Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-06-15
ALDERMEN SEEK INFORMATION
Want to Know What Has Become
of Appropriation for Lights.
Commissioners Cn,led on To Explain
Wbnt Has Bccome OF $1,000 Re-
Gently Set npert in Response
10 Petitions for Street Lights.


aldermen bestlrred themselves Tuesday
evening at meeting of tho board to
inquire what had been done with the
81 600 recently appropriated by tho city ia
Tiers for furnishing additional street
lights in districts where the lights havo
been petitioned for.
Becnuse of numerous petitions for lights
received by tho board several months
ngo, II was thought necessary that n slim
of money DO appropriated for the lights
Commissioner Enright at that time In
formed the board that the reason the
lights were not being Installed when asked
for was because there was no money with
which to install them Thereupon the
board authorized the sum Of s., 900 for the
lights.
1t appears, however that residents in
various parts of the city have repeatedly
asked for lights without results, and AL
derman Drew said that he was
tired of being criticised by the public as
n member of the board for not needing
requests for lights and would like to have
the electric light commissioners explain
what was done with the $1,000 and
also why some of the petitions for lights
were not granted
The subject was brought about by AL
dcrman Sullivan. who declared that the
people on Bissell street were complaining
bitterly of the condition said to exist
along that street. Bissell street runs
west Of and parallel with North ave-
nue.. crossing Haswell and Garfield
streets, and 1t is claimed that this street
Is being used constantly as q meet!r g
place for 10y riders and that hacks
and taXicabs drive into the street at all
hours of the night with passengers either
returning from or meeting for a 10y
ride" There is no light on this street,
said Mr.. Sullivan, and the residents are
constantly protesting at the condition of
affairs. Alderman Drew also referred to
the request OF residents on Lafayette
place for light at the end Of the street,
and said he should like to have the cleo
trio light commissioners explain some Of
these things and shoulder some of the
responsibility themselves.
The board granted n num-
Der of applications for licenses. among
the number being one for a hack Ii
cense for Nathan Marcus, which was
held up at the last regular meeting.
Under the new ordinance these appli-
cations for hack licenses are referred
to Chief Russell and the chief returned
the application made by Marcus be-
cause 1t was claimed that the man had
had several complaints of ovcrcharC-
ing made against him. At special
meeting the board referred the rejected
application back to the committee on
licenses. together with Chief Russell,
and the application was returned
approved by the chief and sign
ed by one member of the license COM
mittee, Alderman Drew. Alderman
Barnes said lie had had a talk with
Chief Russell and had also investi-
gated one Of the complaints Of the
alleged overcharging by Marcus and
found It to be a mistake. Mr.. Barnes
said that Mr.. Marcus had promised to
observe tho hack ordinances in future
and moved that the application be
granted. No one seemed inclined to
second the motion but Alderman COT
| fey at last said that if Mr. Marcus
would agree to be good after this
| he would second the motion. OF
course Marcus was willing to agree 10
be real good boy If the aldermen
would only grant him the license, and
the application went through "as read
and in view of the promises made by
/ Mr. Marcus that he would be good.
Alderman O'Ncil voted against the
granting of the license ana called for
an aye and nay vote. He said the
| application had not been approved by
a majority of the license committee.
He voted mo" on the question. those
voting yes" being Aldermen Cowles
Barnes, Dion, sullivan. Drew and Cof-
| fey. Aldermen Hawkins, Edwards
Mccartney and Gosseln were absent.
The board voted to accept the invi-
tation from the French societies of the
city to attend their celebration June
"a The board also ordered the check
| list for the special election In ware
two posted and set June 20 as the date
for the meeting for the correction OF
the list. The board then adjourned t,
June 90.