Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-03-03
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.
Quiet Meeting and an Exceedingly small
Vote Polled-Only 1913 Votes Taken.


Quiet Meeting and an Exceedingly Small
Vote Polled-Only 1913 Votes Taken.
Tuesdays meeting was one of the quietest
ever held in town, partly because of the Aus
tralian ballot and partly because there seemed
to be nothing to cause excitement. Voters
did not gather rapidly and it was past the
hour set in the warrant when George A.
Weston, as moderator, called the meeting to
order and Town Clerk Bolles read the war
rant. After the reading of the warrant n. II.
Allbee, T. L. O'Brien, G. w. Butterfeld and
Nathaniel l.. Divoll were appointed ballot
clerks. The moderator also announced that
the caucus decided in favor of three select
men and four listers. An expression OF the
meeting was asked and it was voted that the
action of the caucus be sustained.
1t was next moved and voted that the bal
lot box be closed at II O'Clock. A motion to re-
consider the vote was then made and carried,
the argument being that to close the polls at
II o'clock would deprive workingmen of a
chance to vote who are obliged to do their
voting at noon. 1t was then voted to close
the polls at o'clock p. m.
Article 2, relating to the appropriation Of
money for necessary repairs and improve
ments in the cemeteries of the town was
passed, the appropriation being $500.
Article 8, relating to Memorial day eXpens-
es was passed by voting 300, the usual
amount.
Article 4, relating to the appropriation of
money for the library was passed by voting
5000 which is 800 more than for the past
two years.
Article 5, relating to the building of new
iron bridge over the canal was carried with
out dissenting vote. An amendment was
offered by A. II. Brown which provides that
hall
sidewalk seven feet wide on the south side.
The article was voted as amended. As re-
CARDS the appropriation of funds for the pay
ment OF bills incurred, the selectmen were in
structed to draw orders to meet them.
Article 6, relating to the authorizing of the
selectmen and town treasurer to borrow
money, if necessary, to pay interest on the
debt and defray the ordinary expenses of the
town, was voted.
Article 7, in relation to the exemption of
manufacturing industries from taxation for
term OF years, was voted, the number of
years being five. While five years is a conces-
sion and an inducement, ten would have
been greater inducement.
Article s, in relation to the raising of
money for the ordinary expenses of the
town, was voted as follows: A tax of Is
cents on the dollar was voted, to be applied
first for current expenses, second to pay for
the new bridge and the remainder used to
liquidate the outstanding Indebtedness of the
town. 1t was also provided that such part
of the highway tax of Is cents as is payable
to the town treasurer be collected with the
other town tax.
Article 8, to see il the town will vote to
raise money in addition to what is required
by law for the repair and maintenance of its
highways and bridges was dismissed.
Article TO-, related to the collection of
taxes. 1t was voted to pay them to the
town treasurer.
Article II, relating to the payment of a
part of the town debt was carried.
Article y. Under this article unfinished
business was done. 1t was voted that the
treasurer call in bonds of old issue, Septenl-
Der |, not to exceed $4,000, to be paid Decem-
Der l. The reason for calling them in thus
early is that the interest ceases, on them ;it
the end OF the three months notice whether
they are turned in or not.
1t was voted to give the constabes the
Jurisdiction of the state.
Voted to give the w. G. T. U. the use of
Banquet hall for the purpose Of serving
lunch election days through the year, incud-
ing this election
Voted to leave the caring for highways
with the selettmen. A motion to appoint
road commissioners was lost.
Court grand jurors elected were John
Robertson, Wyman Flint, A. N. Swain, Nj.
p. Barry, III. B. Davis.
III. Brown, Wallace Weston, 7. L. O'Brien,
G. X. Labaree. E. p. Gay, C. II. Williams, J.
A. Eaton, j. F. Alexander, jr., NathanieitE.
Divoll, George 0. Guild, E. A. Eaton.
recess was here taken for one hour, the
meeting re-assembling at p. m.
The first business done was the announce
ment of the result of the ballot The caucus
nominations as previously published were all
elected without exception and scratching
was slight.
Voted that in the future all bills presented
to the town officers be itemized and that they
be paid by the treasurer on orders drawn by
the proper officers.
Voted to adjourn.
Few quieter meetings have ever been held
in town. Out of Il total of 1919 polls only
1913 called for ballots, trifle over one in ten
OF those ballots eight were totally lost by not
beaving a mark on them, and some were
marked in only one or two places. 1t is OF
course impossible to know the intention O.
| those who cast those ballots, but assuming
that they intended voting for all, it must bt
acknowledged that it is surprising so mucl
| ignorance can still exist on the subject. In:
town meeting the loss of a few ballots is Of
small consequence, comparatively, excepting
to the individual voter but in a closely con
tested state or national election it is impor
tant that every vote be cast correctly. II is
simple thing to make check against name
and that is all that is necessary to vote for
candidate. Before the state election it will
be we'll for voters to study the section of tn,
law relating to the method of voting SO tina
no vote may be lost.
Appended is a list of the officers elected
/ Moderator-George A. Weston.
/ Town cl -rk-Francis A. Bolles.
Seectmen-Martin Lawrence, Sidney A
| Whlpple, Charles H. Williams.
Ireasurer-O scar ID. Olcott
Overseer of poor-Charles E. Weeden
Constables-lst. John W. Buemond, I'd
Charles E. Osgood.
Collector of taxes-John W. Buemond.
Llsters-Zina II. Allbee, Amos II. Brown
George M Cory, Nat l.. Divoll.
! ter b. Locke.
8 Auditors-Zina H. Allbee, Herbert D. Ryder
Thomas E. OBrien.
Trustee of U. s. deposit money-Franklin P
Ball.
Town grand jurors-Daniel Higgins, Charlie
H. Sawyer, Josiah B. Divoll, George d. Wheeler
Stephen j. Cray.
Fence viewers-Charles W. Butterfeld, Charlie
E. OsgOOd, Martin r. lawrence.
Pound keeper-Marshall A. Wilder
| Inspector of leather-John Roche
Town agent Selectmen.
Cemetery commissioner-H. ID Ryder.
Sections Lewis w. toward, Thomas O'Rrfen
| William j. Conant, Adoniram j. Searles, John
A. Liddle Scion j. Weaver, Lewis MeOuaid
Trustee of Campbell fund-John F. Alexander
Superintendent of schools Herbert ID. Ryder
Trustees Ofpublic lbrary-Thomas K. Brien
H. L. Dot a.