The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-24
VILLAGE POLITICS.
Continued from LIT page. J

were not touched. Then when tho
disclosures" following, these seizures
in tho billiard rooms necessitated pro
| ceeding against Eddy Il Co., there was
more Indignation that SO old, repre-
sentative and reputable firm should
have been attacked. All in ALL it was
one great and continuous wranglc and
kick, all centering, so far as the evi-
dence went, over the traffic within the
village in per cent. beer. and it
all should be recognized as flowing
from totally wrong and inconsistent
and foolish law.
The bailiffs instead of being personally
at fault, simply sought to do their duty.
They were not a majority of them be
levers in the law itself, but when
complaints were poured in to them
and by many citizens who since con.
denim them--that the law was being
openly and continuously violated, they
construed it to be their duty to stop
it. They wanted the prosecution to
be sweeping and SO voted, and that it
was not done at once was not their
fault as a board, and nobody's real
fault but a misunderstanding arising
from the inception of the prosecution
that created an awkward situation.
There has been some criticism of the
Republican town committee for calling
the caucus as an exclusively party one
but they took this action after careful
consideration because they thought it
the only authority they had. though
supplementary call invited all
citizens to participate. The Dem
orratic committee was instructed
several years ago not to Join in calling
Joint caucuses with discretionary pow
er to call separate ones if thought best.
This was not done--and best ST., be-
cause national politics ought to be
kept entirely out of local atfairs-and
the only way to get up another ticket
before the meeting is by filing nomipa
ton papers. While the Australian bal
lot is everlastngly right, it is defective
in these provisions for party caucuses.
The candidates ought to be presented
by nomination papers or by caucuses
that have no relation to political or
CARNATIONS.
who are for the law but agin its en-
forcement' assail on the ground taken
by our local contemporary at the
time, that though the legal guard
ians of the villages peace and
health, the law did not specifically
make it their duty to prosecute and
therefore they should not have med
died. The liquor element what
little there is of it, comedies with this
view. The billiard room folks and
their friends were mad because the
hotels We're not prosecuted at the same
time and were reinforced by a strong
sentiment in the community Then
the hotel side was mad when they
were prosecuted later. though that was
not the bailiffs' work, and the com
The financial showing is another ground
of attack. The reports which are ex-
pectcd to be out today. show expendi-
ture of S1.93O.16 consisting of salaries
paid firemcn, S2.2l5.jS: water for by
drantS. Sl,5iI sc new hydrants and set
ting. GIL; coal and wood for houses.
1000: gas for engine houses. 237.25:
supplies. 1862. 81; repairs aud material,
|, 59S.5s washing. 1910; cisterns, A.
50: use of horses. 79.55: fire alarm, 226.-
D5; large cXtinguisher in Esteyville.
10000; insurance 22l.l0. The debt has
from 5000 to S590042. or in
other words this is considerably more
than represented by extra and unfor
seen expenditures Sl0S.9i or the
lookup account, S2SS40 for the
liquor raids, 500 for the chemical en-
zine, 1926 for the alarm box, hydrant.
gates and shut off muzzles recommended
~ the chief engineer and S426 for extra
police service on account of the burg
ars. Besides this is S5lG sewer assess |
nent carried over on vacant lots on Pine, |
Cherry and Forest streets. So |
when the expenditures came to be an |
lliZed, it is n very creditablc one indeed. |
MI the work on the engine house has |
,een done and still the total kept far I
inside the estimates.
In the general administration the old board I
as given lis faithful and panstaking service.
The improvements they have made in the fire
department., with still others in view. are of
reate,t importance to the village and there is
prospect that it may he madeto have some
God cash results in q reduction OF insurance
ates. Mr. Calvin especially with his long
nd intimate knowledge of department mat
nrs, would be serious loss.
1t is to the credit of the opposition Ia the
GARD that did not cater to the A. Z. A. SEN
tment, but nominated a Roman Catholic.
sading and trustworthy and philosophical
itizen, for one of its candidates. Brattlcboro
not place to tolerate such issues.
II is characteristic argument that the two
members of the old board went
ITO the liquor prosecutions to "discredit pro-
ibition.' But how IN honest enforcement
the law is going to ''discrcdit" it if is right,
Ich critics never explain.
4 sizable issue in it all is Mcclure Y. Hall.
nd that also has it, roots in the liquor pros
buttons.