The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-20
VILLAGE AFFAIRS.

VILLAGE AFFAIRS.
We notice that special village meeting
has been called for Tuesday evening, May
goth TO see if the village will vote Il tax
sufficient to meet the necessary current cx-
penses of the year.
1t is to be hoped that there will be a full
attendance of the taxpayers at this meeting |
and that tax may be voted sufficient to
cover all the necessary current expenses of
the village.
The village corporation is heavily in
debt, we are aware, yet it is no sufficient
reason why tax should not be voted to
pay the current expenses Retrenchment
and reform are proper and right, and per-
haps should have been commenced ere this
but there is II limit even to economy in
public affairs. The officers of the village
should not be embarrassed in carrying for
ward such measures as are for the absolute
good of the public, and such as cannot be
abandoned without detriment to the public
veal. A certain routine must be kept in
operation for the public convenience and
safety. Our village is in reality city, al
though governed in a more economical
way, and the Board of Trustees represent
city government without the extraordin-
AIRY powers granted to council and board
of aldermen, thus making the expenditures
and disbursements for current expenses far
less in amount, and enabling us to save
thousands of dollars which would other
wise I've unreasonably expended or wasted.
Are we not as well governed as Burlington
under its city organization, and with less
taxes
The Board of Trustees must be sustained
in all legitimate expenses and we have no
fear of the abuse of the power placed in
their hands. They cannot use the power
granted them unless they have such appro-
prations as are sufficient to carry on the
every day affairs and legitimate operations
of the corporation. That sufficient appro-
priations were not voted at the annual
meeting is evident to all who have consider
ed the subject, and it has compelled the
Trustees to ask for it, and unless the tax
payers shall vote (Which they most certain
ly ought to) tax, to meet the necessary
current expenses of the year, they will be
compelled to cease the lighting of the
streets, discontinue the night police, and
otherwise cut off expenditures which are
absolutely necessary for the protection of
the property and the safety of the lives and
persons of individuals. Do our citizens
desire darkened streets and unsafe
tlloroughfarcs Is it economical or safe
to have such condition of things :? These
are questions which the people should con-
slider and discuss.
An important vi llage like Rutland, rapid
ly growing and expanding, must have ex-
traordinary expenses. They cannot be
avoided. The health and safety of the
community demand them. There may
have been error and Encouragement in
some departments in the past, but we think
not in the legitimate current expenses of
the village. Such especially as are ac
knowledged to be indispensable and requis-
ite for common welfare. We quite agree
with those who demand payment of the
debt and call for retrenchment and reform
in some Of the expenditures, but we must
most earnestly dissent from the view of
some that the property of the village should
not be protected by night police and the
persons of individuals saved from harm
and perhaps, loss of life by the presence
of authority, Or from bodily injuries that
might be received while passing through
our darkencd streets at night fall. Our
town is now orderly and quiet under the
restraint of wholesome safeguards, but we
apprehcnd, should these be abandonded as
they necessarily will be after June list unless
tax is voted, rowdyism would be devel-
oped, accidents would occur, and numer-
Gus other ills would befall us within thirty
days, such as our citizens would regret.
''An ounce of prevention is better than q
pound of cure" is an old adage that should
he acted upon in this emergency, and the
Trustees should be furnished sufficient
funds to carry on municipal affairs in sucl
II manner as shall protect the community
and save the credit and good name of the
village
The Board of Trustees are quite right il
calling for tax instead of assuming tt
run the village in debt or incur persona
liabilities in the management of the trusts
committed to them. This is an evidence
of their intent to give us an economical
administration and to proceed no further
than they have funds to carry on the
proper functions of the corporation, even il
they must stop the wheels of government
until they can ''pay as they GO
We have Il board of Trustees composed
of practical business men, who can ant
will heed the public voice, in an econom
ical administration, and will not ask any
thing unreasonable at the hands of the tax
payers. A majority of the Board, at least
Messrs Cramton, futile, Dunn, and Otis
have had large experience in business ant
know the wants of the corporation There
fore let the voters come out to the villag,
meeting on the Both, candidly discuss til,
subject, and vote such tax as may be neces
sary to carry on our municipal affairs.
pEIsuIS OF INTAVICATInN