Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-12-08
THE CITY CHARTER.
Arguments for and nxninSt the Pro-
posed Amendments.

| Alderman C. p. Cowles and Mayor
| James r.. Burke, comprising a commit
| toe, named by the aldermen at the last
meeting, returned yesterday from Mont
| pelier, where they attended n hearing be-
fore the Senate committee Tuesday night
on the proposed amendments to The
charter OF the city Of Burlington.
Mr.. Cowles and Mayor Burke went 20
Montpelier to lay before the committee
the objections which have been raised
TO certain features Of the proposed char
ter amendments.
| The first Of these Is the proposed ex-
enption Of the members Of Company NJ
| from poll tax, when such exemption is
authorized by the city council. This pro-
posed amendment has been opposed by
Mayor Burke from the start aud ne
laid his objections before the Senate
committee 1t is claimed that such an
amendment would throw more politics
into the city council and that this 1ues-
ton OF exemption would come up for
disposal every year under such an
amendment when under tho present law
the question OF whether the members
| of State militia shall be exempt Is de-
| cidod by vote Of the people and dis
| posed Of for good.
The Burlington representatives, Mr..
Cowles and Mayor Burke suggested to
the committee that the proposed change
| IN the hour Of opening and closing the
polls DO n,nte holf-pa.t SIX in the morn
Ing ard three o'clock In the afternoon,
instead of six O'Clock n the morning and
five o'clock In the afternoon. This Is
d change OF half anrhour in the morn
ing from that contained IN the pro-
posed amendments and would not chang,
the hour OF closing.
With regard 70 the proposed changes
in the method Of appointing police COM
nllssioners, whereby the appontve pow
er you'd be given the city council In
stead of the mayor, and in the matter
OF special police Officers Mr.. Cowles
| and Mr.. Burke also advanced Me oh.
tections that have alreudy been noted
in the free Press.
The mayor and Nj. Cowies both argued
that the chief executive Of q city /.
III close touch with police affairs ant
that a change in the method OF selec,
. ing police commissioners would not b,
step In the right direction.
Regarding the matter of special polic
Officers It was suggested that perhap
. this matter might be compromised by al
lowing a special officer to draw paw TO
GO days during year or eTen longer
%nstead If for IL days, to which unde
the present ordinance he is limited
> rather than to return to the old wa,
n of allowing a special to serve for n yea
+ and be eligible to disappointment.
I 1t Is understood that some of thos
I interested in having the proposed amend
S ments pass were represented at Mont
a pelier, and Representative Peck, in hi
= argument before the committee in favo
n OF passing the amendments, stated tina
a he had seen number of business nm
S professional men in Burlington in regar
= TO tho proposed amendments and this
: they were In favor OF them. Compan
n NJ, it is understood, has put forth SON
influence already toward having II
g amendments passed and the commercii
g travellers havo been active In gettin
e the hours for opening the polls change
e II Is also understood that number WI
r may be Interested in the future In oil
IS tanning positions ss special officers HAY
9. exerted what influence they have
I. getting tho bill through Rumor has
IS also that tho section relating to the al
e pointment OF police commissioners,
g proposed in the amendments. has M
IS been without supporters.