Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-03-08
Montpelier Town Meeting.

Town meeting in Montpelier began on Monday
evening. At that time, In response TO numer-
ously signed call large caucus OF voters as
sembled In Capital hall, without regard to politi.
cal lines, to place in nomination list OF officers
to be supported at the meeting on the following
day. committee OF nine fairly representing the
different classes OF taxpayers was appointed to
make for the acceptance Of the caucus a list of
names for the leading town offices This com
mittee performed the duty entrusted to II. The
list OF nominees prepared by II was acted upon
and adopted name by name In two cases only
was the choice Of the committee challenged. A
count was called for to determine the approval Of
the nomination Of W. c. Walker for second select
man, and r. X. Gordon for grand Juror, resulting
in both cases In a practically unanimous ratihca-
ton OF the selections of the committee. The list
OF officers thus selected appears in the list Of off,
GERS elected published in another column, with
the exception Of the first and third listers.
George W. Wing and c. f. Perrin were the eau
Gus nominees for those positions.
Tuesday morning at ten o'clock the formal rat
ifcation of the work Of the caucus commenced,
and proceeded without interruption till the cleo
tion Of second selectman was reached. An effort
was made TO smash the caucus slate by nominal
ing Charles NJ. Hale for that office in opposition to
W. c. Walker, the caucus nominee A ballot
was demanded. Ont Of a total vote Of 1863, Mr..
Walker had 1863, Mr. Hale 81, scattering 3, and Mr..
Walker was declared elected. Another stand
was made against the nominees Of the caucus in
the election OF overseer of the poor George S.
Hubbard, the retiring official, was nominated
against L. M. Irish, the caucus nominee. A bal
lot resulted in 2l6 votes for Irish and 63 for Hub
bard Article No. In the warning, relating to
the choice of listers, was passed. and No. 10, re-
latng to the election OF street commissioners,
taken up. ON this familiar battle-ground the
real strength Of the only opposing elements in
the meeting WAS tested. Mr.. Horace Mills second
street commissioner during the past year, too
hastily assuming that he had been censured
for extravaganza in the discharge OF his duties
demanded an explanation of the expenditures
which had been made by the seleotmen and street
commissioners, and criticised sharply the action
OF the board Of seectmen J. w. Ellis, first Sc
lectman elect, and Hiram S. Smith we're nomin-
ated for first street commissioner. In a vote OF
3lS, Mr.. Ellis had 233, Mr. Smith 113, scattering
2. The opposition made filibustering effort, by
nominating, first Hiram S. Smith, and, on his de
clining, other individuals against the regular
nominee w. G. Walker, the second seectman
elect All opposing nominees successfully de-
clining to serve, Mr.. Walker was finally elected by
rica voce vote Thequestion that the seectmen
should act az street commissioners was thus de-
cisively settled for twelve-month at least, and
Hon. Clark King, third selectman elect, was made
third street commissioner without opposition.
Returning to the article relating to the election of
sen first lister. Mr. Wing in manly speech re.
hearsed his experiences as lister, refuted the
senseless street gossip relative to the course and
inspiring motives of the listers in their action In
individual cases last year, and, by reason of the
exactions of the duties of lister and the pres
sure of private business peremptorily declined to
serve in that capacity this year. Mr.. Wings
speech only increased the deep regret felt at his
determined decnaton OF the office OF first lister,
especially in view OF the " old-fashoned notion
which he expressed that "those who have the
property should pay the taxes" G. j. Gleason
WAS then nominated for the position Of first lister,
and after something of a struggle, was elected,
with c. f. Perrin and W. G. Ferrin as second and
third, respectively, and the meeting took a recess
till two o clock in the afternoon
At the afternoon session ventilating discussion
was had over the report of the selectmen, at the
end Of which 1t appeared that those officials and
their annexes, the street commissioners, had man
aged the affairs of the town prudently, and that
though in some Of the street commissioners ex-
penses closer accounting Of the money expended
would have been desirable, there was a reason
able showing of work accomplished for the great
expenditures roads, sidewalks and drains
This and the report Of other town officers were
accepted, adopted and recorded" As means
of assisting to do even justice TO future town off,
GERS, it voted that hereafter their reports be
heard Immediately after the election Of modera-
tor and clerk. The poll taxes of fire and militia
companies were abated; consideration Of the
articles relating to raising Of money for the ensu-
ing year was referred to an adjourned meeting
to be held May l6; refusal was made to adopt
the provisions Of Act No. 90 laws Of 1880; author
ity was given the treasurer to borrow the needs
OF the town may require, sum not exceeding
49, 600; jurisdiction of the state was given to
the first constable; deduction of three per cent
on town taxes paid on or before June 10 was
voted; C. T. Sabin was elected commissioner of
Green Mountain Cemetery; resolution offered
by W. G. Ferrin instructng the town Off
GERS to oppose by all legal and honorable means
| the proposed State street extension was adopted
after discussion by vote of fifty-five yeas to
thirteen nays, and the meeting adjourned