The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-02-24

Inmates do not include the customary 81, 100
for hydrants, or $1,000 for permanent road
building. Considering the further fact that
the estimates for street lighting and for in
terest are each 81, 800 less than last year,
and that the bond payment OF $4,000 does
not recur, the estimates for the actual cur |
rent expenditures for the year are-rela- |
lively = several thousand dollars greater |
than for last year. |
Some ten years ago the village OF Mont |
pelier voted an annual appropriation OF
80, 100 for the hydrants. This sum was re-
garded as a fair annual charge for fire pro-
lection, the prime consideration in con-
structing the water works. 1t was sum
smaller than the village would have been
compelled to pay private owner Of the
water works, and smaller than was univer-
sally appropriated by similar municipali-
ties owning their own water supply. This
annual sum Of 81, 100 was to be devoted to
the payment OF the water bonds. No compe
tent authority has rescinded the vote OF ten
years ago. Last year the customary sum
was included by the council In the esti-
mates for the year, and approved by the
voters.
says" When the appropriations were made
1t was decided not to make the usual one,
for the use OF the hydIa ants, ETC., and we
make no provisions for one in our estimates
for the coming year" By what authority,
or on what ground, the mandate OF ten
disregarded, does not appear, In the text OF
the report. The action OF ten years ago
was taken on sound public and financial
grounds. The village had incurred debt
Of over $780, 900 for Its water supply. The
greater object, the main purpose, was ade-
Quste fire protection. 1t was right that
property should pay for protection. In
consequence of this efficient protection rates
OF insurance were reduced. 1t was not
right that the burden OF paying for the
4 - .alx
the users OF water for domestic purposes
the lesser benehciaries. Every principle OF
equality In taxation demanded that the citi-
zen who was receiving fire protection on
$4,000 worth OF property should pay pro
rata with the citizen-the laborer or other
small householder - whose dwelling was
worth but 81 600; that the owner OF 700
in buildings shouId pay in the same 70 ito as
the owner Of So 900; that the non resident
owner of buildings should contribute his
due share for fire protection-the same as,
or with greater reason than, for the support
Of schools, highways, sidewalks, sewers,
etc. The only way to secure this just aud
equable payment for fire protection was to
include the estimated cost in the aggregate
of the city's expenses and pay it, like every
other expense, by a tax on the grand list.
Otherwise, upon the users of municipal
| water for domestic uses-which may not al
ways include owners, large or small, OF
houses, stores, etc.-would devOlve the bur-
den of paying 10th the original water debt
and the cost OF maintenance; the small
householder-theg great body of ,users-would
| pay as much as the owner of costly dwell
ings. The City Council, by the action an
nounced, proposes to give the nonresident
| his fire protection, without money and with
out price; it proposes to give the resident
owner of dwellings, stores, hotels, blocks
of tenement houses, ETC., fire protection
without cost to him, and to saddle the bur-
den of paying the water debt and maintain
ing the works on to the users Of water for
domestic purposes, who constitute the great
body of the citizenship, and who are for the
| most part the artisans or the men OF the
| the smaller estates. The larger owners OF
real estate recognize the justice and wisdom
| of the vote of ten years ago-and when that
action was taken there was not word said
or vote cast in opposition. 1t the voters
| do their duty they will direct the City Coun-
Gil to turn over to the water department
some 50. 800 which has been unlawfully
withheld from it. and to include in the es
Inmates for the current year the customary
sum for use of hydrants.
Any one familiar with the manifold per
plexities Of local public service will ap
preciate the hardships of g the city fathers,
with families more or less unreasonable
and obstreperous in the demands of many
of the members, and will make due allow
ances. PROFESSIONALLY, under circumstan
ces Of great difficulty, they have acted as
| they deemed for the best. The members o.
the Council are the servants of the City, and
il the voters Of the City desire any change
in the management of its affairs it is tn il
duty to instruct their servants. Upon the
voters is the primary responsibility. L
they desire change in the administration
of any department of expenditure it is theil
right to order it, II they want change o.
policy it is their duty to say in what re
spect. The report for the past year viii
have been long enough in the hands of the
voters before the meeting on the second
day OF March, to receive careful study and
analysis. Ii there is seen too.manifes
tendency toward large and increasing ex
penditures in any department. expenditure
that does not seem to be justified by the
times or by circumstances, the voterl
should call halt With the demand fol
new bridges, for city hall, for poor farm
for appropriations for the hospital and the
libraries, in addition to the existing enor
nous scale of stated expenditures, particu
larry in the street, sidewalk and sewer, the
school and miscellaneous departments
Montpelier seems to be headed toward ar
extent of public expenditures that is some
what appalling to the prudent or wisely
conservative citizen. 1t is clear that the
circumstances demand the greatest caution
and deliberation in the steps that shall bt
taken for the future, and there is room fol
the practice Of abundant wisdom and the
exercise of the soundest judgment. The
voters should attend the city meeting and
use all their observation-disclosures in the votes
they cast for men or measure.
.