Morning journal and courier., 1880-09-22
Board of Se1ectmen.

Petitions Referred-Hfrfng the Demo-
 cratic WiSwam in the Second Ward
 Considered at Length-Interesting Dis
 cussion-A Nice Little Bill From pr.
 Doherty.
 The regular weekly meeting of the Board of selectn1en was held last evening. Present, Selectmen Andrew (presiding), Reynolds, Feldman, Hugo, Cooper, Hart and Craw- ford
 The petitions of Peter Murphy and Mrs. Anna Kimball for the abatement of taxes were referred to the appropriate committee
 The Board voted to hold special meeting next Monday evening to hear the report of Sylvanus Butler, who has been employed by the town to investigate the history Of Blake street and the rights of property owners To- cated thereon.
 Charles P. Armstrong and Edward P. Mer- win appeared before the Board. MT. Arm strong read the following petition
 To the Honorable Bod1d of 1SeIectnaea:
 The undersigned citizens of the Second ward learning that committee of your body has selected as place for holding the polls in said ward 6 temporary structure known as a wigwam and used exclusively for polit- ical purposes, respectfully request that you reconsider such selection and choose a place more suitable for conducting the elections this fall in said ward. We make this request for tbree reasons, which we trust will seem to the Board to be sufficient to require change.
 First-The structure referred to is roughly constructed, without windows or convenience for those officiating at the polls, and should the election day prove as stormy as the one in 1876 the business of receiving the votes, counting them and making the returns could not be conducted in the building without causing great discomfort to all concerned.
 Second-A large number of voters in this ward, many of them large taxpayers, find it repugnant to their feelings to be required to visit building bearing party inscriptions of political organization, from which they hon. estly and sincerely differ, and be compelled to there exercise their elective franchise, when such course readily be avoided by the selection of a wholly unobjectionable place. of which there are at least two in the ward
 Third-We deem it unwise to establish the precedent of paying out of the town treasury any funds into the hands Of any political or ganization.
 Signed-Edward Bryan, Henry Bronson Conditional on the truth of the allegation), Samuel Miller, Charles P. Armstrong, Her bert c. Warren, Edward Malley, Archibald Veitch, Charles L. English, Lewis Elliott, Edward P. Merwin, R. P. Cowles and thirty others.
 After reading the petition c. P. Armstrong stated that the facts as set forth in the. peti- ton were self evident to those who had in- vestigated the matter. There were many Democrats in the ward who approved of the petition, but for obvious reasons had been unwilling to place their names to the petition.
 Selectman Hartinquired if the committee had made their report.
 Selectman Andrew said the committee was appointed with power to act but they would make report if one was desired.
 Town Agent Reynolds thought the petition should be referred to the committee on yot- ing places, and so moved.
 Selectman Feldman thought it hardly prop- CT to refer matter to a committee from whom an appeal had been made. As mem Der of the committee he was opposed to the selection in the Second ward He moved to table the motion until the committee had re- ported.
 Town Agent Reynolds said that the report of the committee had been printed in the daily papers.
 Selectman Crawford thought that if the committee had not reported the petition was not properly before the Board.
 Selectman Andrew said there was no dispo- sition to sit down on the petition. The com mittee had tried to consider the interests of all in making its selection.
 Selectman Feldman referred to similar committee appointed last year, when, aI- though the Board had Republican majority, the committee consisted of two Democrats and one Republican. The Republicans were in majority at the meeting this year when the committee was appointed, but the Demo erats were given majority on the commit tee. Under these considerations the Repub- icans had right to expect fair play.
 Town Agent Reynolds said that he desired to say emphatically that politics had no in