran should b.
paid, let them pay or pass the hat"
On an aye and nay vote the vote on tn
motion stood to 8 and the motion wa
lost. The democrats. aided by Aldermen
Gosselin and Dion voted in favor OF tn
motion