Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-07-09
commissioners 0USTED
Mayor Succeeds in Getting Them
Out Of Office.
Charges of Incnpscity, Negligence and
had Conduct Sustained by Vote of
Seven TO Six-Succcssors
Elected To-day.

heavenly body known as the comet
is said to attain n speed of about a
million miles second, more or less. in
defiance Of the celestial speed laws. The
removal of the board of water commits
eioners from office Thursday by the
city council did not approximate that
ceierity but II was accomplished so swift
ly that II undoubtedly establishes Il
precedent for the hasty exit from office
Of a civic board In the city of Burlington,
MessrB. A. H. Rutter, c. II Jones and
Jules Sirlays passing into the discard
very shortly after Mayor Burke read
charges against them and a few remarks
had been passed. The vote on the re-
noval was to G. as anticipated. Those
in favor were: Mayor Burke and Alder
msD Grafton Dion, Boucher. Dwyer,
Kieslich and Crane Those against were
Aldermen Hall. Lamson. Reynolds, Drew.
Buell. and Walker. As soon as this was
accomplished the council immediate
went into executive session for the pui-
poss OF eleoting commissioners to fill the
vacancies that had been created, but the
body thought better of this after some
debate as 20 whether 1t would be proper
20 elect city officials under the call for
+he meeting of Thursday and adjourn
ment was taken.
THB MAYORS CHARGES
The city council meeting was called to
order by Mayor Burke who a,
once called Alderman Dion to the
chair. The mayor then proceeded to read
the charges he had drawn up agains,
the commissioners. They were as fol-
lows:
To the Honorable City Council, Gentle
men:
Section 40. The city council shall
have power for such causes of incapaclty,
negligence or bad conduct as to it shall
seem sufficient to suspend or remove
from any office any city officer who
may be appointed by the city council and
to Ali all vacancies in any such office
from whatever cause arising"
In pursuance of the above section of
the city charter l hereby prefer charges
of incapacity, negligence and bad con-
duct against Water Commissioners A. II.
Rutter, c. II. Jones and Jules Simays
Said charges are mainly based on evil
dence of the most conclusive nature as
disclosed by partial investigation only
made by T.. G.. Evans, very compe.
tent person selected for the purpose.
First The commissioners, A. II. Rut-
aer and C. II. Jones, are guilty of bad
conduct by in that they allowed to be
bought. misapproprating the funds OF
9he city, about two carloads of cement
Of the firm of Spaulding & Kimball, q
srm Of which Mr.. Rutter is a stockholder
also an employe, by paying to said firm
according to vouchers on record in the
department. about $50 in excess of the
price at which another department of thu
city was paying for cement at the same
time.
Second. BY the purchase of this cemen
of the firm of which Commissioner Rut
ter is financially interested, he is guilt!
of bad conduct, as the vouchers show /
distinct violations of Sec. 124 Of the city
charter.
Third. That all three commissioner!
were guilty of bad conduct as only a par
bal investigation of the records show 8
Instinct violations of Sec. l24 of the city
,harter where favored persons We're al