Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-03-06
TOWN MEETING.
THE FIRST TRIAL OF THE AUSTRIA.
LIAM BALLOT SYSTEM.

II Works Well and Is Success for Ev-
erybody but the Vote Counters---the
Old Board of officers Re-elected.--Re-
port Of the Business Done.
The close Of NermOnt's first century az a
member Of the great Union If states in
empire was marked on Tuesday hy the in
PRODUCTION b. practical use Of the Austria
Ian system Of secret voting. With this
change the old regime Of noisy ballot ped
ding, vote soliciting. and crowdng aud
iostling at the polls, is relegated To the
dim aud misty" past, never 10 return it is
TO be hoped, for the new system is certainly a
step forward in the march of progress. and
Vermont has done well tn put herself early
in line IN this movement The quiet, or
derby and digniiied way Of voting brought
a sense Of personal satisfaction almost with.
out exception to Brattleboro voters. and
expressions of cordial commentator were
universal
II will be remembered that the new sys-
TEN had its first trial in this state at st.
Johnsbury at the annual village meeting in
January, but Tuesday was really the day
that Vermont put it to the test, it heing
then used ut the annual March meetings in
all towns Of over 1000 population Bur.
lingtnn, Rutland, ST. Albans, Brattleboro,
St Johnsbury, Barre, Bennington, Col
chester, Montpelier and Rockingham
all these places join with Brattleboro in Civ
ing it approval.
There was not large attendance in the
hall at 10 O'Clock, when Col Hooker, the
moderator, called the meeting to order
read the warrant and called for action.
The first article in the warrant was for
action on the auditors report f. c. Cros.
by moved that the report be accepted and
adopted, and the motion was carried unani
mously
The second article was 10 see il the town
would raise money to defray the expenses
and liabilities of the town, and + c. Cros.
by moved that a tax of 40 cents on the
grand list be levied. Chas Endlich asked
that the motion he so amended as to make
the tax payable before July /, and to give
a discount Of per cent for payment be-
fore that date, but Mr. Crosby said If the
amendment prevailed it would be neces.
sarv to increase the tax, whereupon Mr.
Eudlich Withdrew his notion and Mr.
Croshy's original motion was carried-a
tax Of 40 cents on the grand list, payable
the same rs last wear
Article 3 was TO see what action will be
taken in regard to paying highway tax
under Act No. Il, laws of 1880 money, Z
cents, labor 20 cents, on the dollar Mr.
Crosby asked how the tax was last year,
and was informed that it was ; cents in
money. Upon motion Of n. r. Ryan il
was voted to raise "A tax of - cents, paya.
BILE in money
When article No came up TO see il
the town will appropriate a sum Of money
for the proper observance of Memorial day,
and if so how much, ~ T. Harmon moved
that the appropriation he So The ques
ton was asked as to the amount last year
II WAS stated that the sum was $50, but Mr.
Harmon explained that SS4 was the small
est sum that Memorial day had ever cost
the Grand Army post, not including the
pay for the speaker. His motion appropri
ating SO was then carried unanimously.
Col. Hooker, after reading the fifth arti
Gle, TO choose three trustees for the Brat.
tleboro free library to serve for a term OF
three years, stated that the trustees whose
terms were to expire we're DR.. j Draper
Col. X. Haskins, and Rev. w. II, Collins
These three men were placed in nomina
ton hy ; II Sherman and elected
The sixth article was ITO see If the town
will raise money for the support and main
tenance Of the Brattleboro free library
and if so, how much 90 $ II Sherman
moved that $1,000 he appropriated the same
as last year T. G. Crosby asked if all the
money appropriated last year had been
used, and Ii b Chamberlain stated that il
had, that the running expenses Of the Ii
brary were $1,000, and if 5000 was not ap.
propriated there would be no funds with
which to buy new hooks. The motion wa,
then carried
Article No :, To see il the town will
vote to exempt from taxation the polls of
the members Of the Western Engine com
pany No. | of West Brattleboro, as pro
vlded by law, WAS carried without debate
The only article which provoked discus
sion was No 5, To see if the town will
vote to exempt from taxation for term
not exceeding five years the stock, tools
plant and capital of D. II Boyd West Brat
tlehoro, manufacturer Of brick" Two
West Brattleboro men, 4. W. Clayton and
Horatio Burnett, spoke against the exemp-
ton on the ground that Mr.. Boyd was a.
able to pay taxes rs many other people
and a motion was made n pass over the ar.
ticle, but S. II. Sherman and f. G. Crosby
came to the rescue, aud stated that the in.
dustry was one that Brsttleboro needed
that in order to build up the town encour
agement must be given to new concerns
aud that it had been the custom TO grant
such exemption. Mr.. Boyd stated that he
found almost nothing in machinery at the
yard, and that he was TO fit it up in good
order, and would double the force that had
usually been employed there The motion
to dismiss the article was lost, and when the
ion u 4
erty from taxation it was carried. only two
lonesome noes being heard in opposition.
The transaction of this general town bus
mess occupied less than half an hour, and
then came action on the ninth aud last
article Of the warrant, ITO choose all towr
officers required by law. At this point
the voting began, Col Hooker first explain
ing that n man need vote for no more can
didates than he chose, aud if only on,
name ON the ballot was checked the vote
would be counted for that name The first
man to cast a ballot under the new system
was A. NJ Mcdonald During the first 81
minutes exactly POO votes we're deposited
in the two ballot boxes, showing that tn,
system is a rapid one if put to the test il
this respect. After the irst half hour, tn,
attendance in the hall having thinned out
the voting proceeded slowly, and continued
IN struggling sort of way until 80 =. NJ
when the boxes were turned The only
objection 10 the system, if objection it is, i
the length Of time and the amount of worl
required in the counting, for this work tool
full six hours. 1t was after eight o'clocI
before the result was made up and an
nounced Many voters, it proved, ha,
used freely their individual right of choice
with a corresponding large percentage o
scattering votes. Following is the result
substantially in detail
MODERATOR & W Hooker. 49l: $. n. Herrick
l2; II scattering votes for candidates.
TowN CLEHR. VIM. 5 Newton, 6a3 l scatter
ing.
SELECrNES.-G. W, Hooker, 554; A. u. Hall 55i
u T. Perry, i93: A. G. Davenport, l2O; G. W
Walker. 1856. Martin Scott, 10; n, llerrick, III 3
scattering votes for Il candidates.
TowN TREASURER Geo. : Dowcy, go; /
scattering votes for candidates
OvERsEEH oF TUE PnoH-G W Hooker $50, .
scattering votes for lS candidates, including 2 f.
VIM. Bennett.
FutsT CoNsTABLE.-F. W. Mcclure, GA; scatter
ing votes for candidates
SECOND CONsTABLE. John p Sergeant SIS;
scattering votes for candidates
COLLECTOR ~ TANEs.-R +. Gordon. Gl5: /
scattering votes for candidates.
Ll-TgRs.-I John $. Cutting. GAL; AzOr Marshal
Ga; i +. Gordon, 62s; Il scattering votes for !
candidates.
AUuIroRs. II. u. Chamberlain 5S6, r. j. Hn
man, 56b John Calvin SCI; "a scattering votes n
10 candidates.
STREET COMMISSIONERS W Hooker, 400; A
b. Hall i4S ID. T. Perry, l02; Martin Scott, 1854; A
q. Davenport, l29; q. " Walker, l57; IL scatterin
votes for : candidates
INSPECTOR or LEATHER W. II kinsOn, 585;
scattering votes for candidates.
PoUND KEEPER.-David Plummer. SIP; 4 seattle
| ing votes for 4 candidates
SURVEYOR % WOoD AND LUMBER iona
| Howe, 5U7; scattering votes for 4 candidates.
TowN AGENT.-Wells T.. Jones, 52s; scatteriu
/ votes for candidates.
| SUPERINTENDENT or SCHOOLs.-J. II. Rabbit
5i5; scattering votes for candidates.
! TRusTEE OF PUBLIC MnNEN-Mm s. Newtnl