Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-06-05
INVESTIGATIONS In ORDER
Aldermen Will Look into Some
Alleged Abuses in the City.
Night d Power Company, street De-
partmcnt and school Department
Made the Subjects Of Inquiry
Mayor Gets n License.

Alleged reports to the effect that tho
Burlington Light & Power companv ha q
been granting discriminatory rates in fur-
nishing electric current to patrons in this
city were brought to the attention of the
board OF aldermen at its meeting Monday
evening. and a resolution asking FOR in
vestigation of conditions was adopted by
the city fathers and approved by the
mayor who also presented recommends
tons for such an investigation and an
order prohibiting the practices charged
The resolution adopted reads: BE it
resolved that the public service
commission is requested to investigate the
rates charges, schedules practices and
acts OF the organizations furnishing cleo
trlc light and power to the city of Bur
nngton and its inhabitants, and provide
lor the discontinuanCe Of such unjust and
discriminating acts, practices. rates and
regulations as upon hearing may be found
10 exist; and be it further resolved that a.
committee OF three be appointed for the
purpose OF communicating with the pub
TIC service commission, requesting it to
set time when a hearing can be had
with reference to the matter"
Alderman Fugere declared that the CONF
pany had been doing some pretty dirty
work." and City Attorney Horton said
that for long time complaints have been
made by the electric light department
that it has been losing patrons in an UNI
accountable way and that it is said that
important concessions have been made.
1t is in accordance with the functions of
the public service com mission, he contln-
ueu' 10 nave 1t come and look over the
rates, methods, etc. and, If It discovers
anything in the nature of discrimination
IL can rectify that. No concessions no
remarked, are to be permitted and if they
are being made, the abuse can be con-
trolled' Il think it would be a very help
ful thing for both parties" There are
well founded rumors, he added of most
extraordinary acts by "thc other COM
pany, not the municipal"
foHoWlng the adoption of n rosolu-
ton authorizing an inquiry into the
management of the street department
the chair appointed a committee con-
s'sting of Aldermen Walker. Duhamel
ana Crane to make an Investigation.
Mr.. Walker said he had heard COM
plants regarding acts of the SUPER
lntendent in docking pay, in opening a
mans pay envelope and extracting two
dollars which upon protest was return
ed, and in using city workmen and
teams to draw curbing stone for use
on private construction work, besides
employing them on the work. He also
criticised the construction work done by
the department in certain parts of the
city as unsuitable.
Even the school department was made
the subject of attention, Alderman
Fugere raising the question as to
whether the medical examiners of pupils
have been paid, and if so by the city or
by the State, the desired information
not being found in the annual reports
Upon his motion the clerk was instruct
ed to communicate with the super
intendent and chairman of the board of
school commissioners regarding the
matter.
AS result of Monday nights meeting,
the erection OF the electric sign placed
on the Church street front of the
restaurant of A. r. White is officially
sanctioned. Several explanations served
to clear the air as to this latest revival
of the oftraised question of signs over
hanging the sidewalk. Alderman Dion
thought the mayor ought not to have
told Mr.. White to go ahead and put up
the sign and said he heard that Mr.
White had been stopped by the police
in carrying out the erection Of the sign.
Alderman Buell. said it would seem that
the city council consisted Of the MAJOR
alone Mr.. White explained that the
contract was given to d. II. Aldrich,
who took up the matter with the mayor
before he started work on the sign,
and Mr.. White eXonerated the mayor
from the charge of giving official per
mission.
Mr. White then proceeded to explain
that Mr.. Aldrich had the sign made en-
tirely of metal, satisfactory as to con-