Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-03-05

ditors, in answer TO questions, that tno ~"
tenn Of the past year had cost Sl1OO less 'nan
the old system OF highway surveyors.
When the article relating to "A new lookup
was reached Elijah Wales moved to dismiss
II on the ground that the present lock up rs
good enough for anybody that will get lnlo
It." The majority did not fall in with this
semi barbarous view Of the question aud tne
motion was emphaticay voted down. some
discussion M to the best means OF providing
a new lookup followed. Dea. Estey suggest
ed that the vacant room opposite the post OIL
fee be utilized for that purpose. Mr.. Her
rick stated the objections to that place, on &c
count of the disturbance from noisy prison
ers aud from the repulsive developments often
attending the locking up Of drunken men. IL
was finally voted to leave the matter IN tue
hands of the Helectmen with Jacob Estey, b.
@. Crosby and @. II. Davenport added ~
members OF a committee authorized to pro
vide new lock-up-the cost Of which was
limited to $1,000 or Sll0O.
When article was reached to see u inc
town would appropriate money for soldiers
monument, Col Hooker took the stand and
submitted the following resolution;
The sum Of $4,000 is hereby appropriated for sol
diers' monument in COMMUNICATION Of the YaoT OF
the soldiers from Bratteboro in the war OF tne re
beon. The selectmeu are hereby authorized and 10
structed 10 borrow the above sum aud pay the same
to sedgwick Post, No. @. A. r., Department Of Yer
I
monument by said Grand Army Post.
In connection with bis resolution Col. Hook
or submitted plan for monument, Whlch
is elsewhere described, and supported bis mo
ton for the adoption of the resolution in al
brief spec ch, in which he urged 1t to be both
the duty and the privilege OF the town, after
a lapse Of more than 20 years, 10 provide
suitable memorial for the brave men who
went out from its borders to fight the battles
of their country. C. F. Thompson seconded
the motion, and the resolution was enthusiss
tically adopted by viva yoce vote without OPP
/ position. u
TIE sum of $50 WAS appropriated for the
Observance Of Memorial day, the money to be
/ placed ia the hands of the Grand Army post.
On motion of f. w. Stoddard, L. w. Whit
ney, Z. Cunningham and @. ii. Merrill were
r, elected trustees of the Brattleboro Free Ii
/ brary for a term Of three years, and on Mr..
! Stoddard's motion also, the sum Of $1,000 was
| appropriated for the support of tue library
during the coming year.
When article II VAS reached, to see il the
town system OF schools should be adopted,
Rev. Mr.. Merrill was Intercepted for opinion
Of the relative merits Of the district and town
systems, and he replied ~ he did u year ago
to the same question-that, while he believed
ia the town system, he did not think IT advis-
able for this town to adopt 1t at present, on
er discussion of the question was had, and
the formality Of vote was gone through
with 10 votes were cast against the town
system to for it,
1t was voted to exempt the polls of fcemen
from taxation as heretofore.
Under artch I it was voted to refund the
town debt, exclusive Of the railroad debt, NJ
II rate Of interest not exceeding per cent -
the understanding being that, when the rail
Z A.lt ia r,afd a uf ba Ial pa
| of the debt is to be paid.
After some time spent in reaching an I'M
derstanding Of what money would be nects-
sary 10 pay the town expenses, and also to pay
the state school and county taxes, a tax of 30
cents was voted to cover everything.
THE TOWN AGENCY DISCUSSION.
The most interesting and spirited develop
ments Of the day came at this stage of the
proceedings, when, the routine business be-
ing through with, j. l. Martin took the plat.
form and said that, while he had announced
in the morning that he would offer a resou-
on to abolish the town agency, he had CON
Guided instead to offer substitute, which he
did in the form of resolution forbiddiug the
agent to sell liquors to any person for medi-
clual uses except on a physicians prescrip-
ton, or for chemical, mechanical or sacra-
mental purposes except under the oath of the
buyer AZ TO the purpose for which the liquor
was wanted G. f. Thompson seconded the
resolution as being in the interest Of tempe.
rance. II. w. Simonds objected to the reso.
luton on the ground of the needless expense
to which it would subject poor men if, in sd-
dtion to paying for such liquors 81 they
might need, they we're obliged to pay ply.
stefan for a prescription. Mr.. Martin said
the purpose Of the resolution was to save the
money OF poor men to put bread in the
mouths of their wives aud children instead of
its being spent for rum. Mr.. Highly said the
evident effect Of the resolution, If adopted
would be to drive people away FROM the agen-
cy; granting, even, that poor men now get
an occasional pint of liquor there for improp.
er uses, il the resolution should pass they
would then contrive 10 get money enough to
send away, and, instead OF pint or a half.
pint, get gallon or a keg, keep it in tue
house, and LAY by it," aud in the end the
wives and children would lose far more bre ad
than now. Mr.. Highly moved to amend by
providing that all who bought liquor at the
agency should state in writing for what pur.
pose the liquor was wanted. A. r. Harri.
moved an amendment to have the names OF
all persons who bought liquor printed 10 the
town report g. b. Klrwan moved to still
further amend by having the names printed
each week in the village papers. All these
amendments we're agreed to-
j. NJ. Tyler said he presumed his brother
Martin had looked the matter up carefully, but
suggested that there might be a question a,
to whether the town had any authority under
tue law to pass such a resolution of instruc-
tions, or whether, if passed, it would have
any binding effect, inasmuch AZ the gu
preme court had held that liquor agents ar,
not appointed by the town and are not officer,
OF the town. This evidently touched poin
not before thought of, and Mr.. Martin
replied, with some spirit, that, while sucl
vote Of instructions might not be warranted
under a strict construction Of the statute. be
could not imagine that any agent would be SC
headstrong as to refuse to obey the will of biz
fellow citizens thus expressed.
Mr.. Pettee took the floor to say that. Will,
he would welcome all possible help TOWARD
the proper management of the agency anG
1, toward preventing the sale of liquor to im
|, proper persons, 1t WAS evident that this reso
luton was meant to kill the agency VIII
! reference to the item of SIG loss on bad bill
MIR. Pettee said this sum was the accumula
, ton Of all such bills during the whole tim,
that the agency had been in existence. Their,
/, were cases of distress where it Was a matte
of simple humanity to let a little liguo
, go, and trust the future for the pay. Mr.
Herrick said he was in favor OF hedging tn,
sale of liquor about with all possible restric
tions, but he did not want to see il made i'm
, possible 10 get liquor in legitimate way il
/ cases of need. The difficulty with Mr.. Mar
tins position WAS that he thought the town
meeting was legislature to make laws Il
govern the agency, when in fact the aRep
was appointed by the county commissions
. and accountable TO him.
After the Harris and Kirwan amendment
were agreed to, q F. Thompson withdrew hi
, support of the resolution because, as he said
/. it WAS evidently aimed to destroy the agency
it would drive the sale of liquors into ilegiti
mate channels, and it was not in the interest
of temperance. Mr. Kirwan took umbrap,
at the remark of Mr.. Thompson that it wa
well known what liquid he favored and wha
, the real purpose Of the supporters of the res
olution was, and mutual explanation and re
, traction between the two followed
BY this time the proceedings had grow,
decidedly lively, and Mr.. Highly showed him
! self good taotician by bringing the origina
question to test of the sense OF the meetip,
on motion to dismiss the whole matter
) MIR. Martin saw that this meant defeat fo
! him, under the turn which affairs had taken
and sought to cover hisHetreat by a motion
to adjourn but this he withdrew on bein,
Informed that there was Understood to be of