Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-05-21
MAYOR MAKES CHARGES.
Another Chapter I'm the Quarrel over
Oscar Hciningcr's Removal.

Investigate the dismissal of Oscar Helm
niger from the water department was re-
sumed Tuesday evening at the city clerk s
Office. The most important part of the
session was the Introduction by Mayor
Burke of charges which he had formu-
lated against j. Frank Kidder, superin-
tendent OF the water department. These
were read and copies were furnished to
Mr.. Kidder and the committee. They al
lege various things, including a charge
that the department bought n lot of CO.
ment at an excessive price, that one of
the employees of several years' service had
been peremptory dismissed without Just
cause, that Mr.. Kddcr had allowed GER
tain rebates on water taxes and that the
superintendent was subject to violent out
bursts OF temper and had used ungentle-
manly conduct
AFTER the mayor had read his charges he
suggested that he would be able to fur
nlsh oral and documentary evidence and
that part of the latter would be found
IN the books of the water department.
Mr.. Kidder said that the action of the
| mayor had placed him (Mr. Kidder) In the
same class with NJ. G. Leary, Thomas II.
Browne V. A Billiard and others whom
Mayor Burke had called liars and thieves,
and he felt proud of the distinction. He
added that some parts Of the charges were
very amusing. He also stated that he had
no right to take the books OF the depart
| ment out of the office without an order
of the court, but the committee was well
come to go into the office and examine the
books if they pleased The committee
was not IN a position to take up the hear
Ing on the charges and took an adjourn
mcnt until next Tuesday night.
Previous to the reading of the
charges, Mr.. Kidder said that he want
ed to ask Joel Thomas a few questions
for the purpose of showing that the
mayor had gone above the superinten-
dent who was obliged to furnish s15,-
| 600 bonds, and told certain employees
they could go. Mr. Thomas said that
| he had been In charge Of the pumping
station at the lake for 80 years and
was removed ten years ago and the
reason he was obliged to give up his
Sob. he supposed, was because he was
u republican.
Mr.. Heininger made a statement that
although he did not instigato the in
vestigation that was being, made by the
committee he would not oppose it. lie
said he had been in the employ OF the
department for 80 years and had on
two occasions while in service nearly
lost his life. During the years of serv-
ice he had become proficient in his
duties but now he found himself sud
denly dropped from the department
and the proficiency acquired would be
of no use to him in any other walk of
life although he was obliged to make
living and support large family.
MIR. kidder stated that he always got
along with Mr.. Heiningcr for the seven
years that he had been connected with
the department except on one occasion.
This was a time when Mr.. Heininger
had gone to the residence of Gen T.
:. Peck to install a water service, Mr.
kidder telling him to take care of the
job and please General Peck. Mr.. Kid
der added that Mr.. Heininger did the
work but made no charge on the books
for the labor and material used and
that he OKidder) had called his atten-
ton to it, Mr.. IIeininger replying that
he had supposed he had done the work
In pleasing manner and If there was
any question about the cost he would
pay II from his own pocket.
Mr. Heininger was asked about this
incident and he replied that he knew
nothing about it.
The charges brought by Mayor Burke
are as follows:
MAYOR BURKE'S CHARGES.
burlington VT. May IS, 1914.
To the aldermanic committee to whom
was referred the charge that a great in
justice had been done by the superntend-
ent of the water works, J. +. Kidder to
Oscar Heininger, faithful employe of
the city for 30 years, and concerning any
other matters that might be brought to
your attention:
Section No, lO7 of the city charter reads
as follows:
The mayor shall be the chief executive
officer of said city. He shall use his best
efforts to see that the laws and city ordi-
nances are enforced and that the duties
of all subordinate officers are faithfully
performed He shall take care that the
funds of the city are properly expended"
From sources which seem to be reliable
I have been informed, which, If found to
be true, that gross and serious misman- |
agement has prevailed in the water de- |
partment for some time, and as the result !
of the Information I have received by |
virtue Of the duty imposed on me by sec |
ton l01, Of the city charter, as quoted |
above, ! am obliged to submit the follow |
Ing charges, trusting that you will give |
them. or any others that may be brought, |
your careful consderati ton:
First: That large quantities of cement |
(about two Carloads) have been bought of |
the firm Of Spauldlng & Itmball, the price |
paid being $1.52 per barrel, when the same
could have been bought for sl.30 of other |
firms.
Second: That A. II. Rutter. being a |
member OF said firm, also at the same |
time a member of the board OF water COM |
mlssioners, the above deal was a misap- |
preparation of the funds Of the people, AMI |
the buying OF this material of the above |
mentioned firm, OF which Mr.. Rutter was !
a member, was a plain violation of section
IA of the city charter, which refers to
contracts with the city and Its officials. |
Third Mr.. Kidder and Mr.. Louther We're !
absent for about three weeks In his (Mr |
kidder's) own interests. at the city's ex- |
pense, and to the great detriment of the |
department at a very busy time of the |
year.
Fourth: Relating water bills for fav- |
ored persons on the pretense that 1t was
for the purpose of preventing water from
freezing.
Fifth Furnishing labor and material TO
favored persons while charging others full |
rate for similar service. This charge, if
true, is a serious violation of section "A
f the ordinances pertaining to rates for
service.
sixth The installing OF an auxiliary