Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-24

to the use of poles could be reached be-
tween the city and the Burlington Light
& Power company the commission might
issue an order that all overhead wiring
be placed in conduits, according to the
latest approved methods adopted in other
cities.
incidental to the report of the light
ing committee was n message from
Mayor Burke in which he recommended
that the committee having in charge the
investigation of the installation of tho
new system be directed to look up the
matter of placing all wires on Church
street in an underground conduit and
that property owners on the street be tax
cd a certain amount to pay the expense.
This message was received and filed, but
the recommendation regarding the in
structions TO the committee was not
acted upon. The mayor urged Chairman
Drew several times to act on his recon-
mendation but Alderman Lamson finally
announced to the mayor that the COM
mittee had made all the Investigation
they would make at present on the mat
ter of lighting.
THINKS MAYOR NEEDS REST.
Alderman Boucher declared himself last
night. He got right up in meeting and
told the board that he thought Mayor
Burke needed a rest from his ~fatiguing
duties of looking after the city's interests
and that the board OF aldermen should
be allowed to take some of the RESPONSE
bility off the chief executives shoulders.
1t was time, he said. that the aldermen
bod to- - ... t.. 81 G--
that came before the board. The burden
was too great, said Alderman Boucher,
for one man and he thought the mayor
ought to take a rest from such active re-
sponsibility.
The expression of this opinion was
brought about by a resolution to amend
a section of the automobile ordinance
making the speed limit 10 miles per hour
in all parts of the city. This resolution
was fathered by Mayor Burke, who en-
tertained the board for the third time dur
ing the evening with a lengthy harangue
about how he was unable to get convic-
tons In city court for violations of the
speed ordinance and if the board would
only amend the ordinance he would see
to it that every person who violated the
speed limit was punished.
Inasmuch as the board spent several
months last winter trying to fix up an
automobile ordinance, the members We're
not inclined to open the matter up again,
but the resolution was referred to the
ordinance committee. Alderman Dion pro-
tested against tearing the ordinance to
pieces again and also against railroad
ing" new bits of business through every
time the board had a special meeting. Mr..
Dion also took exception to an attempt
on the part Of Mr.. Burke to give the
chairman instructions as to what should
be done with n petition for a cement side
walk or the west side of North Willard
street between Pearl and Loomis streets.
\ motion was made to refer this to the
street commissioners, but Mr.. Burke in
terposed and was about to explain what
should be done when the motion was put
and carried.
Under the new administration the may
or's desk has been moved near to the
right hand of the chairman of the board.
The mayor occupies a seat at his desk
row during the meetings of the board and
delivers his instructions and makes his
speeches from that vantage point.