Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-04

upon warrant signed by the mayor
and approved by the board OF alder
men. I do not understand that there
lie any exception to his provision of
the charter hat would apply to the
cose In hand. The resolution before me
provides that the mayors warrant
shall he drawn upon the order Of the
fire commissioners. I think this is In
violation Of said section 10; certainly
l deem such practice to be not wise.
| have another reason which moves
me to write this communication. The
city this year In called ana will be
called next year to meet large de-
mands. and we must economise where
We can ana still continue to 10 bust
ness ms a corporation. The taxpayers
have twice voted recently "to 30 slow"
SO to speak, and not he extravagant,
and I think we should give heed to
this advice In order to meet more easily
all necessary requirements. I am not
In favor Of putting a heavier burden
of taxation upon our people II II can
he avoided, and ] think In this Instance
We can get on a year or two longer
without mourning n debt for this large
amount,
Another reason may he noted. II
Ia stated that II this apparatus was
purchased the rate of insurance would
ne TeuuCeu, DuI l nave seen no 8ne-
quate assurance that this will be 80.
Independent, however. Of this last
suggestion, and for the reasons above
given, | return the resolution to your
honorable board without my approval
J. HOLMES JACKSON,
Mayor.
ASKED TO DEFINE CUT IN POLICE
DEPARTMENT
puylipCfpp We Ano o7 tato
To the Honorable BOARD Of Aldermen of
the city OF Burlington. w.
Gentlemen;
I call your attention to the report of
the salary committee dated the 4th in
slant addressed to the board of aldermen.
and relating to the petition presented
committee by the City Policemen asking
for a 20 per cent. advance IN wages
] suppose the words CITY Policemen
refer to the regular police force only.
The committee favor a decrease in the
expense Of the police department. and
suggest that steps should he taken to
reduce the cost of this department, but
the committee do not what
steps should be taken or how the cost
of the department can or should be
reduced.
! assume that the committee expected
| Ni'' ''i N'uib w III III III wv
It might take upon the report. but such
was not the fact, as the aldermen simply
adopted the report which does not present
to the mayor any suggestions or recon-
mendations in definite terms.
Without. at this time. commenting upon
the merits Of the suggestions made. I
ask the honorable board Of aldermen to
make such suggestions touching the mat
ter of the report as shall express their
views in definite terms.
I call the attention of the board to the
provisions of the city charter, especially
10 section liz as printed in 1913. and to
sections 1so-1s1 of the charter as amended
by No. 272 Laws of 1917.
| may add that you can get at this
matter if you desire to consider what |
have said, by resembling the vote taken
at your last meeting, refuse passage Of
the motion made. and then take such
action as you may think is wise.
J. HOLMES JACKSON,
Mayor.
DROPPING OF SUITS BY CITY NOT
ENTIRELY APPROVED
Burlington, VI. Aug. 30. 1919,
To the Honorable Board Of Aldermen Of
the City of Burlington. VT.
Gentlemen: The communication of the
city attorney concerning the discontinue
ance of certain suits, dated August 4.
1919. addressed to your honorable body.
and also adopted by you. does not in all
. respects meet my approval.
AS to the action taken by the alder
men concerning the suit of the city
against the Baldwin Refrigerator COM
. pany and the suit Of Isham ct. al against
the city, ] have only a few words to say.
, | was assured last year by a person
interested in the Refrigerator company
, that the company would soon seek a
= satisfactory solution Of the question in
volved. but conditions to this end did not
= seem quite ripe. Whether a discontinue
= ance now, and urged by the city. will
1 be considered to he an abandonment OF
Y the city's claim. I do not know. You
may think best to give further consider
I alton to this question.
e Any disposition of the suit of Ishan
= against the city that will save the city
from paying any damages will meet my
approval.
The suit of Calvin 5. Isham ct. a
d against the Central Vermont Railwa,
e company and the Rutland Railroad com
pany ct al, calls for careful thought
The last paragraph of the order anc
e decree of the Supreme Court reads a.
n follows:
T The carrying out of this order by sale
= railroad companies is conditional upor
e the payment by said city of Burlington
: of said sum of money, and the discon
II tinuance of streets as aforesaid. by sale
! city of Burlington"
e The Streets referred to are portionl
: of Main street and Lake street, nov
" occupied by the Union station. by virtu,
of the decree of said court. and are par
ticularly described in said order, am
by the city attorney in his said report
II seems TO me that the discontinuanc
of these portions OF said two streets
in carrying out the order of the Suprem
!, Court, should first be done, before sal,
suit is discontinued. The statutes pro
vide how streets and portions Of street
can be discontinued, I assume that al
II the other terms of said Supreme Cour
have been complied with. But there /
a more serious question involved. Thi
Ie whole matter Of getting a Union static
e took some time, cost the city SIS, 90
l. Ccupied quite a section OF two streets
" and very careful consideration should b
given before we take ourselves out o
t. court.
Il | direct your attention to the orde
8 wherein the court says that any claim
Ie which the city may nave TO land west o
y a line parallel to, and 554,95 feet west O
is the center line of Battery street With