The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1891-10-09

The money must be obtained, by bor-
rowing, if not by taxation. Let US face
the situation bravely; cut down expens-
es, or obtain more revenue. move that
each item of estimated expense be re-
duced 25 per cent. and the selectmen be
required to keep within the limits"
Judge Perry was bombarded with quest
ions relative to the impossibility of re-
ducing sums already expended or items
of interest, but he smilingly assented,
having got the matter before the meet
ing. j. ID. Toomey wanted committee
OF six to re-assess property. Judge Per-
ry withdrew his motion and H. N.Wake-
man moved to reconsider the 10-mill tax.
Major William Bradley asked If the three
mills voted, last year, to reduce the debt
was applied for this purpose. If not, why
not? Too much money is spent by the
town. Judge Perry: "It is senseless for
us, in town meeting, to attempt to limit
town expenses by vote.N town so brave
as we in voting, meeting after meeting,
that town expenses shall not exceed
certain sum. No town can equal the
calm self satisfaction with which we say
Yes when asked to sanction action of
town officers disobeying US. AS town,
we must grow vastly uglier; we are too
phenominally good natured. We must
not approve a greater expenditure than
we authorize" Mr. Wakeman's motion
to reconsider was lost. Albert Knapp
x,rna1 uatinn Of FROG In
ry to former figure, $3.50. o. Il. Sher-
wood said $500 was none too much, were
the books properly kept. Mr. Knapp said
that Westport, Stratford and Danbury
paid but 800 and he thought $500 too
much for Fairfield. The motion was lost,
but Judge Perry moved that the treasur-
er receive $3.50, with an additional $3.50
if the auditors found the books properly
kept. Mr. Teomey hoped the motion
would not prevail, questioning whether
the auditors were more competent than
the treasurer and was dryly asked by
Auditor Sherwood if he wished to be
considered a court of last resort. Judge
Perry said no discourtesy to the treasur-
er was meant and added that, while hon
est as the day was long, he was not an
expert accountant. Mr. Toomey's melton
to lay on the table was lost by a close
vote and Judge Perry's motion passed.
Samuel Rowland was told that only
few bills were outstanding against the
town; small amounts for roads, schools
and poor. DR. Donaldson asked the cost
of auditing the accounts. Mr. Sherwood
received $102, Mr. Farrell $4S. The spec
ial auditing cost about 1925. The bills
for this year would be about $3.50. Judge
Glover moved, in view of the impossible
ity of getting the work properly done at
an earlier date, that printed town reports
be ready for distribution by September
20; carried. A. p. Wakeman thought
the auditors received too much money;
the work was done, few years ago, for
$25 each. F. l.. Rodgers said that the
pay was fixed at So day. DR. Donald
son thought them not overpaid. Mr.
Sherwood: "Instruct your town treasur-
er to hand in accounts properly made
out and we will do the work for $25. The
WOEh u RSO AhCht lCNAoCo ny opASA -
showed a discrepancy of $780," Judge
Perry moved that the treasurer be in
structed to pay no bills beyond the
amounts for different purposes set forth
in the selectmen's estimates. Mr. Toom-
ey thought that the treasurer was oblig-
ed to pay the bills approved by the Sc
lectmen, but Judge Perry argued other
wise and said that, if the selectmen Or
dered work in excess of appropriations,
the fact would quickly become known,
should the town be threatened with suit
unless payment was made. Responsible
ity could then be fixed. To DR. Donald
son, who thought it better to instruct the
selectmen first, Judge Perry said that
the selectmen had been unavailingly in
structed again and again he now hoped
to succeed with the treasurer. On Judge
Glover's motion, appropriations were
made for the various objects as recon-
mended by the selectmen, $4,000 being
substituted for $4,000 in the items for
roads. Samuel Rowland asked if the
payment for any bills in excess of these
sums would be paid by the town or the
selectmen as individuals; DR. Donaldson
asked how the treasurer could be holden.
Judge Perry was of the opinion that the
treasurer would obey the vote of the
town and his motion was unanimously
passed. Judge Perry then moved an adj
ditional two-mill tax, one sixth of all
taxes collected to be applied by treas
urer to the reduction of the floating debt.
II. N. Wakeman amended by substitute
ing five mills, but the amendment was
lost and the original motion carried. The
subject of back taxes being introduced
by o. Il. Sherwood, A.P. Wakeman NOV
ed that F. M. Pike be empowered to col
lect them for 10 per cent, but he declln-
ed to take them at any price and Mr.
Wakeman then wanted them abated. The
town meeting could not do that and the
matter was finally tabled on motion of
A. r. Il. Nichols. Judge Perry's motion,
that the selectmen appoint collector for
the $4,000 uncollected back taxes, was
then carried. DIR Donaldson gave Fred
erick Sturges deserved eulogy for his adj
mirable work on the roads, said he under
stood that Mr. Sturges was quietly ar
ranging with the railroad to put the sta
tion and other crossings in the best of
order at his own expense and finished by
moving vote Of thanks to Mr. Sturges
and that he be allowed to expend $500 of
the town money on the roads, under his
parconaI cunarviSiOn The firgf clause
was passed; the second, appropriating
money, was lost. Frederick Bronson's
admirable work on the roads was also
recognized by vote of thanks, passed