Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-11-08
MAY LICENSE INFANTS HOMES
Radical Steps under COnsidera
ton by Aldermen.
Increasing Number Of Delinquent and
Abandoned Children Prompts City
Fathers to Take Action-Rou-
tine business Of board.

The principal business before the regular
monthly meeting of the board of aldermen
Monday had to do with an ordinance in
relation to the licensing and the regulation
! of houses and boarding places for the
care and maintenance of infants in this
city. which was submitted by Mayor jack
tson.
After the views of nearly all of the
aldermen had been heard in relation to
the resolution, 1t was voted that Chairman
Luck appoint committee of three to in
vestgate the resolution and report back
at the next meeting. City Attorney H. 8.
Peck expressed his views on the matter
from a legal standpoint, and Thomas
Magner, n member of the board of
charities and probation. was also present.
/ to explain that the action that brought
forth this resolution was to be found in
the report Of the State probation officer,
recently submitted at the States attor.
ney's office before a number of representa-
| tive citizens.
The idea in the mayors resolution Is
that no person shall establish, conduct,
manage or maintain in this city a house
or other boarding place for the care, rear
ing and management of infants between
birth and the age of IL years without first
having obtained a license SO to do.
Any person desiring to establish. con-
duct. manage or maintain any such house
should be compelled to apply in writing
for license so to do. and the fee for
such license should be two dollars.
| 1t Is stated in the resolution that the
board of health should formulate. adopt
and have printed such regulations as the
board shall see fit for the proper carry
Ing out Of the ordinance, and that they
shall see to it that the number Of infants
going into any one house will be limited.
From the restrictions outlined in the
resolution, corporations and societies now
existing in this city shall not be subject
ed to the provisions of the ordinance,
which state that any vioator of the pro-
posed ordinance shall be punished by
fine of 500 or by Imprisonment, for not
more than 30 days for each offense.
| 1t Is hoped to frame this resolution to
curb the many delinquent children that
are now aand will be seeking care Of this
city, because of their having been DESERT
ed by their parents. Similar cases spring
up from time to time of where a mother
will leave an infant in the care of some
woman for a monthly or weekly stipend.
After a few months the money for the
csild's food and clothing ceases to come
and then the child is turned over to the
poormaster for the city for care.
1t is believed that by compelling these
women to take out licenses to conduct
these baby farms that the matter can be
adjusted satisfactorily For one thing,
it will be necessary for those desiring
to leave the care Of their babies to
others to give the childs name. its par
entage with their place of residence and
to show where the maintenance proper
for the care of the child is to be derived.
| n ca frOYr, Mar
tin s. Villas, read personally. relative to
a refund of property taxes which was
referred to the finance committee. Mr..
| Villas claims that he sold house on
Crowley street to John Forville about
| q year ago. and that he paid the taxes
when they came to him in his tax bill.
as did also the present owner.
There was a communication from the
Rev. ]. F. Gillis requesting license to
hold moving picture shows in the audi
forum of the new high school once or
twice week. The permit was granted
without the exaction Of license fee,
providing the pictures are Of an educa-
tional character.
A resolution to borrow the sum of
$4,000 to meet the citys accruing ex-
penses was offered by Alderman Hall.
| 1t was adopted.
There was petition from the Burling-
|
erect lights on posts in front of the
office building on Bank street. 1t was
granted subject to the approval Of the
| license committee
There is some question as to whether
Max l.. Powelrs garage on St. Paul
street is put up according to the city
| ordinance in regard to the inner fire
district. 1t was pointed out at the
meeting that when the roof on the gar
age was put on it should have been
composed of tar and gravel, according
to the agreement. Instead 1t is paroid
roofing that was used. This, 1t Is
claimed, causes a fire menace, as In
case Of fire to the adjoining building
the roof on the new garage would
ignite easily. There is a fine Of $50
for violation Of the ordinance in re-
gard to the inner fire district.
All the reports presented from the
various departments were accepted and
placed on file last might, and Chairman
Luck was busy for over an hour read
ing bills presented.
BILLS PAID.
The principal bills ordered paid were
as follows: Electric light department.
October statement. sS,S5G.53; charity
department, October statement, $1,000
So; water department October state
ment. s3,569.40 fire department. Octo-
Der statement. $1,01S.72; fire depart
ment, October payroll. $1,67329; police
department, October statement. $67.16;
police department, Oct oDer payroll, 81,
316; park department. October state
ment. $21O.70; F. H. McCale. collecting
! garbage in October. $275; DR.. F. j. En-
mis-. salary and expenses as health Of
fcer, $127.53; street lights for October
$1.S23.73: street department, October
statement. $3,466.S6; library depart
, ment, $343.07: Edith McCully. former
protective matron, SIS.