The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-04-01

CONTINUED FROM FIRsT PAaE.1
Montpelier, w. s. Boynton of St. Johns
bury, George X. Dawley of Brattleboro and
Wayne Bailey Of Rutland. constitution
and bylaws were adopted, and resolutions
were passed denouncing the free coinage OF
silver and bi-metalsm as far as this term
represents the maintenance by the fiat OF
the national government Of parity of gold
and silver at fixed ratio. The following
was also adopted: Resolved That we de-
plore the widespread and continued depres-
sion Of industrial end commercial interests
throughout our country, and believing that
the constant agitation of the subject Of free
coinage OF silver and the ensuing disturb
ance OF the monetary conditions that exist
are a menace to our national welfare and
the revival OF more prosperous conditions,
we do hereby condemn as unwise any pol
| icy that does not favor a maintenance OF
the present gold standard value" At the
conclusion of the regular business session
| several questions pertinent to banking were
| discussed, among them the increased de-
mand that Is made upon the banks OF the
state to cash express money orders, and the
| annoyance OF Canadian money. A. W. Fer
| rim Of Montpelier, r. e. Burgess of Burling-
ton and several others suggested means to
remedy these evils. This is the second
| State Bankers Association formed in New
England, and its promoters are much graf
| lied at the success that attended its organ
| ization.
THE City Council has renewed the con-
tract with the Consolidated Light & Power
Company for lighting the streets for the en-
suing year The contract is for fifty-one
| lights, 300 nights, till IL: 80 O'Clock, or till
midnight when requested With the i'm
material exception that the contract just
made includes the lighting of the city sta
| bles and the city clerks office, the service
price is the same-$4 900, or $78.43 light
Some surprise Is expressed at the making OF
this contract, under the circumstances as
they now exist With new plant ready
for business, 1t was supposed that contract
more advantageous to the city than the old
one could be made. Inquiry Of the mayor
and Mr.. Viles ELECTS the following informa-
ton: March 10, each of the companies was
asked to put in proposal for lighting the
streets. The old contract expired March
| 20, and this date was made the limit for re-
ceiving proposals Mr.. Viles explained that
he would have to set some new poles which
could not be done till the frost was out OF
the ground, and make some further prepar-
ations for lighting, for all of which about
| two months would be required. He there
| fore asked for an extension Of the time for
receiving proposals. The Council refused
| to extend the time, Mr.. Vles put in no bid
| and, under the conditions, did not propose
to show his hand in the matter of the price
o. lighting. These, we understand, are the
| circumstances, substantially, under which
the new contract was made. The alterna-
tive, as the Council seemed to see it, was a
renewal OF the old contract, or an extension
of time, as asked by Mr.. Viles, with the
possibility of leaving the town in darkness
for period OF some two months after March
20. Whether the latter contingency should
be regarded as real or as bluff, probably
| depends, like great many other things, on
the point of view" Few people, prob
ably, believe that the town would have
been left in darkness had the time for put
ting in proposals been extended. Many
would have preferred darkness to light, had
that really been the alternative, with the
assurance, amounting practically to GER
tsinty, that by the delay the cost Of lighting
would have been reduced anywhere from
one-third TO one-half-for an experienced
and competent judge in the matter of cleo
trio lighting expresses the opinion that the
cost to this city, under existing require
ments, even with steam power, should moi
exceed $50 light. 1t really looks as il the
Council had not made the most OF its oppor
tunty in the matter,