The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-03-04
ANIMAL MARCH MEETING.



town and was harmonious in action. The
motto that prevailed seemed to be retrench-
ment and economy in the management of
town affairs, while good men were elected
to fill the various Offices.
The meeting was called to order at ten
O'Clock in the forenoon by the Town Clerk,
who read the warning and the first business
being to choose Moderator, ON motion,
Hon. Martin G.. Everts was elected to that
position by reclamation.
Gen. w. Y. w. Ripley moved that five
listers be elected instead of three which the
statute called for, and it was so ordered by
the meeting.
The voters were then directed to forward
their ballots for town officers and voting
was continued until 2.lj p. m when the
box was turned and the meeting proceeded
to the business which was named in the
warning.
The first article was taken up--to sec
what the meeting would do toward paying
the Indebtedness of the town.
Jesse L. Billings moved that tax Of 80
cents on the dollar on the grand list he
raised for that purpose
This brought out Gen w w Ripley,
who briefly reviewed the present situation
of our finances saying that the town owed
$4,000, with small sum Of assets, much
of which could not he realized. the total
assets being some 1000, leaving balance
of $4,000 over and above all the assets
of the town. This was considerable more
than the Indebtedness Of last year, which
was not a pleasant thing to contemplate.
The seIectmen had advised a vote Of one
hundred cents on the dollar. while the alt
ditors advised that the selcctmcn be au-
thorized to borrow S120,000. Now it was
proposed to raise tax of fifty cents, which
he considered would practically leave the
town just where she stood to-day. 1t was
now the time to look this matter squarely
in the face and to pay our debts as fast as
we can
lie moved, therefore, a tax Of 100 cents
on the dollar
In reply TO a question, he thought there
was no certain method Of Increasing the
grand list, although a tax upon railroad
property was being considered, but which
we were no nearer doing now than five
years ago
Grafton Giiggs said railroad property
had never been put into the list but once,
in 1860, but no taxes were raised from it,
Jesse l.. Billings hoped the motion Of
Gen. Ripley would not prevail. The poo
pie were never in 50 poor situation TO
raise SO large . tax as they " ere now II
there was any probability of bringing the
railroads into the list, it was better to wait
until that time came before raising such
| tan
The motion of Gen Ripley was lost.
Mr. Billings motion for tax Of 80 cculs,
| then prevailed.
The next article in the warning was to
see what should be done regarding a tunnel
under the railroad crossing ut West street,
| near the chair factory,
j. G. GI1ggs was in favor 81 having SAID
crossing fixed in some way. The railroad
was as liable to damage from it as were tho
| people. lie moved to instruct the select
said crossing and to see how much can he
obtained from the railroad Tor that pur-
pose and report at the next annual meeting.
| Adopted.
Miscellaneous business was then taken
up. Miner billiard Offered the following
| resolution.
Resolced That the assessors be instruct
| ed to assess all real estate in town liable to
taxation.
j. L. Billings moved to amend by insert
ing the words "including the Railroads"
which was accepted by Mr.. billiard and
the resolution as amended was adopted.
Onmotion OF Gen. Ripley it was voted
| That the lircmcn OF the town he exempt
ed from taxation on their polls the ensuing
| year also, that the four fire companies OF
| the town have the free use Of the Town
Hall one night each during the year
| Adopted.
The moderator presented petition of
James Thompson for $500 bounty for ser
vices in the late war, which set forth that
the petitioner was volunteer from Rut-
land, Jan. Sd, 1862, and served two years
and one month in the lst Vt. Battery, that
Others had received $500 bounty from the
town for similar services.
Grafton Griggs explained that !he same
petition was submitted one year ago and
referred to the selectmcn. who had investi-
gated the matter and reported that the pc
TONER was not entitled to the bounty. He
therefore moved the matter be dismissed,
which motion prevailed.
The moderator then presented another
proposition OF somewhat similar charac-
ter. This was petition in the matter Of
j Justin Longley, who is claimed to have
re-enlsted and credited TO the town of
Rutland as a veteran, when the town was
paying $500 bounty that he died in the
service, and his father was the only heir,
and that the same be submitted to the see
lectmen for action.
On motion of j l. Billings the same was
referred to the selectmen.
j l. Billings now moved that hereafter
the town Of Rutland should pay its officers
as follows
selectmen, $50 year each town treas
urcr, not to exceed $40 year overseel
of the poor, $500; listers, SO per day each.
EX-Gov, Page moved to amend by substi-
tuting for salary of selectmen ''fifty cents
in place of fifty dollars. lie explained hi:
position upon the question ty saying that
at the last meeting he spoke upon the sala
RES OF our town officers as being too large
that every citizen ought to be willing to dc
his duty without compensation, and thai
the town should do away with these sala
ries. AS a consequence his name had beer