Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-12-10


people of the Mary Fletcher hospital In
Wow Of the fact that they were to OBJ
tanned increased FIRE protection by the
extra pressure Of water that could be
generated by this pump. ran water
main across it's property. This IL not
only benefit to the hospital, but to tho
city as well. The objection TO present
conditions are that there 10 a feeling Of
insecurity as to whether the electric
pump Is In proper shape in case It's
services should be demanded II there was
n fire on the hill. For six days week
the steam pump is used and on the sew
enth the electric pump Ia employed
This then, gives the latter but one test
out week which, In the opinion Of the
people directly concerned, is not suffl-
Client. Alderman Lamson moved that
committee OF three be appointed for the
purpose Of making an Investigation and
to ascertain II there cannot be some
plan devised by which the electric pump
NAV be tested Mt least once every day.
The motion was carried and the presi-
dent OF the board will appoint the COM
mittee later
WHO PAYS FOR THE s1DEwALKs9
A communication was received from
Samuel ]. Beatty on the subject of pay
ing for sidewalks. Mr.. Beatty said that
the aldermen had recently voted to In
stall cement sidewalk in front Of his
premises on South Union street the
length being 12o feet, which would cost
him $50. Az but about Il feet OF the
walk he stated, was as good as ever It
was. He suggested that it would not he
a ba idea to amend the city charter and
place the payment of taxes where they
belong, which should be out of the gen.
eral taxes No citizen has exclusive right
to a single foot of public sidewalk. It
is an excellent time to have the charter
amended at the coming session OF the
Legislature and make II so that the dis
agreeable practice Of making people pay
for sidewalks they do not own may be
avoided.
ON COMMISSION GOVERNMENT.
A communication was received from
Guy B. Horton. secretary OF the Commits
sion Government club, stating that the
| club at it's recent meeting had adopted
resolution to select a committee Of ten,
| the mayor to be chairman and the men,
bership to be made up OF three citizens
appointed by the club. three to be desig-
mated by the Merchants association and
three by the board of aldermen. The
duties of the committee are to draft
tentative city charter looking to com
mission form of government The letter
stated that there seemed to be a demand
for commission government in the city.
or at least a discussion of one and the
cooperation Of the board Of aldermen de-
sired.
The board voted without comment to
lay the resolution on the table,
OTHER BUSINESS
Alderman Buell. called the attention of
the board to a rumor he had heard that
the street department was paying out a
large amount of money to outside parties
for surveying and engineering work He
wondered II the city had not sufficient
help in that line without going outside.
Alderman Boucher said he had heard
that some of the old citizens had been
refused work on the streets and that
work had been given to outsiders.
Alderman Buell. again brought up the
question of unpaid sidewalk assessments
He said that he understood there was
5000 of genuine delinquent sidewalk as
sessments The question was discussed
by the aldermen, as it has been several
times before, and it was finally voted to
instruct the city attorney to begin suit
for the collection OF one OF the unpaid
assessments for the purpose OF making
n test case.
1t was also voted to have the city con-
stable report at the next meeting on the
question Of unpaid taxes on certain Bur-
lington Trust company stock in the list
under the name of II. l.. Ward, trustee
The city attorney was instructed to
appear at the next meeting and report
on the collection OF certain bills against
the Traction company.
A communication was received from the
city attorney calling attention to the fact
! that the city had been made the defendant
in a suit by Contractor NJ. Bundy for
5000 In connection with a contract for
doing cement sidewalk work.
BILLS PAID.
The usual monthly bills were paid.
Several were for the health department,
representing food, etc, furnished people
who were Guaranteed for infectious
cases a member Of the aldermen called
attention to the fact that 81 cents n
pound for coffee was more than some
| people paid. as was so cents a bushel
for potatoes. Another bill that caused
some comment was one from the Con-
solidated Ice Delivery company for SO. 70
for ice furnished for the tanks in the
city hall. Some of the city fathers
thought it was too large.
The bills paid were as follows
Monthly expense statements: Pauper
department, $l,2sS46; light department,
&C. 6460l water department $0A.7l
library department. s32420: parks depart
ment s27557 fire department, s692.5i;
police department. sl99 So Police payroll
s2,l62s5; fire department payroll. sl.513.25
parks payroll, s174.63; street lights,
81 ,69GS
Health department.: O'Neil Bros, SA. 70;
], V. Kelslich, 10; Sheldon Press, s5.75;
May Latour, SIS; e. s. Adsit Coal Co,
80 cents; Elias Lyman Coal Co, IS; Bur-
lington Drug Co., s53.4o w. Flax, s11.73;
c. A, Emo, sL95; f. l.. Linsemier, So O
A. Rawhaw, sl194; Charles Bashaw,
&9.s5; Wood & Beebe, 81; j. l.. Kelley,
| f23, 03; labor at dumps 1913; d. j. Nolan,
| November salary as health officer, SALT;
N c. Florence, gathering garbage, $3.50;
man at dump, $3.50; ], A. st John,
| ST 40: p. II. Corley & Son, 1906; T. B..
Welch, s3l.of; A. NJ. Hamlin. 50,
Public buildings: ]. L. Bergeron & Son.
$50 %; r. S. Lanou & Son. sl65; Law
| renee BARLEY s162.6 5; N f. Tel and Tel,