Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-05-08
CAUCUS VERDICT REVERSED.
The Old Board OF BNiIiHs Reelected
---a Plan Of Refunding the village
Debt Adopted.


---a Plan Of Rerunding the village
Debt Adopted.
Caucus was dethroned as king at the an
nual village meeting Tuesday, when the old
board of bailiffs, who were refused re-
nomination two weeks ago, bobbed up Sc
renely as victors over those who had appar-
emily vanquished them. The vote here
with tells the story in brief:
First bailiff-J. G. Estey, sos; j. L.
Martin, 355.
Second bailiff-John Calvin, 457; P.
Fleming, 3S1.
Third bailiff-John j. Eckles, 442; w.
w. H. Minor, 800.
Fourth bailiff-E. L. Parker, 43G; L. F.
Adams, 1903.
Fifth baillff-C. II. Thompson, 796.
Scattering, %.
w. d. Perry had 461 votes as clerk and
573 as treasurer, r. +. Gordon 620 as col
lector, c. 9. Turner 603 as chief engineer,
and G. A. Harris 601 as auditor.
The meeting was called to order at 8 in
the forenoon by Capt. H. G. Streeter, chair
man of the board of bailiffs. After the
call had been read by Clerk w. D. Perry
the voting began. Much work had been
done by the supporters of each ticket to
get the voters to the polls, and as a result
over $50 men exercised the right of suf-
frage. Much complaint was heard because
an unusually large number of voters-over
| 80, it is said-were disfranchised because
their names did not appear on the new
check list. This was unfortunate, but it is
the duty of every man to examine the list
| every time it is revised to make sure that
his name has not been dropped accident
ally.
The voting ceased at o'clock and the
counting of the ballots then began, while
the other articles in the warrant were TAX
en- under consideration. Bailiff Calvin
presided in the absence of Chairman Street
er. The reports of the bailiffs, treasurer
and chief engineer were adopted without
debate. When the question of raising the
taxes for the coming year came under con-
sideration c. F. Thompson introduced the
two resolutions given below, which were
adopted unanimously. Mr.. Thompson first
explained that saving of 81 cents on the
dollar of the grand list would be made over
last year, the rate for this year under the
plan which he proposed being 1.55 for all
taxes-town, village and school-instead
of 1.S6 as last year. Mr.. Thompson thought
that it was only just that those who come
after us assist in paying for the improve
ments which are made now. The resolu-
tions:
That the bailiffs of the village of Brat
tleboro are hereby directed and empow-
cred to borrow upon the credit of said vii
lage the sum of three thousand five hun
bred dollars (S3500) the same amount to be
used to pay the existing floating indebted
ness of said village, and the bailiffs with
the treasurer are hereby authorized to is
sue 5-lj bonds therefor, at a rate of interest
not exceeding per cent, payable semi-an-
nually, said bonds to be five hundred dol
lars $500 each, and dated June l, 1896.
That tax be raised of thirty cents on
the dollar of the present grand list, payable
on or before July l, and that the bailiffs
are hereby instructed to appropriate no
more money the current year than the
ambunt of receipts.
When the question of paying the mem
bers of the EXtinguisher company of Es-
teyvlle came up Chief Engineer c. C.
Turner was called upon, and he said that
$40 ought to be paid to each man. This
was one-half what the members of the fire
department received, but the Extinguisher
company would respond only to alarms on
the hill. Mr.. Turner's motion that the
salary be $40 man was carried. G. B.
kirwan said that 20 years ago the total eX-
pense of the village was $1,000 to 5000 an
nually. The efficiency of the fire depart
ment had been increased tenfold, but
there had been no reduction in insurance
rates. Mr.. Kirwan was opposed to fur
ther increase in expense unless there was
some benefit in reduced insurance rates.
Mr.. Kirwan introduced a resolution which
was adopted unanimously. 1t was to the
effect that the village appoint committee
of seven business men to confer with the
New England Insurance exchange with a
view to obtaining reduction of rates in
this village. j. J. Estey, j. L. Martin,
John Calvin, f. c. Crosby, S. H. Sherman,
A. w. Childs and II. E. Taylor were
named as the committee.
The work of counting the ballots was
completed at about $3.50. The announce
ment of the complete vindication of the
course of the old board was received with
great applause, many of the supporters of
the victorious side cheering and throwing
their hats in air. The men who had been
bringing voters to the hall in carriages and
working in other ways for the opposition
stole silently away, but one of the leaders
was heard to say: at took the churches
and the Y. NJ. c. A. to beat us, but they
did it,"