Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-01-29
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS.
The Annual Village Meeting.

DisaHected and VIII Retire From the
Department..
The annual meeting of the village
corporation occurred Monday evening
and the interest felt in a few of the
matters to come up for action drew out
more than the usual number of voters.
Little friction occurred during the meeting,
but the results growing out of it seem to
promise considerable discussion and wide
variance of opinion before all are harmon
lied. 1t has furnished the chief topic for
discussion upon the streets since then.
George A. Weston was elected moderator
of the meeting, and F. A. Bolles was re-
elected clerk. For bailiffs John o. Spring,
f. II. Babbitt and G. II. Gibson we're all
elected with no opposition. This makes
Mr.. Spring our "mayor" for the coming
year, and the selection gives very general
satisfaction, as do the other members of
the board. Both are young business men
and represent the best elements of the
younger portion of our citizenship. Mr.
Spring was on the board last year. J. c.
Day and G. A. Moore were not candidates
for reelection. For fire wardens, A. H.
Thompson, our efficient chief of police,
L. j. Royce foreman of the Fall Mountain
Paper company, and John f. Brosnahan
tated, that being for the second warden, c.
L. Wheeler of the old board being the OPP
ponent to Mr.. Royce. The result was 50
to 81 for Wheeler. The old board of wa
ter commissioners, G.. S. Moore, F. II.
Hobson and Arthur Coolidge were re-
elected, as were also G. f. Capron treasur-
er, j. w. Buemond collector, and u. H.
Allbee, d. II. Cray and j. f. Pierce audi
tors.
The article relating to raising the water
rates was dismissed. 1t was voted to fur
nish water for sprinklng streets the same
as last year, but the payment of the $1,000
for use of the hydrants was refused. The
bylaw relating to payment of fees for the
returns of births and deaths was repealed.
The question of protection against forest
fires within the limits of the corporation
caused considerable discussion, and was
based upon division of feeling regarding
the calling out of the whole fire depart
ment when fires began to run over timber
land on the hill west of the village. 1t was
claimed this made large expense to the
village and that the individuals owning the
land did not keep the brush cleaned up so
as to prevent fires. The result was the
loss of the motion, which was so worded as
to require the wardens to call out the de-
the matter as before, wholly to the dis
erection of the wardens. The matter of
sewering Morgan's meadow was left to the
bailiffs and street commissioners. A tax
of % cents was voted, instead of 80 cents
as was raised last year, and as was recon-
mend, d by the old board of bailiffs. The
fire wardens were authorized to arrange for
separating the village into districts and
to systematic the calls in such way that
the whole fire department need not respond
to every CALL as has always been the prac-
tice. This would tend to materially re-
duce the expense to the village.
The result of the election of fire war
dens was the dsaffection of a large
part of the fremen, and at the present
writing it is not easy to see what the re-
suit will be- Mr.. Thon pson, in the dis
charge of his duties as warden in former
years, and as chief of police, has necessarily
come in collision with the ideas of some of
the men, and Mr.. Brosnahan has many
enemies. Perhaps it may be said that a
majority of the firemen actually refuse to
serve under them. Certain it is the Bridg-
man hose company called meeting at
once upon adjournment of the corporation
meeting, with IL of the IS men present.
Upon discussion it was voted TO disband
the test vote, five to disband, two to delay
little and see if the matter could not be
patched up, but when this vote was de-
clared it was quickly made unanimous,
and their keys have been returned to the
Wardens 1t is understood the same feel
ing exists in the steamer company, hook
and ladder and Abenauqui companies,
which will disband at their regular meet
ings Tuesday evening. Meantime the
board of wardens have organized, and de-
cided to choose a chief outside their num-
Der if it is possible If not, Mr.. Thompson
will take the position. The Office was ten-
dered to Charles E. Capron, Tuesday, but
declined. The wardens have designated
three men from each company to man the
Bridgman cart in case of fire, and together
with the call men at their command, they
claim there is no danger of lack of men to
control fires.
Considerable of the feeling is aroused
because of the dropping of Chief Engineer
Chas. l.. Wheeler, who has been in that
position the past ten years, and member
of the department 80 years. He has al
ways been a hard worker in the interests
of the village and much credit is due him.
The feeling has been growing some years
among business men that he lacked disc-
plne at fires, his commands not being
readily complied with; in fact that he was
too easy and the department lacked a
strong head. On the other hand Mr..
Thompson is charged by the men as being
too harsh at fires, caused by his disciplining
men who would not obey him in his posi-
ton as warden in the absence of Chief
Wheeler. Both sides have some reason
for their position, but the results are some
what embarrassing, and will lead TO an en-
tire Reorganization of the fire department.
Meantime if all the companies follow the
lead of the Bridgman company the citizens
pared for any emergency which may arise.
An interesting point in connection with
the matter is the question as to the owner
ship of the uniforms of the companies, as
they were paid for by proceeds of canvasses
among the business men, and of entertain
ments held under the direction of the fire.
men for the purpose. The fremen claim
them, while the citizens will strongly claim
they belong to the fire department, and if
they choose toleave the department forfeit
them.
Miss Ethel E. Fullerton is confined to
the house by a severely sprained knee.
February IL has been selected as the
date for the Mount Kilburn Wheel club
ball.
Mrs. Elbridge Hapgood has as a guest