Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-04-10

Burlingtons new city government met
for organization Monday, Mayor j..
Holmes Jackson succeeds himself and
the new aldermen are: G. H. Beecher.
succeeding Il. A. Luck from ward two;
Edward Hanbridge succeeding A. @.
Mansur from ward FIVE, and X. l.. Patrick,
succeeding c. l.. Dolan from ward six.
{. l.. Woodbury. from ward one, Charles
Caisse from ward three. and f. ]. Dwyer
from ward four succeed themselves and
one alderman from each ward holds Of
fice another year Mayor jackson and the
aldermen whose terms began Monday
took the oath of office and then the
board organized by unanimously electing
Alderman Woodbury. president
committee consisting of Aldermen
Beecher. Bessette and Patrick was ap-
pointed to wait on Mayor jackson and
inform him the board had organized and
was ready to hear his message. They
appeared with the mayor. who addressed
the board as follows:
MAYOR JACKsON's ADDRESS
To the Honorable Board of Aldermen of
the City Of Burlington:
Gentlemen:
| city Is simply a large corporation, and
all OF the Inhabitants should be interested
In its welfare.
Under our charter the mayor Is the
executive officer and the board of alder
men Is the legislative branch of the city
government. Although the. mayor and
aldermen. with few exceptions. &C,
separately, this fact should not preyen,
frequent consultation. Exchange of views
will tend to useful legislation. NV two
years experience as mayor has convinced
me that the aldermen should become
| better acquainted with the workings of
| each department. Formerly committees
! OF the board used to manage city affairs
| NOW commissions take the place of such
committees. But the aldermen do not 81,
merely as an auditing board: they are
the administrators Of city affairs.
believe the aldermen. with the ap.
proval OF the mayor. should plan the
larger work that is needed to be done
and direct the commission to carry on,
these plans. This would. in my judy
ment, result in better service. We would
to this extent anyway. be dischargine
our duties as members Of the city govern.
ment.
We are now in the ffth-f1fth year OF
our corporate life as city. It would
| the record of the past fifty-four years.
but just now We have other duties which
We must discharge
During the past two years we have
| been restricted by government orders in
the use of some materials necessary for
| building purposes and for street and
other improvements. With these restric.
| lions removed we can hope to do better
work and accomplish greater results.
The war tax of $3S,000 the expense made
necessary by reason of the prevalence
or the influenza of about $4,000 and the
cost or new water main in lower Pine
street of about $4,000. have also com.
bined to hinder needed outlay in GU,
streets and in other directions
| We must provide for the payment o,
a State tax OF 80 cents on a dollar TO,
each year, 1919 and 1920, making $50, OO(
annually. This must be provided for In
our annual levy Of taxes. This heavy tax
Is chiefly due to the war debt, that is. &c
raise money to pay our soldiers what the
state promised them. This Of course we
are glad to do: and what more we car
probably do for those who return to thei,
homes by way Of helping them to ge,
employment and so get started AGAR
In life. should do.
| 'ecomWehu tnat official action be-
TAKEN perhaps by establishing a mum.
cipai employment bureau. and that some
means be provided. to help those who
want 10 work to find employment. and
to help those who want workmen.
In accordance with a resolution pre.
viously adopted. l am forming a com
mittee Of 100 citizens including your
honorable body to consider and provide
| 70
soldiers suitable welcome
We are obliged to levy a tax unde,
our charter Of over 100 per cent. on the
grand list to provide appropriations TO,
school purposes. interest. highways and
other fixed charges and as we canno,
levy tax Of over 200 cents on the dolla,
for city purposes unless the legal voters
vote larger rate, you will at once see
the necessity forced upon us of econo.
mizing in all our departments of CITY
government.
! Our earnest efforts therefore, should
be directed. and no doubt will be. to
making the most out OF the money we
have at our disposal.
l recommend that this board at once
! carefully look into the needs of each de.
partment OF the city government. so tina,
when we are called upon to make an.
preparations these can be fairly dis.
tributed, and according to the needs
which we find to exist.
| The interest women took in the an
nual election strengthened my convic.
ton that they should have large repre-
sentation in the administration of city
| anairs. They demonstrated, during the
past two years their fitness to do GER
tain kinds Of public business without per-
hitting their home duties to suffer.
| In my message one year ago I urged
that place be provided for the sole
convenience of male persons who visit
| our city. small appropriation was made
and suitable place in the basement of
the Memorial building was fitted for
such purpose and is practically ready for
use.
We have new park on the lake shore.
1t should be improved and In permanent
way 30 far as we can afford to do so.
While We cannot hope to complete i'm
provements in this park we can make a
good beginning. l recommend that this
matter receive your careful attention,
The need Of public Fairgrounds was
recognized by the Legislature in 1912.
ana law passed permitting cities and
towns to provide suitable places to be
used Tor public recreation purposes.
FAVOR some action under this law
out within our means. Here, as else
where, we should not lose sight of tho
necessary demands for other thinrs We
have enlarged the facilities for business
at our electric light plant We shall have
In short time furnished us electscttv M
the low rate OF one cent per kilowatt