Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-05-08
ALDERMEN AND MAYOR
Latter's Loquaciousness the Sub.
ject of 81 Heated Discussion.
Resolution Providing for Immediate
Purchase of Automobile Truck for
Electric Light Department Held
Up for Consideration.

The latter end of n sluggish game OF
municipal affairs as played by the alder
men was greatly enlivened Monday night
by a batting rally in the ninth inning,
when the city fathers got their dander
up and called Mayor James f. Burke S
hand, The aldermen told the mayor
where he got off" in plain terms and
insisted that they were competent to
run the city's affairs without his help
at every session. They even went so far
as to take an aye and nay vote as to
whether he should be heard. The vote
stood eight yes" and three mo-" and
the mayor made a speech in which he
based his right to talk to the aldermen
on a section of the city charter and
likewise on the precedent set by Presi-
dent Wilson who read his message to
Congress. Mr.. Burke declared that he
would talk to the aldermen and read his
messages to them just as often as he
pleased, and that they were powerless
to stop him. He had n perfect right to
do it, he said, under the charter and pro-
posed to exercise that right whenever
he saw fit.
Alderman c. p. Dion started the fire.
works. The question of referring n reso-
luton relating to a new truck for the
municipal electric light department was
up and the board were about to take
vote on it. 1t had been moved that the
resolution be referred to the finance COM
nlittee and the electric light commits
sioncrs. Mr.. Burke, who had already
made several speeches and read one mes
sage, again started to address the board.
Il call for the question" said Alder
man Dion. 1T strikes me that we are
the board of aldermen. The mayor
should act in his capacity and we in
ours. He should not butt in here at
every meeting of this board If we do
anything that is not right he can veto
our actions if he wants to, but I think
he should keep out of these proceedings
and let us run the affairs of this board"
Mayor Burke rose to his feet 81 ask
as a special favor that l be allowed to
explain the position | occupy as mayor
and my right to address this board.
wish to be allowed to explain my au-
thority for addressing the members of
the board.
81 call for the aye and nay vote" re-
torted Mr. Dion. A vote was then taken
on whether or not Mr. Burke should he
allowed to tell the board what his au-
thorty was for addressing them The
vote resulted as follows: Ayes, Crane,
Fugere, Dwyer. Hall. Duhamel, Rey-
nolds, Drew. Walker; nays, Dion,
Boucher and Buell..
Being voted the privilege of the floor
Mr.. Burke said that he was very sorry
the matter had been brought up in such
manner. The mayor said he had a
right to appear at any and all times
before the board and make whatever rec
concentrations he saw fit. Common cour-
tesy demanded, said Mr.. Burke, that any
citizen be given a hearing, and it was the
duty of the board to give the mayor a
respectful hearing. The mayor then
launched into comparison of his mes
sages as delivered to the board and that
of President Wilson as delivered to Con-
gress.
Mr.. Burke has 'butted in to our meet
tngs ever since the board was organic
ed said Alderman Boucher rising. I'VE
don't need the mayor to tell us what to
do all the time. If he wants to veto
our actions he can do so, but l think he
should not come in here and give orders
whenever any question comes up"
Alderman Buell., who voted mo" on
the question of allowing the mayor the
floor, said: I'VE have to listen to Mayor
Burke more than half the time during a
board meeting. This board is the laugh
Ing stock of the whole city and the State.
If Mr.. Burke upheld the dignity of his
office he would send in his messages and
let this board take whatever action they
saW fit. | was told when l was elected
alderman that | would have some fun
down here. l have been on the board on
~ a month but I am getting sick of
this kind of business. Mr.. Burke reads