The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1886-03-11
Townshcnd, Mar. Sth.
Boss management in Mt. Tabor

THE PEOPLE.

Special Correspondence OF the SITTER
Mt. Tabor, Vt. Mar. S, sc.
EDITOR SFTER:-Thinking that few
facts relating to the proceedings of
March meeting in this town might not
be wholly devoid of interest to some
of your readers living in towns not
blessed with autocratic management,
venture to give truthful pen picture
of proceedings under such a regime.
The extensive coal and lumber bust
ness of certain nonresident has ena-
bled him for several years to control
the finances of this town. In oppose
ton to the vote of the town a year a.
90 to hold the next March meeting at
the school-housc at the foot of the
mountain, the selectmen were instruct
cd by this important parsonage to call
it at small settlement five miles dis
tant known as the Griffith lumber job,
the reason given being that the vote ia
ken in the Spring was after Il part of.
his forces had retired, and hence illegal.
This was convincing to the town fathers
and the meeting, was called upon the
Mountain. Ballots were then prepared
for his voting force of 40 men, on strips
of yellow paper bearing his private
mark for spotting voters and naming
the candidates he would have them G.
lect for town officers. Under his own,
and the vigilant eyes of five hired bos-
SEES, these men We're then marched with
military precision to the ballot box,
where, with apparent reluctance on the
fart of many, these ballots were de-
posted, resulting in the election of two
of his foremen as selectmen. two as
listers and one as school director, and so
on through the entire ticket. In town
casting but Go votes, the advantages
gained by this questionable business
method arc apparent, when it is seen
that this large land holder is now pre-
pared to appraise and assess his own
property, subject to the approval Of his
foremen, who, of course are to affect
disagreement, when an appeal will be
taken, as usual, to the board of civil au-
thority, also his employees. Here hia
valuations, with slight alterations. if
any, will be approved as basis of tax
alton for The next four years, subject.
however, to a further yearly deprecia-
ton by the removal Of wood and tim
Der, of which careful record will be
kept. Under this management debt
of 100000 has been piled up and fast
ened upon other taxpayers whose prop
erty has been appraised at its cash val
ne and from which there is no redress.
An increase of taxation from 50 cents
to $500 on the dollar, the one-half of
which is yearly expended by the boss
under contract to keep the highways
and bridges in repair for his own con-
venience, Is cents being sufficient for
ordinary travel, is another legitimate
outcome of his assumed authority. The
same tactics and inscriptions manage
ment, instituted and carried on by this
periideous manipulation, with the assis-
lance of inspector Lamson bad the effect
to remove O. A. Adams as postmaster
at Danby and give the place to the pro-
prietor of the Dandy hotel. That Adj
ans was the choice of a large majority
of both Democrats and Republicans of
Dandy was evinced in their election of
town officers Tuesday, every candidate
of this corrupt ring being defeated by
large majorities. Their tax of % cents
on the dollar is in striking contrast
with our own and an evidence of good
financial management. \ debt of
So, 100000 with grand list of 81 10000
is cumulative of no great desire on the
part of our neighboring town to adopt
autocratic methods, which were forced
upon them in post-office matters, but
utterly failed when offered as substi-
tutc for the ballot.
A Tax Payer.