The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-11-21
Hearing on Barre City Charter.

The Judiciary committee held a meeting
in the supreme court Groom last week
Wednesday to give public hearing on the
Barre city charter bill. A large number of
representative citizens of Barre we're in at.
tendance. Senator Barber presided. The
debate was opened by DR.. J. Henry jack
son, who said ne design Of the charter is to
promote the interests of the incorporated
village. He desired that tho bill should
become law; was in favor it, and is will
ing to assist in its passage.
j. w. Gordon said: A meeting was
called some time ago, and large number
OF voters attended. After much discussion,
a vote was taken regarding a city charter
which resulted by 112 to II in favor of the
charter. Within the limits of the proposed
city the population is 1000 and outside of
the village, 5000. Some think the outside
town could not be much of a town. The
grand list of the entire town is S35 900. In
the village the list is $4,000. This would
leave the outside town with larger grand
list and population than the average
of Vermont towns. The reason why we
want a city charter is that we have needs
which the outside town would not help pay
for There is much friction between town
and village officers. Two different bodies
are running our affairs. We in the village
have TO pay for outside streets, but they do
not pay for our village streets. We have
found it necessary to come here to have our
village charter amended and become city
in everything but name.
W. A. Boycs: wish to say that our town
Is not like many others, and not we'll sit.
uated to divide. Our village is in the CEN
ter of the town. AT the southeast corner is
East Barre, with 1000 people. Between
there and Graniteville, with its 1000 peo-
pie, is high mountain of granite. The
proposed city limits will leave territory on
each side of the town. A few years ago the
town built a $4,000 opera house and town
hall. There is also another old hall owned
by the town. The French Library is also
taken by the proposed city. The town has
had no opportunity to vote on this matter.
No man, so far as he knew, outside of the
charter committee, has been consulted in
this matter If there is to be a city, it needs
great care and painstaking. II we are to
be city, it should be composed Of the en-
tire town.
f. G. Rowland asked Select nan Clapp if
the outside town would favor the proposed
city. Mr.. Clapp replied that they would
Ii Ut wish to see the town divided or the
whole town incorporated as city.
Mr.. Howl md said there was no legal
meeting called when this charter committee
was chosen.
l.. J. Bolster, who pays a tax of 81, 498, OPP
posed the charter on account of increased
taxes.
Professor A. w. Peirce said he opposed
the charter on general principles. The
town government is the best kind. Many
| SbhJeS nave Il law requiring Colpaih popu7
lation before granting city charter.
q. W. Bassett who represented the farm
ers on the west side who are included in
| the new city, opposed it,
r. s. Currier said; My position Is pecu-
| liar. When | was elected representative [
| had not studied the matter. The statement
! that the ting was a snap game from be-
! ginning to end, that there was not sufficient
| notice. is not true. III the proposed city
charter, the right is given to the outside
town 10 use the French library free of cost.
| j. p. MARI spoke briefly on the question
OF taxes, telling how he was one of the
Immortal nine who held a meeting and
reduced the taxes He represented 400 vo-
ters who want city charter. We want a
system Whereby we can have something
! We wish to conduct our own business. We
| do not wish to have others come in and
conduct our own affairs He maintained
that the vote taken was fair expression oil
the views of the citizens.
@. N. Barber, for the outside town, said
! eighty-five per cent of the outside town
were willing to let the city become incor
| porated
j. w. Gordon said: The pocket-book ar
gument is exploded. 1t Is not doughnu
town. We give the outside town one side
Our village needs many Improvement
that the outside town did not need ",
are distinct in taxes, streets, lights, schools
and sewers, In the division of the property
we have given the outside town the hes
part of the transaction.