Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-07
Town Nice ting.

A Tax of Five Mills Voted-other Reso-
 1utfOns Passed-Ex-Goveraaors English
 and Bigelovv Appointed to Inquire Into
 Town Expenditures.
 Town Clerk Shuster rapped on the desk and called the annual town meeting to order at Loomis' Temple of Music yesterday after. noon, and Lawyer Charles R.. Whedon was chosen to preside. The first thing brought before tho meeting, which was well attended. was resolution by J. B. Sargent tes6Enmend- ing the appointment CT committee to in quire into all matters pertaining to the ex penses of conducting the town government for the past few years. This Eonnrnittee will 'feport at suEsequent meeting such facts and recommendations as in their judgment the condition of affairs may warrant. The committee appointed was ex. Governor James E. English and ex-Governor Hobart B. B1ge1ow, and they were empowered to em- ploy suitable accountant to aid them in their work
 Town Agent Reynolds said that he would aid the committee all he could and was heart fly in favor of the idea of holding sich an in- vestigation.
 The following resolutions were then passed:
 Voted, That Harnanus NJ. Welch be and is hereby appointed treasurer of the town de- posis fund for the year 1885, and until 8 sue cessor is appointed.
 Voted, That John B. Robertson, Andrew l.. Kidston, James B. English, Gardner Morse and Samuel E. Merwin, jr., be and are hereby appointed managers of the town deposit fund for the year beginning January 1, 1884.
 The resolution for laying the town tax was next considered. The Town Agent said that at an informal meeting of the Selectmen it had been decided that a tax of five and half mills, the same as last year, be recommended. George Hotchkiss, End, thought that four and 8 half mills was enough. Isaac Anderson favored five mills Ex- Governor English said that it was not a good policy to impose too light tax and then have to borrow to make up a de- ficiency. Only a short lime ago the town had to borrow $7O,0OO. One reason why high tax rate was necessary was the decrease in the grand list In 1873 and 1874 it was over $57, ,OOO OOO, while last year it was only about $50, ,O0O, GOO. He did not believe property had depreciated to that extent He thought the position of town agent was hard one to fill. Mir. Andrews inquired how much the town expenditures were aside from the State tax and interest
 Mir. Atwater, the financial clerk, read some statements in answer. MT. Hotchkiss said
 
 Hotchkiss said he understood that the grand list would be higher next year. After some further discussion the motion of Mir. Hotch- tiss for tax of A. mills was voted down and Mr. Anderson's motion for tax of five mills was adopted The resolutions were as fol- lows:
 Voted, That tax of five mills on the dol lar be and Is hereby laid upon the polls and ratahle estate of the inhabitants of the town of New Haven and non residents on the grand list of 1883, for the purpose of paying the State tax, interest on loans and other necessary and lawful expenses of the town, and that the same be payable on the 1st day of July, 1884.
 A resolution was read making the Town Agents salary $2, 300. George Hotchkiss, 2d, moved to amend by making 1t $1 800. MT. Reynolds said that he drew salary as Town Agent and 8 Selectman and that the Selectmen got $5 a day for their services, whenever engaged in town work. Edward Hammell thought that something might be saved by having the Selectmen meet once month instead of ouce & week. After more talk the following resolution was past: Voted, That the sum of $2, 300 be and is hereby appropriated from the treasury of the town for the payment of the salary of the Town Agent for the year beginning with the first day of January, 1884. he to act as clerk of the treasurer in disbursing State pensions to soldiers orphans without additional com pensation.
 These votes were then passed:
 Voted, That the sum of S2, GOO be and is hereby appropriated from the treasury of the town to the St. Francis Orphan asylum for aid in supporting the poor children of the town for the year ending December 31, 1884. Voted, That the sum of $I 1000 be and is hereby appropriated from the treasury of the town in aid of the New Haven dispensary in providing medical assistance for the poor of the town for the year ending December 31, 1884.
 Voted, That the sum of $2, GOO be and is hereby appropriated from the treasury of the town to the New Haven Orphan asylum for aid in supporting the poor children of the town for the year ending December 3I, 1884
 Voted, That the Selectmen be and are hereby authorized to employ such assistance for the office of the Town Agent as in their judgment may be necessary, and to fix the amount of compensation for the same.
 Voted, That the sum of $500 be and is hereby appropriated from the treasury of the town for the payment of the salary of the treasurer of the town and treasurer of the town deposit fund for the year beginning Jan. l, 1884.
 Voted, That the Selectmen of the town be and they are hereby authorized to borrow sum or sums of money for the purpose of paying the necessary expenses of the town and to give the obligations of the town there for, provided that the sums borrowed shall not in the whole amount to more than $125, GOO at any one time.
 Voted, That the Selectmen are hereby authorized to appoint such number of patrol men or constables as they may deem neces- sary, not exceeding 30, as provided by act of the general assembly approved June 23, 1873.
 Voted. That the sum of S1, 900 be and is hereby appropriated from the treasury of the town for the payment of the salary of the Town Clerk in addition to the fees of his office, for the year beginning Jan. l, 1884.
 Voted, That the whole of the income from the town deposit fund be and Is hereby ap- propriated for the support of the public schools of the town, and that it be divided between the city school district, the Vest vile school district and the Annex school dis trict in the same proportion the monay raised for the public schools by the annual town tax.
 Voted, That Daniel H. Brown, Michael Coleman. Albert Rowe, Hudson B. Forbes and George A. Linsley be and they are here by appointed committee to designate and stake out grounds where oysters may be planted to be taken up again on the river and harbors of New Haven and the waters adja- cent thereto.
 On motion of George Hotchkiss, 2d, the meeting then adjourned.
 In regard to the vote laying 8 tax of five mills it is very sensibly asked by what au- thority tax on polls and non-residents on