The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-03-03
Annual City Meeting.

war ming was read by Clerk Merrill. II was |
voted that the transaction Of the general |
business called for in the warning be post |
poned until two O'clock and that voting |
shall he in order until that time.
Armory Hall was well filed with voters |
when the meeting was called to order at the |
hour named, and the business named in |
the warning was taken up. On motion of
Fred Blanchard the report of the auditors
was accepted, adopted, and ordered record |
ed, 1t was voted, on motion of H. A.
Huse, that the city treasurer be authorized
TO borrow sum not exceeding $4,000 TO
pay any immediate liability OF the city. On
motion OF S. ii. o. Bosworth the city coun-
Gil was authorized to fund the floating in
dehtedness OF the city, about Sl5 600.
The article in the warning To see If the
City will vote and appropriate such sums of
money as it shall judge necessary, for the
support of the Heaton Hospital, nom
sectarian hospital established in the City of
Montpelier and incorporated by act of the
General Assembly" created lively dis
cussion. ii. A. Huse introduced resolu-
ton that the city appropriate for the ensu-
ing year 80 900 for this purpose, on condi-
ton that the city have five free beds, the
persons to occupy these beds to be selected
by the city council. in supporting this
resolution, Mr. Huse said that Mr.. Heaton
had put 1922. 900 into the land and buildings.
The hospital was opened in June last, and
had been kept running since with the ST. 900
ributions from various benevolent socie-
ties. An enterprise of this kind, as much
or more than any other cannot come to full
fruition until 1t can be free to the whole COM
munity. The trustees would have been
glad to admit every person who needed
treatment since the hospital was opened,
but they have been unable to do 1t. Indi-
vidual trustees are now 10 debt 1900 for
furnishing the hospital and for the expenses
of running it AS the hospital is now stu
ated, free patients cannot be admitted.
s. Fl. o. Bosworth opposed the resolution
on the ground that it was Illegal He would
gladly approve of this appropriation If it
could be lawfully separated from othersIthat
will be asked for. Mr.. Huse replied that an
act passed by the last legislature covered
this very point, and, with that explanation,
Mr. Bosworth moved the adoption of the
resolution offered by Mr.. Huse.
j. A. DeBoer said he did not believe in
taxation without representation, and he
did not believe in raising money by pub
lie tax to be used for private purposes
The hospital was quitclaimed by Mr.. Hea-
ton to nine trustees and not to the city Of
Montpelier. Mr.. DeBoer offered an amend
ment to the resolution offered by Mr.. Huse,
covering three pages of foolscap, that the
| city as corporation contract with the hos
| pital, another corporation, for FIVE free beds,
the persons to occupy these beds to be Sc
| lected by the city council, and that for this
purpose the sum of $1,000 be appropriated.
MIR. Huse accepted the amendment. He
| said 1t was only rose by another name,
and II it would be sweeter to anybody as
proposed by Mr.. DeBoer he hoped they
would smell of it under the new name.
| The resolution as amended was unani-
mously adopted.
#. l.. Laird moved that article six of the
warning, which was " To see if the city will
vote to appropriate money for the support OF
the Montpelier Public Library Association"
be dismissed. He said the "rabble," as it is
called has no control of the Montpelier Pub
lie Library, the Kellogg Hubbard Library,
or the Heaton Hospital, When the people
have a voice in governing these institutions
he would vote for appropriations for them
Mr. Laird also made motion to dismiss
the article ITO see if the city will vote to
appropriate money for the support of the
Kellogg Hubbard Library" 1t is private
corporation in which the people have nc
choice in the election of trustees, and is not
entitled to aid from the city. When was
the city ever asked to elect trustee OF this
institution, or when did it ever have voice
in its management?
Fred Blanchard said the Kellogg-Hub
bard Library is a public benefactor, and
reaches q far greater number OF people daily
than does the Heaton Hospital He thought
the city should appropriate $1,000 for its
support. j. A. DeBoer favored dsmissine
the article in the warning, and r. A. How
land opposed it. Mr.. Rowland denied that
Montpelier Public Library and the Kellogg
Hubbard Library, as had been stated by
Mr.. Laird. The Montpelier Public Library
OF which he is director, is a private cor
poration, but aside from the fact that the
trustees of the Kellogg Hubbard Library
are not elected by the city, it belongs to the
city Of Montpelier and its citizens. The
Kellogg. Hubbard Library is non-sectarian
while the Montpelier Public Library is un
der the control of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association. Mr.. Rowland made al
eloquent, impassioned appeal for an appro
priation Of $1,000.
T. r. Gordon favored the motion to dis
miss the article. A ballot on the motion tt
dismiss resulted in yeas, 157; nays, 145.
On motion of H. A. Huse the city sheriff
and constables were given the jurisdiction
of the state. An appropriation of 5000 fol
the observance of Memorial Day was made
on motion of Colonel A. G. Brown The
payment of the members OF the fire depart
ment was left with the City Council.
On the recommendation Of the City Coun
Gil tax Of 80 on the grand list was voted
with the usual discounts, payable within
ninety days from July /, next.
The Columbian Granite Company and the
manufacturing plants of Cotton & More
Dillon & Haley and Sweeney & Sweeney
were voted exempt from taxation for 8
period Of five years.
j. o. Livingston moved to dismiss the ar.
ticle in the warning "To see II the city will
vote to abate the poll taxes of members OF
the state militia" He regarded the citizen
soldiers as useless luxury, and would
rather have school-marm with primer
than whole regiment of militia. A. G..
Eaton and George o. Boyce favored abat-
ing the tax, and spoke good words for the
boys. Col. Livingstone motion was lost,
and on motion of Col j. III. Lucia, it was
voted to abate the taxes OF the members OF
Company H.
Article IL in the warning was "to see II
the city will vote to authorize the city coun-
! Gil to purchase farm or other property,
within the limits of the city, to be used and
occupied as poor farm, or for other pur-
poses, in the discretion of the city council,
Mayor Stratton was called on for an expls-
nation. He said the farm now owned by
the city cost about $1,000. and could now be
sold for about $1,000. The council has an
option on the Lombard farm up Worcester
branch. 1t contains good buildings, has
one hundred and thirty-five acres OF land,
and can be bought for $780, On motion
OF 7. r, Gordon it was voted that the city
council be authorized, in its discretion, to
purchase poor farm within the city limits,
and sell the one in Berlin now owned by
the city
The following grand and petit jurors were