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


LIVELY TIME on THE WHOLE THE OLD
BOARD OF OFFICERS NEGLECTED WITH FEW
CHANGES, nut WITH CONTEST ENOUGH TO
MAKE THE PROCEEDINGS INTERESTING A
sKIgMIsH OVER THE LIQUOR AGENCY TO WIND
Up WITH.
When the annual March meeting opened
at 10 o'clock on Tuesday morning not more
than 200 voters were present, but the hall
filed up rapidly and during the day about
the usual number were in attendance. The
hall was very cold aud scarcely became CON-
fortaby warm before the close of the meet
ing 5. n. Herrck was elected moderator
with no opposition, and the consideration of
the auditors report was at once begun. In
answer to interrogations it was explained that
the item of $3.50, set down in the report as
paid for groceries" for the town farm, COW
cred also payments for feed, nails aud dry
goods. The main discussion was on that
part of the report relating to the town liquor
agency. The report showed that some liz
uors had been sold on credit 10 regard to
them it was explained that the most of such
sales had been TO drug stores and for mechan-
icAl purposes aud that all such bills we're col
leorble whenever the bills we're presented.
The item Of SOL % for liquors delivered TO
q %. K. Pratt came 10 for prominent share
Of attention. 1t was explained that the ac-
count covered parts of two years. In the be-
ginning the agent had been instructed to fur
nish MIR. Pratt pint Of French brandy when
needed by him, his physician having stated
that II was necessary Tor hun to have It, The
itemize d account showed that about pint
week had been furnished and the account
had grown to larger proportions than the Sc
lectmen intended or supposed until their at
tention was called to the matter. A. w. Clay
ton objected to being taxed to pay for rum
for other people to drink. DeR. Estey made
sharp structures on the management of the
town rum hole" and thought altogether too
much liquor Was dispensed there. The dis.
cussion was quite general and the ventilation
OF the subject pretty thorough. 1t appeared
| that this agency is the only one in the county
outside OF Bellows Falls, 20 that the sales are
made largely to people Of towns outside of
Brattleboro. 1t was very evidently the sense
OF the meeting that the agency should not be
run as a money making concern that all Gus
toners should be served alike as to price and
| quality, and that the sales should be restrict
| ed to liquors for absolutely necessary and
| legitimate purposes. As the debate closed j.
L. Martin gave notice that he would intro
duce, at the proper time, motion to discon-
| tinue the agency. 1t was voted to pay the
! highway commissioners the 800 which the
report showed to be due them, and the regu-
lar order of business was then resumed, be-
u
ton as town clerk. The full list of officers
elected is given in the list for the county.
On proceeding to the election of first Sc
/ leotman S. n. Herrick and Jacob Estey were
put in nomination and a ballot WAS taken
which resulted in Mr.. Herricks election by
vote of 3lS for him to 245 for Dea. Estey.
| q. A. Boyden and Henry Akeley were It elect
ed without contest. The next contest was on
the election of n collector of taxes. Il. L.
,aAL ~ a
thought he should have the place because he
vas the poorest man that wanted it and he
was willing 10 serve for as little money az any
/ one would serve for. ii. Il. Taylor A q.
| Davenport and S. IL. Sherman were named
with the understanding that they would serve
| for $3.50. A ballot was finally ordered, pre-
ceded by a motion from G. NJ. Highly, which
| was carried, that whoever was elected, it
should be with the understanding that his
compensation should be $3.50 for collect
! ing the town, state-school aud county
taxes. The whole number of votes cast was
4lG, of which II. E, Taylor had 2G4 and was
elected
When the subject of the care of the high
ways was reached Mr.. Herrick was interro-
gated as to his opinion of the merits OF the
system under commissioners as against eav-
ing the highways in the hands of the select
men or putting them in charge Of an agent.
Mr.. Herrlck replied That he had no harsh
criticisms TO make on the commissioners of
the past year he thought Mr.. Stockwell in
his district had done as well as most men
would under the circumstances-bu the fact
was that the interests of the town demanded
that the work should be in charge of man
who would have personal oversight of the
work, who would be on the ground at 7
O'Clock in the morning and at 6 o'clock at
| night. The town should own the teams that
did the work it cost too much to have them
owned by some one else. The teams could
be bought in the spring and sold in the fall,
though one team could be used to good ad,
vantage through the winter in rolling and
taking care Of the snow. Mr.. Herriok's opin-
ion was very plainly given, but it apparently
did not make strong impression on the
minds of the majority, for it was voted to re-
tain the system of last year aud elect three
commissioners For the first and second com
missioners ballot was necessary. L. E.
Stockwell was elected by vote of l45 to 1907
for g. G.. Allen, aud l.. d. Thayer by a vote
Of l0l to II for Allen. John p. Sargent was
elected third commissioner by reclamation
1t shoald be said that, before the voting was