The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-03-01
Mayor Thurston and Chair
man Rossi of Lighting
Committee Engage in 1t
FORMER HINTED AT
DERELICTION OF DUTY
Alderman Rossi Denied In
sinuation-Contract No
Nearer Being Signed

Almost on the eve of its dissolution
the city council met in special session
! last night to place its stamp of approya
on the proposed contract with the Con
solidated Lighting Co. to light the streets
OF Barre for a period of ten years. Ow
ing to some Objectionable features dis
covered when the document was exam
ined by the council at its regular meet
ing Tuesday evening, the draft was
returned to the aldermanc lighting com.
mittee with instructions Ia make the
necessary alterations and report. Last
night it developed that the committee
had misunderstood the intent of the
councils wishes, and not until the clerk
had plunged deep into the middle of
the contract did Il become known that
except for minor rider attached by
the city attorney the draft remained
identical with the one considered at the
previous meeting.
The questioned omission concerned the
city's right to retain a portion of the
arc lights, should the 200 C. b. incan.
descents prove unsatisfactory in certain
| quarters. Chairman Rossi of the light
! ing committee stated that the lighting
company has refused TO consider a pro.
| posal to re.estBblish the arc sys-
TEN after it bad been to the expense
of installing the 200 c. p. lights in place
| of the ares. Other members of the
council said they understood that no
proposition to substitute the ares for
the ineandeseents everywhere had been
intended, setting up that the desired
clause in the contract had been pro-
posed for the purpose of allowing the
city to revert to ares only in certain
sections where the 200 c. p. lights might
not work out satisfactorily The mis-
understanding was Instrumental in hofa
ing up the contract and necessitating
the drafting of another proposition to
be submitted at the next session.
incidentally visions OF settling ques-
tion that has vexed the council since
last July seemed to dissolve in thin air.
Moreover with largess of frankness
not prominent in other sessions of the
council, the mayor and chairman of the
lighting committee engaged in passage
of words.
Said the mayor to the chairman, "Are /
you working in the interests Of the
lighting company or the city council?"
Alderman Ross said no to the former |
query an dthe mayor continued "The
council instructed your committee to
make certain changes"
Alderman Rossi; "We did what we
could
(Which is nothing concluded the
mayor.
The latter then summed up his inn
pressons a follows: at don't look to
me as though this report is in any shape
for consideration. 1t was referred to
the committee for corrections which have
not been made. / consider that the first
duty of the committee is to obey in
structions from this council regardless
Of outside parties"
The absence OF the desired changes
hereupon precipitated a discussion that
lasted three hours and ended with
agreement looking toward the
eventual approval of the contract for
signature City Attorney Scott said he
had filled in a nEs.ber of blank spaces
md attached rider to the contract
since il left the council Tuesday night.
The rider stated that after the Consol
lated Co. had installed the new system .
Is proposed to the satisfaction of the
the number OF changes should
rot exceed ten in one year.
No action was taken apropos the tail
nd attachment and the discussion was .
riven over wholly 20 the are light clause. G
Manager c. F. Millar of the Consolidated '
%. said his concern was in the city to 6
10 business. to do il on the square and 9
o give the people good service. The f.
-enney corporation, he added, stood
eadv to give the city what it de- =
ired as soon as the city found out its !
wn wants. The mayor voiced his de-
ire TO see the contract closed before c
he incoming administration took charge :
( affairs. although he would rather see a
he city in pitch darkness in preference i
0 endorsing an unsatisfactory contract o
le wished to sign a contract that would Y
ave the city a chance TO retain a few !
re lights should il see fit Manager !
lillar declared il would be necessary n
, rewrite the contract and make the
rices on different basis should the
lange be entertained.
/ ne utuAtt leu NN Ahihh-h HihnN IL v
prting channels. At one period Mayor
hurston was moved TO ask the chair
ian as to who he was serving in the -,
after. Alderman Rossi averred he was \,
III serving the city. also expressing :,
IS belief that the mayor was afraid \,
progress. Alderman Patterson said :,
, liked the Tungsten lamps although :.
would like an opportunity to retain :;
! are light here and there. as for in :,
anee. at Gospel Village. where the arc y.
zht might prove more practical than :.
.e incandescent He mentioned other :,
cations where such might be the case =. =,
"a il seemed TO be the general sense :.
the board that whatever the merits \.
TIE incandesceuts. an arc light might n
highly desirable in place.. In the
at OF the discussion il occurred 20
herman Dawson that IL might
4 good idea to call in the gas man.
Matters finally came to focus when ~
; fourth ward member made motion nc
hat the city attorney be instructed pa
reurite the contract 80 that the min -
Ium Of 2no e. p. incandescents be re- Ia
- A. - - rwn - ~rs-~r o. aras "a