The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-04-20
FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 1877.
PAYING DEBTS AND SAVING TAXES.


amount of old orders, drawn before the
present board assumed office, outstanding,
with interest thereon, was $0,719,G9, max
ing an aggregate of $40, 1886. The first
amount, we take it, represents the amount
of current expenses. 1t appears that the
debt, for outstanding orders, without in
terest, at the commencement of the year
was $s,S79,7S, and that the same item of
debt is now $6,03713, showing reduc-
ton during the year of $2,962. G5-or TAX
ing into the account the interest due on
outstanding orders at the commencent and
end Of the year, we have reduction of
thirteen dollars and nineteen cents more,
or the whole amount of reduction during
the year, S2,S5756.
The sum of $2,ss7 sc, we take it, rep
resents twenty cents on the dollar of the
grand list, as the village, a year ago, ap-
proprated that amount to apply on the
debt of the village. We must confess our
utter inability to figure it out in this way.
The amount applied in the payment of the
debt should be equal to two-fifths OF the
current expenses of the year-that is of the
aggregate sum for orders drawn"-which
would be $4,163.72; or assuming that
1857. sc is twenty cents on the dollar OF
the grand list would make the aggregate
sum of the orders which the trustees were
authorized to draw 81 ,443.90. In one case
the trustees have drawn some three thou
sand dollars in orders more than they were
authorized to, and in the other they have
neglected to pay some twelve hundred dol
lars on account Of outstanding orders.
Moreover, they estimate the current ex-
penses for the ensuing year at four thou
sand dollars and say that ''to raise this
sum will require tax of twenty cents
on the dollar" The sum is too much
for us. We have no disposition, however,
to find fault. The trustees reduced the
expenses some thirteen hundred dollars
from what they were last year, and we
only refer to the matter for the purpose of
showing how utterly useless it is to en-
deavor to tie up the hands of the trustees
by voting that certain portion of the
taxes shall apply only on payment of the
outstanding orders, and how idle it is to
expect that they can carry on the affairs of
the village and show perfectly satisiac-
tory balance sheet unless the tax payers
vote them sufficient money for that purpose.
There is one portion Of the report which
deserves special mention. The trustees
say 'There has been paid since 1870, out
" of taxes voted upon the grand list of the
=" 'riiinnn Linolrdinu intnrnetA tho ann ri
$G,342.46 for payment of coupons on
" the water debt of the village. The trus.
" tees 6eltece this sum should be refunded b.
i" tile aoater commissioners, 80 that all the
" debt, with the interest, incurred for pro-
&c curing a supply of water shall be paid
/" from the income received for the use OF
" the water. We therefore recommend S,tc1
action as aoal Insure this result, and there.
By proride for tile present current indeJt.
edneSS, relie0ing tile 0illage Of any tar up
upon tile grand list, ercept TO meet tile e.
"penSes Of tile current gear" To this emf
nently wise and practical recommendation,
we venture to add suggestion, that the
water commissioners, also, pay tho current
and highway expenses of the village thus
relieving the village of any taxes upon
" the grand lis."-and cur suggestion i.
just as sensible, reasonable and practical
as the recommendation of the trustees, ant
good deal more economical. Let US loof
at the figures.
The trustees believe and recommend
that the water commissioners should re
fund the amount heretofore paid by the
village for coupons on the water debt Of
the village, with interest thereon, 80 thai
" all the debt, with the interest, incurred
for procuring supply of water shall bt
"paid from the income received from thu
"use of water" If this recommendation
should be adopted, the water commission.
ors would be called upon, during 1877, t
make the following payments
Coupons heretofore paid by the
village with interest thereon...$ G,342 Al
Interest on reservoir bonds July
l, 1S77......,.,.,................ 1900 OF
Interest on old water bonds, due
July l, 1877."....--............. 282 OF
Reservoir bonds due July l...... 5000 OF
Old water bonds due July 1..... 400 OF
$1S,124 4
So that we have $1S, 1874 4G for the waite
commissioners TO pay out of the waite
rents during the coming year. The Who'll
amount of water rents assessed during tn
past year was $8,513 GA and if out of thi
amount the water commissioners can man
age to pay over eighteen thousand dollars
it will be just as easy for them to pay min
thousand dollars more for the highway an
other current expenses of the village an
thus do away with taxation entirely for al
yearS to come. If they can do the one
they can do the other. Let US, then, in
augurate "ncw departure" In village al
fairs, pay our debts and save our taxes.
We "believe," say the trustees, "thr
"this sum"-$0, 342 46-"shOttd be refund
''ed 6y The 1odteI commissioners. Why, pra
tell us1 Where are they to obtain the NOR
ey? Is 1t expected that the village wi
vote to instruct a sui: of law to be CON
menced Tor the purpose of compelling tn
water commissioners to pay this sum on
of their own pocket'2 For if they "refund
1t at all, 1t must be from their own pockets
They have nothing to do with the "wate
"rentS," the law now requiring that Z" al
" water rents received by said commission
Z" ers shall be paid by them to the treasure
" of said village. Who shall "refund" thi
sum of six thousand dollarsp Will suit
be commenced against the present commits
sioners, Harvey Kingsley, Mark 8. Rich
ardson and N. L. Davs9 Or will It be d