St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-01-24
VILLAGE MANAGEMENT.
[communicationl

often occurred 10 me tndt IOT TWO o.
three years the village OF St. Johns
bury has not been managed will
that discretion and prudence charac
terstic Of men in private affairs.
| do not say this with the desigr
to impugn the motives, or to criticist
the character or the honest intent o.
our officers presume all have act
ed in good faith and with the desire
to do good. The trouble is not
wholly with them. But in large
measure it has become the mistaken
notion with many citizens that be
cause we are large village, with
some well-to.do men, and few pros.
porous industries, we can, therefore,
stand any amount Of taxation, be-
cause forsooth, it is a good thing to
have "improvements!'
None will be found to deny the
Importance or the value of improve
ments. The question is how far can
we consistently go in this direction !?
That should determine the whole
matter. Whatever as corporation
we are able to have without embar-
rassment to the people, may be all
right, otherwise it may be all wrong.
Ii should be remembered thar for
the last two or three years there has
been a great depression upon the
business of the country. Industries
have been curtailed, men have been
wholly or partially thrown out of
employment, and Encouragement
has more or less prevailed.
While St. Johnsbury has suffered
far less than many other places on
this account, yet under such adverse
conditions it would have been wise
thing if our village officers had taken
this matter into more serious cOnsid-
Grafton. 1t seems a true maxim to
"cut the garment according to the
CLOTH and | think it would have been
equally wise to have postponed
some OF our improvements" until a
more general prosperity should have
returned.
But, instead of carrying out this
desired prudence in time of need, our
village officers seem to have taken
no special note of it, but have kept
the tax rate right up, as though we
were i'll the midst OF unexampled
prosperity, and that every mans
pocket was full of money 1t will
be utter folly for any to say that by
little economy of this kind the COM
munity would have permanently suf-
tered. speak of it now because,
while citizens will talk about it on
the street and in private conversa-
ton, they seem not to have the cour-
age of their convictions to speak of
1t in public way.
| would not be unreasonable pessi-
mlstic upon this matter. But it
might be well tor us to remember
that continued high taxation does
not always induce prosperity. We
ought to know that those who have
acquired competency in times OF
great business activity, and are blest
with handsome bank account, can
well stand the pressure; but the
great bulk of toiling people cannot
so well stand it,
1t has been confidently stated, with
how much truth | cannot say, that
many would like to settle in St.
Johnsbury, but hesitate to do so on
account of the cost OF living. 1t this
be true, isn't it sharp commentary
upon our municipal management ]?
Would it not be good policy to invite
all to come, aud then manage so all
would wish to stay?
1t is said there were never so many
empty tenemtnts in the village as
there are today There must be a
cause for all this. will not have the
temerity to say it is all owing to vii.
lage management, But | do say
that high taxation has had no small
influence in the matter.
On this subject | hope not to be
misunderstood No man believes
more than in all things that will
benefit the people, The only qucs-
ton that contronts me when | con-
slider the subject is, are we well able.
under existing conditions, to have
every desired improvement without
embarrassment to the Iaborlng peo-
pie?
In our case contend that we have
not been well able. The business OF
St, Johnsbury has not, and does not