Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-12-03
The Proposed Amendments OF our VIII
IaRe Charter.

BRATrLHBono, VT, Dec 2, 1880.
Mr. Editor. The air is thick with rumots regard
ing amendments TO our village charter which have
been acted upon by the present legislature. What Ia
the spirit Of their Conception their import in detail
aud what will be their general bearing upon the inter-
ests aud welfare Of the yilagef ] have as yet met
with one competent to answer these questions, al
though undoubtedly there are those who can do 30,
perhaps satisfactorily TO the general public. am
that petition freely circulated for sigma
lures asking the legislature to change the time Of our
annual village meeting from December TO March
which measure, properly carried out, Is undoubtedly
desirable one. have also seen letter from Col
Hooker in which he gives the substance Of one OF the
amendmeuts and II the others contain questions OF
such grave Importance as TO me) this one does, they
should have been placed before the people at as early
date as possible. According to Col. Hooker, the
amendment which refer to gives to the balifs the
power to locate engines and engine companies, aud to
organize and disband companes-in other words, the
principal control Of the re department. except the
actual time Of fre. It appears to me, Mr. Editor
that there is class Of citizens-I hope small one
who are disposed to look uron our hremen as dis
tinctve classa class to be put down and kept well
under; good fellows enough In their ayfooish per-
haps to be willing to do much hard duty and dan
gerous work for the pay they receve-but neverthe-
less class to be restrained with strong hand. Nov
II It is true that there is such feeling IL is all wrong
The fact should not be ignored that while are hre
men, we are at the same time citizens; and while as
hremen, we take deep interest in the department OF
which members, At the same time, as citizens,
take strong and deep interest in the welfare Of
our village. To the nrCmen-and l speak with
certainty for large majority Of themthe spirit and
the letter OF this proposed change Ia obnoxious IN the
highest degree we should look upon ltH AecePtauee
by the village both unjust and unwise; unjust to
the who may be elected TO the ONCE Of chief en-
gneer, unjust to the different organizations and I'M
wise measure Of efficiency. For the chief engi-
It lie like setting man to do hard aud difcult
piece Of work with his hands bound Where can
man competent to do the work be found, who VIII be
willing to accept restricted trust, involving the
responsibilities il necessarily does FOR the hremen,
II is unfair TO ask them to cheertuly under
leader hampercd and fettered above. Its tendency
would be TO deract from our interest," II not to totally
disrupt US and In the one case the other our ei
cheney would be either impaired destroyed Hence
its unwisdsm. The power Of expenditure Tor The de-
partment Is already vested in the baihs, aud no one
objects to It; but believe, and it to us az II
all fair and candid minds must agree with us, that the
| arranging Of the forces Of the department. and the
disposal Of the appliances furnished by the corpora
ton for the purpose should be in the hands Of the
chief engineer-the one individual whose duty It il,
when the time Of action and trial comes, to control
/ and direct these different elements: the man whom
the public held responsible not only for the result OF
his individual judgment at that special time. but, in
greater or less degree for the efficiency and prompt
ness Of action Of the several organizations which
| make up the department. when the decisive moment
arrives, there is time for discussion time for
settlement Of disputed methods; the issue must be
instantly met. Who best understands the wants and
needs Of the FIRE department its strength aud it's de-
/ hciencies--the man whom the citizens elect to the
| once OF chief engineer, and whose election Is, or
should be- the seal Of their conviction Of his compe-
tency, board Of bailihs often composed u citi-
knowledge in this direction Is as limited az 1t ia with
| reference TO any study pursuit TO which circum-
stances their habits Of life have made them Etran-
gers call upon all hremen, all friends Of the de-
partment and all citizens generally, TO weigh this
matter carefully and understandngly, so that they
may be able to render a verdict upon 1t, when the
| proper time comes cQpsistent with reason and COM
mon sense-a verdict which shall settle the question
for all time, uAtil some eIigency shall arise,
necessitAting entirely different course q action.
FIREMAN.