Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-12-23

But if worth more than cost, then coca .
policy requires that they should lie undertaken
by either town or city. The array Of figures
which fad in the communicates Of ''V' IN
the Times of saturday, showing the probable I
cost of certain specified imprevements-as, con- [
Meeting Union street with Maiden Lane, Great .
ing a Market, House Of Correction, Sc.-is'
for this reason, no argument against City
Charter, but an argument against the I'M
proyements themselves. by reason Of the cost,
whether undertaken by town or city. If the
charter should be adopted, the same argumsnt
could be made against them in the City Council
as now in Town Meeting, viz. that they would
cost too much, and that taxes are already as
onerous as we can bear.
But let Us suppose that & particular improve
ment is not only desirable, hut is
fully worth tie cost as, for instance, the
extension o. Union street through to Maideh
Ltnc; What is the probability Of getting 1t under
the iown organ alton? understand that
petition for extension has been for long zine
in the hands Of the Selectmen, but that they
take no action under it, either to lay OFT the
street or to deny the petiuon-unless thar ne
clect to act may be SAID TO amount to denial
The majority Of the board are esidents Of the
village and naturally would take an in .erest, rs
iudi,iduals, in this, as a village i'm 3royement.
/ doubt not they appreciate this as a desirable
/ improvement, and worth TO the vill..ge what !,
would cost Why do they not then lay out obi.
extension, | suppose, that this answer may
be given-"we are officers not Of the village .bu,
Of the town Of Burlington, and must protec. tn,
interest of every inhabitant Of the towu Thi.
improvement, though desirable. Is still. so IA,
local, that the taxpayers of the remo. parts o.
the town ought not to be burthenej in maxim,
it. live could assess the land h .lders for tn,
benefit it would be to them, ana could lay tn
tax for the work upon the resi- tents ofthe village
who would be more particul irly benefited by it
We would open tine street; but as it is We can
mot.
Now this answer me y be right. as may b
wrong, in this partic alar instance 1t Is clear
as to certain impo' tant improvements for tn
riiiagc such Wor ID be a proper answer for tn
Selectmen Of tn. torn to make. As to others @
such general importance as to justify undertak
ing them at the expense Of the town, the opposi
ton or fe' u Of opposition from the taxpayer
outside .he village. and fear Of displeasin
such II often deter the selectmen from action
-, &c C, the strenuous opposition Of outside tax
pave Is to particular village improvements, unles
Gle rly unreasonable, would control in town
m' cting Gas perhaps il ought, even agains;
.aiori'y interest the other way And there s;i
remains another class Of important improy,
mcnts Tor the village. which are not within tn
powers Of the Sele,;men, and hardly within tn
corporate powers Of the toan 90 effect.
4 remains for ,he voters 20 say, whether the
. u'l have these Improvements or not. If yea
., they mus. take The charter. WIKI the chart,
we -lail no, Pee forced to have them.
VIII pay3 wiz always De $40 oren questo
-. ia respect TO every proposed improvement II
ailI. then ia respect 60 very mary Improvement
,se need the city Charter Q. eject them.
Ar.