Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-03-05
THE MARCH MEETING.
1t Was a Mild-Mannered show


Until Lively Discussion OF street Rail-
road Control Relieved the Dull Mon
otony aud Brought the orators to the
Fore.
Tuesdays March meeting was run on an
express train schedule during the first hour
of its proceedings, and a half hour of dis
cussion over the management of the street
railroad was all that saved 1t from falling
to a dead level of dull monotony. Prompt
ly at O'Clock the meeting was called to
order by DR.. Webster, chairman of the
board of selectmen, in the absence of the
moderator, j. j. Estey, and the warrant
was read. G.. w. Hooker was then made
moderator pro TEN. Under the first article
of the warrant the auditors report was
taken up, accepted and adopted. II. b.
Chamberlain, a member of the board of
auditors, presented the bill of j. S. Cut
ting amounting to $50, for services as
school director for the years 1S93!94-'95,
and it was ordered paid. At later stage
of the proceedings j. G. Stafford's bill of
$50 for IL days service as school director,
was also presented and ordered paid
Upon proceeding to elect town officers
under article ,, the old board was re-
elected without opposition. The list will
be found elsewhere in the list for the
county. The road commissioner was
elected by ballot, as the law requires.
Three candidates we're in the field. Before
the voting began c. G. Endlich moved
that in order to give the people frsm West
Brattleboro a chance to vote the box be
kept open until II o'clock. The moderator
ruled this motion out of order, saying
that it was the business of the moderator
to see that the box was kept open
long enough to give every one chance
TO vote and it would be done in this
case. Dwight Goodenough criticised the
selectmen for calling the meeting at 9
o'clock, and said the hour ought to be 10
so as to give the farmers a chance to get
there. Col. Hooker showed him that the
selectmen have no option in the matter,
section ll2 Of the vermont Statutes" re-
quiring all city, town or village meetings
for the purpose of electing officers, in
places of more than 1000 inhabitants, TO
be warned TO meet at 9 o'clock in the fore
noon. The voting for road commissioner
then began and occupied upward of an
hour When the box was turned and the
votes were counted it was found that P. S,
Eames had 800 votes, Thomas Harmon
10, E. f. Stockwel l05, d. T.
Perry 60. The number necessary to
choice was 303, and Mr.. Eames
was declared elected. II. II. Wheeler
was reelected a town school director for
the ensuing term Of three years.
The election of officers having been com.
pleted article 3, to raise money for
town expenses, was taken up. DR.. Web
ster took the floor for a short explanation.
in which he said that while a 30-cent tax
would probably pay the town expenses for
the coming year 1t was desirable to have
little surplus money 10 avoid borrowing
money every year, and 70 provide for the
highway bond Of 5000 which will be due
in 1899. For this reason ihe selectmen
recommended a tax of 30 cents. and he
moved such tax for the current year.
His motion was carried.
Under article Kittredge Hasking, ;.
Z. Lawton and W. II. Collins Iere
elected free library trustees for term of
three years.
The usual sum ofSl200 was voted for the
support of the free library, and of SO for
the observance of Memorial day.
Under article :, TO fix the salaries of
town officers, J. g. Stafford moved that
the selectmen be paid 1925 each, the treas
urer $50, and all other officers 50. so day
for time actually spent. Mr.. Gordon asked
II 1t was meant TO include his office as
collector in this vote. If so it would please
him but 1t might amount to more than the
town would want to pay. In answer to an
interrogation by p. 5. Chase it appeared
hat the selectmen have heretofore been |
paid $50 apiece. l.. c. Crosby thought |
his sum none to much, and said every |
member of the board had given more than |
s3OO worth OF time to the town if their |
line was worth anything. He moved that |
he salaries be kept at the old figures.
stafford said his motion was in the inter
st OF economy. There was not much inn
'ortant work to be done the coming year.
md he wanted to have ''just little smell
If economy" j. p. Sargent supported
him in his view OF the case, Crosbv's amend.
nent was lost and Stafford's motion was
arried. Upon motion of c. c. Fits the
alary of the collector was fixed at $500. the
anne as heretofore.
Under article it was voted to exemnt
rom taxation the polls of the members of
Western engine company of West Brattle
oro.
Some discussion arose under article @
'hlch was to see ii the town will authorize
IS selectmen to resurvey such streets and
tghways as they deem necessary. and es
aOlsh grades and lines. Ii was evidently
he sentiment of the meeting that such
lrVeys ought to be made when deemed
eeessary, but 1t appeared that the select
len already have the necessary authority
nder the statute, and a motion definitely
instruct them was laid on the table
pom motion of C. =. r. JENNIE it was vot-
4 to extend the jurisdiction of the consta.
les throughout the state.
Under the "to transact any other busi-
ess" article there arose the discussion
hleh furnished the only spice of town
eetlng fun during the day. DR.. Hamil- I
IN touched it OFF, with a motion that !
lie street railway company be required bv
lie selectmen "to remove that plank from :
lie scraper" and to reduce their speed to :
tie not exceeding six or seven miles. The !
lie at which the cars were accustomed TO \
IN, Dr. Hamilton thought, was reckless
10 dangerous to the lives of all who came =
their way. A. r. Harris explained thai =
thought THAT PLANK to be the hest 4.
ing about the cars in the winter, be-
use 1t leveled off the snow on each side !
the track, The discussion then became
neral on give and take" basis
resident Z. c. Crosby said there was
'tGing to the charges, and they were .'all .,
buncome." j. c. Stafford explained Al
Nv narrowly he had escaped a serions ac'