The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-05
THAT SI7 SUPPER
VAS EXPLAINED
1t Was Ordered By City officials as Bit
of Courtesy to Visiting Doctors
Who Had Aided in Barre's
Epidemic.

Instead of a gastronomic orgy with the
highlights in the city government as the
principal actors, the now famous $l7 din
ner served the Burlington doctors one
afternoon during the epidemic was mere
ly courteous compliance with the
wishes of the doctors themselves, who
expressed a preference for the novelty o.
an Italian menu before they started 7,
their journey back home. That is t.tA
official explanation of an incident which
a correspondent of The Times described
in critieizing the mayor for endorsing a
warrant for Sl7 in favor of the housewife
who provided the dinner The explana
tion was given by City Clerk Mackay be-
fore the city council last evening at the
request of Mayor Glysson.
According to the clerks version Of the
affair, city officials were not present at
the dinner served in the home of Alder
man Rizzi. Nor were there listed any of
the bacchanalian features which are
usually associated with occasions created
for the satiation Of the tired business or
professional man. 1t was just an ordi-
nary dinner after the style Of Italian
chefs, and it was spread for the benefit
of the doctors from Burlington, all of
whom asked nothing more than square
meal in return for their timely services
on that depressing October day, and who.
in expressing their own preference, elect
ed all Italian dinner instead of an Amer
lean meal served up town.
A bill for damages of $500, due to a
diverted stream Of water on the Elm
street extension, was presented by j. p.
Corskie, who said that he wanted to pro
test when the street department built
culyert on the stream two years ago He
was assured that the water would run
down Park street and SO he withdrew
his protest Since then, he claimed in
his letter to the council, it had run down
into fremont street and damaged his
property on numerous occasions. The
appearance of the bill drove a wedge into
the council and it was some moments be-
fore it was withdrawn Alderman Lor-
anger moved that the matter be referred
to the city attorney and street commit
tee. Alderman Rizzi took exceptions to
the motion on the ground that he never
had known the city. attorney to report
on matters referred to him. Alderman
Alexander took prompt exceptions to this
allegation and assured the council that
work of the charity department alone is
taking up most Of the city attorneys
time. Alderman Mcmillan seconded the
motion, but not before Alderman Mines
motion TO dismiss the bill was seconded
by Alderman Alexander. When put to a
vote the motion failed to carry. Mr..
Alexanderthen moved that the bill be re-
ferred to a committee consisting Of Al
dermen Loranger, Healy and Mcmillan.
His motion was seconded by Alderman
Milne and it carried without opposition
1t was set forth by the street committee
that the complaint of Mr.. Corskie orig
mated several years ago and that much
OF it had not come within the ken Of the
present committees experience. Chair
man Milne Of the committee doubted
whether the damage had exceeded 500,
and repairs which had been contemplat-
ed, he continued, had been postponed by
the epidemic and the shortage Of labor.
In September alone there were ,456
cases of influenza, 2l0 cases of pneumo-
mia and 10 cases of pneumonia without
the influenza complication, according to
the monthly report of the health officer,
DIR. O. G. Stickney, which, in itself un-
ldoubtedly forecasts much more reveal
ing report for October, when the disease
ragged at its worst There were 26 births,
TO babies being males Thirty deaths
were due to the following causes; Cere-
bral hemorrhage, pneumonia, pulmonary
tuberculosis, gastric cancer, acute indi.
gestion, dropsy and alcoholism, ! each !;
influenza pneumonia, l6; cancer, 2; pre-
mature birth, 2; diarrhea, =.
A bill presented by the Barre pipe and
drum band for 5000, as per contract for
concerts, was ordered paid. On the fa-
vorable report of the building inspector,
Mrs. G.! b. Milne was given permission
to repair barn, damaged by fire, and
Cook & Watkins received permit to
build a small annex to their stoneshed,
Thirty eight minor permits were issued
in October, according to Inspector Slay-
toms report, which was accepted.
The following warrants were approved
for payment: Street payroll, S252.95; en-
gineering payroll, $36sl; water payroll,
Sl36.63; fire payroll, $l3307; police pay
roll $l0462; G. L. Gregoire, S202. 2.63,
street and sidewalk contract; G. A. Benz
| is, Sl6, services as janitor; Oscar Slay-
ton, Sll30, services as building inspec-
tor; D. NJ Gilbertson, $3.50, services as
wiring Inspector.
4