The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1880-12-17
THE COURT HOUSE MATTER.
MR.. EDITOR:

Mr.. EDITOR:
In the various paragraphs that have
appeared in the public prints in regard
to the Addison county court house
matter, we have seen nothing that has
given clear and full statement of the
case. Justice TO those in favor of the
measure would seem to call for such a
statement.
In the first place, SO far as we know,
at is universally conceded that new
Structure is needed. Not member of
the committee but admitted that fact,
so far as we could learn. And it is
we'll to bear in mind that this is not
solely a county matter. The state has
rights in all questions of this character.
the business of the courts, and they
have just claim for comfortable and
wholesome building in which to per-
form their duties. The present bull
ding i. II byword through the state.
rii- point needs no argument. Sec
Dndly, the bill as proposed to be
| ,mended by the friends of the measure,
called for an appropriation of 8 900,
which amount the commissioners were
prohibited from exceeding, or ev n us
ing any part thereof until they had ex-
ecuted bond to the county treasurer
in the sum of $4,000 that the appro-
priation should not be exceeded. The
bill further provided that that amount
should be raised by an annual tax of
seven cents on q dollar of the grand
list for the four succeeding years.
Any excess of cost for site above the
sum that might be received from the
sale of the old building, was to be de-
trayed by the citizens of Middlebury.
These conditions were so fair and rea-
sonable that the opponents of the
measure were forced to admit their
fairness, and business. They, through
their leader, Immediately moved the
adoption of the amendments, md O
favorable report upon the bill, with the
additional condition of a reference OF
the whole matter, (Which carried) to
the tax payers of the country. There
is no question but that this was O
shrew6 move against the bill, and its
friends so regarded it. The PROPOSE
ton has specious and fair sound, but
the friends of the measure considered
it defeat OF the same, for probably
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of all similar en-
terprises would be defeated by such 6
reference, and for obvious reasons.
Large appropriations are made al
every meeting of the General Assem-
bly, for the state prison, workhouse
reform school and insane asylum. 1
the questson of choice between sucf
appropriations and others of q vastly
less amount were submitted to the PEG
pie, we apprehend that the smaller
amount would universally prevail. II
the same way with the court honse
The masses do not expect to want an,
of these institutions. They know blu
little about them, and have no interes
in them, only in regard to their cost.
The minority of the committee re
garded the proposition of reference a
: unsound in principle, and believed
would prove vicious in practice. The
were unwilling to send an apple of dis
cord into every school district in tn
county to be contended for from nov
. until the next March meeting. Fla
J better use the old court house 70
!. years. Hence, they immediatel
moved an adverse report.
s In their Judgment, Addison count
. has missed its opportunity in this maj
ter and the responsibility must rel
- where it falls. The friends of In
+ measure are perfectly willing to trui
! to the future casting its light upo
their record, for their vindication,
y any vindication is needed.
= Believing that the views of the m
j uority are expressed in the above, W
remain, &c.
EDISON A. DoUD, LUclEN L SMITH.
!. Montpelier, Dec. IS, 1880.