The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1885-05-13

~. 20 III Is DTODOStu W ldNt ~ SpCSiui oioih
leaving Bellows Falls about four A, NJ. on
Tuesday, June 23d, Rutland at half-past six
A. NJ, Burlington about nine A. NJ, Mont
pelicr about half-past ten A. M, and arriv-
ing in Portland between five and six p. NJ.
From Sharon to Montpelier Junction train
will be arranged to connect with the special
for Portland. Returning, special train
will leave Portland about seven A. NJ. Fri
day, June 26. 1t is quite likely that the |
Sherman band will accompany the party |
and the Posts of Washington county talk |
seriously of taking the Montpelier military |
band. The latter would go with twenty-five
to twenty-five pieces and both bands would
add much to the enjoyment of the excur-
sionsts.
OUR esteemed democratic contemporaries,
the Argos and the Reformer, have lately
contained eulogies upon Mr.. f. II. Bascom
for his self-abnegation and patriotism in
withdrawing from the canvass for the Office
of inspector of postoffices for the district
of Vermont. His competitor was Mr.. T.
j. Boynton. Each, it was said had a strong
backing but in the interest of lovely
party harmony, and to prevent another
state from capturing the prize, a disaster
that was impending by reason of this per-
sonal strife, in the magnanmity of his
soul Mr.. Bascom withdrew. AS a further
reward of merit, the Argus contained an
other eulogistic article last week, recount
ing Mr.. Bascom's virtues and honors in
business, politics and masonry, and
commencing him to young men as an
| of t,
business. Far be it from us to endeavor
to detract anything from the force of these
eulogiums, or to dim the luster of the ArguS'
shining exemplar for young men. Opinions
may differ as to democratic self-denial and
patriotism and models ito young business
men" but was there any possible connec-
tion between Mr.. Bascom's sudden disap-
pearance from the contest for the place of
! postoffice inspector, and the establishing, by
Postmaster-general Villas, of an inquisto-
rial standard of qualifications for appli-
cants? Did the following question, for ex-
ample inspire the applicant with a spirit of
unselfshness and a desire for party har-
mony? "Have you ever been indicted or
complained against in court for any Grim
inal offence, and if so, for what when, in
what court, and what was the result of the
proceeding" Some sour cavilers have pro-
fessed to discover that the propounding of
the postmasters troublesome conundrums
and the development of the applicants
magnanimity followed each other as cause
and effect. And scoffers significantly ask,
why a democratic cabinet officer feels
obliged to inquire of democratic applicant
for office, before considering his application,
if he has ever been in state prison? Mr.. Bas-
com, it now turns out, is Hiram Atkins
man for postmaster at Montpelier. So a
new light is thrown on the disinterested-
ness of his former ambition as set forth by
his newspaper sponsors, and the town
promises to become a sort of confederate
crossroads" with Nasby" on the shelf
and " Bascom " 60 in the saddle"
CHARLES DEWEY (chairman), F. II. Bas-
com, Hiram Atkins, w. III. H. Bingham, II
w. Heaton, b. f. Fifeld and E. P. Jewett
are the commissioners for selecting and
recommending to the government a site for
the federal building TO be erected at Mont
pelier. The commission has advertised foI
proposals for site, as will be seen by refer
ence to our advertising columns Concern.
ing site, many men have many minds
BY some it is not unreasonably maintained
that the absolute requirements of an eligible
situation are satisfied by State street. that
the use of the building for court house il
particular would be seriously imperled OF
any site off from that street. There are
: good sites on Main street for building o
this character, notably that just south o
Blanchard's building, that southery from
Bethany church and the site of the resi-
, dence of Mr. George c. Shepard. Some o
} them, it is urged, are undesirable for post
office or court house by reason Of their non
, central location or the cost of the incumber
, ing property; others, not really objectiona
BILE for a postoffice, are regarded unfavora
bly, by those having in view an eligible
court house site. On State street the choice
q is narrowed to two localities one the Mont
pelier House and adjoining properties, from
, Christ church to e. X. SINNERS residence
, the other, on the opposite side of the street
, from the court house to the Willard resi-
dence. Promising that each satisfies the re
; qurements of the government as to dimen
sions, each is about equally desirable as t.
+ situation for postoffice, being hardly
minutes walk from the locality of the offic
for the past quarter of a century, and prol
ably very near the center of the bulk of til
mail received and distributed. The Mont
pelier House site has a large property in
cumbrance, the purchase of which nigh
=, seriously shrink the appropriation and leav
" too small sum for the building. For
. court house site, its close proximity to tw
% railways running past the rear, would be
y serious objection. The din of passing train
> might at times obstruct the progress of coul
y business or render its transaction exceed
ingly annoying. The opposite site is ger
IS orally named by disinterested parties, an
n we believe its superior advantages are a
e knowledged by those whose personal bia
e is in favor of other localities. The value
rs the incumbering property is comparativel
y small; it adjoins the county court hous
II property; il is near hotels, railway station
e. and state house; the building would sho
s. to fine advantage; the locality is clean, quie
d airy, on the favorable side of the street al
seems to meet fully all the requirements ft
he postotilce and court house. This, we b
Of lieve, is the judgment OF unprejudiced pc
lg sons. We have no axes to grind. Such pc
he sonal interest as we have in the matter wi