The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-06
TOWN MEETINGS OF TO-DAY.
Ideal Democracy as IL Is Exemplifed In
Connecticut

v ~
Connecticut.
From the New York Sun.
Democracy i'm its simplest form was eN-
emplified in Connecticut on last Monday,
when every town In the state, with "A Few
exceptions. held II annual town meeting.
at which officers for the ensuing year
were elected. the appropriations for town
expenses were made. the rate OF tax was
fixed. and other business that was
deemed expedient" was transacted.
Switzerland itself Is no nearer an APP
proach TO the ideal democracy than Con-
necticut. The meetings In n of the
towns. from those Of 500 inhabitants to
those OF 5000. were all that the most
rabid democratic Utopian could desire. At
these meetings the voters of the town as
semble and conduct the affairs Of the
town themselves. Thu poorest. most miser-
able wretch In the community feels II as
incumbent on him to attend this assem-
bly, as do the town fathers themselves.
and he never fails to take advantage OF
an opportunity to let those more fortu-
nate ones know that In the town meeting,
at least. he is their equal.
on the first Monday in October In Con-
necticut no man has a peer. The wealthy
mingle with the poor. the intelligent with
the illiterate. and all legislate for them
selves. on these occasions sociability
reigns supreme. Everyone seems to be i'm
bued with a spirit of brotherly love and
revels In the joys OF equal rights. IL Is
not at all an uncommon thing To see one
OF the most dignified men In a town good
naturally slap a poor ragged fellow on
the back and ask him how the election IL
going. and the ragged fellow takes II as
the ighes compliment to know that such
n dignitary thinks IL worth while To speak
to him and for the time being feels that
this II a pretty square world. despite all
that Is said against IL.
Th. tnun rn.afIn8 a.. faauliarls a Naus
England institution. but I'm Connecticut
its simplicity is more strikingly apparent
than elsewhere. Boston looked to the an
nual assembly OF its voters for Its local
legislation for many years. At last the
town had grown so that only a ridlcu-
lousy small percentage OF her voters
could assemble in her largest building.
Even then the Bostonians chung to the old
form OF government with characteristic
fortitude until the town meeting became
a travesty on government by the people.
Then at last did Boston reluctantly a
upon itself a representative form of gov
m and, by the way, Boston Is still
alive despite the fact that some ultra
town-meeting men predicted the downfall
OF the Hub when "A chang In the govern
ment was made.
In many towns I'm Connecticut the town
meeting has already been outgrown. but II
will be many years before this method
OF government adopted by the colonial
fathers Is abolished. The town meeting
came with Connecticut. and with IL will
live for many years to come. IN the first
Monday In October the annual assembly
is now held in every town in the state
with the exceptions of Hartford. New Ha-
ven. bridgeport. Naugatuck and Derby. II
took many years of agitation before these
towns shook OF the shackles of colonial
ism. There are two reasons why II is a
difficult matter for a town In Connecticut
to assume a more up-to-date system OF
government. One II the firm grasp tradi-
tion has on the average Connecticut man,
and the other Is the hold some Office
seekers have on the voters. OF course. In
the smaller towns the town meetings will
always be in vogue. IL Is in the larger
towns. where the double system of gov
eminent and also OF taxation is In force.
that there Is now evident an undercurrent
of discomfort with the condition of af-
fairs.
This double system of government Is
a very odd arrangement, and Is as ridicu-
lous as II Is odd. II consists OF the thick
ly populated part OF "A town being incor-
porated as a city. TIN town government
goes on just the same as formerly. and
the city government does-well. a good
many people would like to know just
what Il does. Under the township II would
he impossible for a community of. say.
5000 population, 10 have its affairs con-
Quoted properly. There Is the sewerage
system. street pavement and a thousand
and one other things to be looked after.
which really come without the constitu-
tional scope OF the selectmen. who are
the executive head of the town. But then
the question arises. IL the city govern
ment Is a necessity, why continue the
town government. When this Is put the
tradition man will wax eloquent regarding
the sacredness OF the ancient town meet
ing. while the town officials and the
would-bc town officials will pull all the
wires they can control and will work like
Troians To save this form OF government
which i'm SO many cases has long since
outliyed it's usefulness.
The dual system OF government Is con-
fusing 20 the uninitiated. There are two
full sets OF officials. with. one would say
at first thought. about the same work
to do. There are in the town the select
men. the treasurer. and. of course. the
collector OF taxes. together with a Ions
string of minor officials. while In the city
the mayor Is the executive head. the COM
mon council or board OF aldermen. or
both. look after the legislative functions.
and there are also any number OF lesser
dignitaries. There are also two taxes. In
the spring the town tax is due and In the
fan the property owners receive their tax
bills from the city. To an outsider Il
would seem that the two governments
would frequently conflict. but such is
rarely the case. The selectmen look after
the building OF bridges. schools and high
ways outside the city limits. together with
the paupers. The streets within the city
boundaries are attended TO by the CON-
mon council. but In nearly every town an
appropriation II made at the annual meet
ing sufficient to pay some Of this expense
] on the part of the city. 1t will thus be