Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-02-07
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS.
The Corporation Meeting.
Adjourned Session Monday Night a
Lively One---A Second Adjournment
Accommodated IrregmlRritIes.

Adjourned Session Monday Night n
Lively One---A Second Adjournment
Necessary---Alleged Irregularities.
The talk of the week, particularly the
first part of it, has been upon matters of
village government and officers, caused by
the difference between members of the
old board of bailiffs. Two village meet
ings have been held and a second adjourn
ment to Monday evening was taken. As
shown by The Phoenix of two weeks ago,
last years board had differed in judgment
upon some points of public policy that led
them to make a majority and minority
report which had been distributed among
the voters. The differences were not of
importance enough so voters took much
interest in them, and probably the mass of
voters would have varied as largely upon
the points covered as the bailiffs them
selves did The annual meeting occurred
last week Tuesday evening, and it was ev-
ident the matter had largely resolved
itself into personal controversy between
LAWYERS George A. Weston and II. D. Ry-
der, members of last years board. Dan
iel p. Higgins, as third member, had acted
during the year somewhat in the relation
of umpire between the two, and as such
Odu GNlutulll udu but MluhinH NObO NdCL
time, with evident leanings toward the
policy of Mr.. Weston, as he signed the ma
jority report with Mr. Weston and Mr.. Ry-
der stood alone. At the first corporation
meeting the, first test of the feeling of voters
showed decided preference for Mr. Wes-
ton, eecting him as moderator by large
majority over Hon. A. N. Swain, who was
put up by the Ryder contingent. Later,
L., hn Of ha 1iffaranf
officers, Mr. Weston intimated crooked
ness upon the part of other officers, pre-
senting an order signed by the bailffs pay
able to A. l.. Adams for concreting, in
which Mr.. Ryder, as one of the bailiffs
signing it, had added the words after Mr..
Adamss NAME 'or to G.. S. Moore" and
it being endorsed by Mr.. Moore the intma-
ton was Mr.. Moore had benefited out OF
the transaction as superintendent OF
streets, and that Mr.. Ryder had assisted
him to do So Mr.. Weston limited at a Sc
ries of irregularities of a grave nature,
causing considerable excitement Cool
headed men made motion that all irregu-
larities charged be referred to Judge l..
M Read, and the meeting adjourned until
this week Monday to hear his report.
Monday evening opera hall was packed,
pie being present expecting an interesting
evening, in which they were not dieappoint-
ed but it was evident from the start that
public sentiment had changed Mr.. Read S
report was clear and concise, showing that
changes in the order were made only for
the purpose of facilitating the payment to
Mr.. Adams, by the treasurer's check, Mr..
Adams being out of town. The check
bore Mr.. Adamss endorsement, showing
that he, and no one else, had received the
money. Mr.. Adams was also present,
ready to show all transactions clearly, but
it was not necessary. Each of the other
intimated irregularities was shown to have
been honest, and no reason existed foI
feeling that the affairs of the corporation
had been handled in any other than a
straightforward manner upon the part OF
both factions. Following the completion
of the reports came the election of officers
for the ensuing year. For first bailifl
George A. Weston and j. c. Day were put
in nomination, Mr.. Day being nominated
by Mr.. Ryder's friends, and he was elected
by the largest vote ever cast at a corpora.
ton meeting, having three times as many
as his opponent. For second bailiff the
name of d. P. Higgins was presented by
Mr.. Weston's side and Carroll A. Moore
by the other, resulting in Mr.. MoOre's cleo
ton by the same relative vote. For the
third bailiff John o. Spring was placed in
nomination by Mr.. Ryder's followers and
Dan Cray, A. II. Brown and L. T. Lowell
I'd, by the opponents, and Mr. Spring
elected by large majority over all.
The vote being so large, and the ballot
ing being by check list, it was about mid
night when this point was reached and a
vote to adjourn again until next Monday
evening was made. The rest of the vii
lage officers will not be contested except in
case of Street Commissioner Moore, who
has not succeeded in pleasing Mr.. Weston
the past year as well as he has the other
voters of the village, and it is understood
an effort will be made to drop him. Judg.
ing from the tenor of last Monday even.
ing's meeting and the almost universal
satisfaction he has given to others in the
discharge of his duties, it will not be sue
cessful. He has made a very capable and
popular village officer. Occasions have
been rare in our history as a village when
personal feeling has been carried into cor.
poration matters to the extent they have
in this case, and the rebuke given by the
voters seems just.
Considerable important business is COM
prised in the several articles of the call for
the meeting which have not been reached
yet. and next Monday evenings meeting
will probably be we'll attended and of much
interest,".