The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-26
TO INVESTIGATE STORIES.
Montpelier Fire Chief Wants Remarks
Made During Recent Fire Withdrawn.

The regular meeting OF the Montpelier
city council last night had few diver
sions, chief of which was the appearance
OF Fire Chief w. A. Pattee and Assistant
Chief Powers, who demanded an inves-
tigation on the part of the councilmen
into certain conditions said to have ex.
isted at the time of the State street fire
a week ago last Sunday.
Runiors have been prevalent that the
firemen were tardy in answering the
alarm, one story being that they did not
arrive for 20 minutes after. 1t was also
alleged that party of hilarious men
were playing poker in the Union block
just previous TO the fire. Other stories
circulated were to the effect that mem
bers Of the department were drunk.
These stories Chief Pattee and his men
do not relish and it was with the idea
of either proving them or running them
to the ground that the chief and his as
sistant appeared before the council last
night He said he knew just how long
it took the department to get there and
that the telephone girl would back his
statement. He offered to furnish the
members of the council with the names
of many known to have repeated damag-
ing stories and then wanted the matter
thoroughly sifted, afterwards removing
from the department any men if they
are found guilty OF the charges named.
The council voted to accede TO his de-
mands and the matter was referred to
the fire committee for investigation.
Mayor James B. Estee gave his fare
well address last night, urging the alder
men who hold over for the 1914 term
to bring the meetings TO higher point
of efficiency and giving them hints by
which their work might be better de-
spatched.
Fred Blanchard appeared to see if the
council would vote to have a clock placed
in the tower of the city hall, but no ac-
tion was taken. City Sheriff Pollard
asked for card index system for real
estate data collected and used by the
listers, and the council voted to purchase
cards for such a system. Supt. Roberts
that coal teams are driving
on the sidewalks and spilling coal there
on, asserting that it was a nuisance
which should be abolished. The street
committee and superintendent were or
dered to investigate the matter and re-
port at the next meeting.
Another matter considered was that
Of placing light in front of the blocks
burned, spot which one member of the
council said was as dark as canyon,
and this was referred to the lighting
committee. Supt. Roberts thought there
was danger to pedestrians from the skel-
aton walls OF the buildings left stand
ing, fearing they might toppIe over at
any instant Attorney Bailey asserted
that ii person were injured by such an
accident the city would not be holden
for damages, but the owners of the build
ing. However, he thought it the place
If the council to insist that the owners
tear down at once the front walls of the
Beaton block.
With the $500 loan authorized by the
voters at special meeting, it seems as
,ured that the city will have plenty of
'unds with which to conclude the years
business. A number of other matters
we're considered, such as the re-wiring of
.he armory, insurance adjustment, sale |
If a piece of land in Wrightsville, etc.