News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1898-02-23
Town Meeting Tuesday,.

Town Meeting Tuesday.
Next Tuesday morning the annual
town meeting will be the impor-
tant event on the docket. by the
warning posted last week It'll snOticed
that beside the election of officers
and voting a tax, there are some
other questions to be acted upon.
The question will be put ia regard to
three proposed appropriations, for
tue public library, the observation Of
memorial day, and for the benefit of
MOrrisville's fire department. Three
such worthy objects to which a small
sum chPeriully appropriated means
much, should and will have very
speedy and willing aid. Money voted
the public library is invested for the
good OF all. Money devoted to a
proper Memorial Day service, but
family acknowledges the debt weowe
the heroic dead. Money voted the
local fire department is going to a
worthy object indeed. We wouldsug-
gest, however, that if the usual APP
preparation is made for the depart
! liltltNJ UUuUl ~ nc 81 Otd OIh ObClC
shall be no question as to whether
the town meant to vote a sum to
The individual membership of the
fire department, for service and hold
ing themselves in readiness for ser
vice, or whether the voting of a sum
is to the village officials to be used
in buying supplies. like hose etc. for
the department. PROFESSIONALLY no
town voter has ever considered it in
any other light than a benefit for the
men or the organization, but the
question has been more or less a bone
of contention in Village Trustee
meetings, though the majority have
got questioned but what the money
belonged to the men.
There is little question about the
real intent of this yearly apprOpria-
ton, which has followed the previous
practice of ahating the poll tax of
fremen. We hoped to see an article
in the warning in the direction of fur
nishing the free use OF town hall for
the public library benefit lecture
course. Possibly this matter may be
seen to without the formality of an
article in the warning. The question
will arise, will the town vote to ex-
empt the property of the Morrisville
gymnasium association from taxa
ton? While this is an enterprise
not exactly in the line of direct pub
lie benefit, it is in d measure a public
institution and an enterprise that
should be encouraged and forwarded
as much so as possible by ourcitizens.
A vote to exempt would give a lift to
a new, gradually developing and com
mendable scheme, calculated for the
general good as well as pleasure of it's
circle of members.
Again the question will be put, will
the town vote to enlarge the present
town house, so as to cover the land
in the rear, bought for that purpose
several years since, a delightfully."- pic
turesque spot, which has been already
amply described and pictured from
time to time in thes columns? What
will be done? Something should sure
ly be done. An addition in the real
may be better than nothing, but let
us continue to hope that there are
better things to come, that an mex
pensive building of proper size, well
warmed, well ventilateu, well seated.
a stage Of sufficient siza, and other
needed features may come, and come
quickly. Why not? Let's think this
matter over seriously, before next
Tuesday.
Another matter to be presented is,
to see if the town will vote to discon-
tinue the town liquor agency the
comingyear. Whew, whata surprise
That does look just a bit as though
people were realizing the fact that
the recording angel, or devil,
which?) has written a very strange
history of the ms and outs, ups and
downs, streaks and freaks, of the
Morristown agency for many and
many moons that are past. Toread
that appalling record would bring to
the surface much that was beyond
the eye Of u Investigating com
mittee. What a record it would be
of illegal sales, suppressed facts, di.
luted demijOhns, free distributions.
abstracted funds, unaccountable de.
ticiencies, carefully suppressed profits.
breeding of poverty, want and appe.
tite, police court cases and many
other conditions and facts that
weigh down all but out of sight, the
real benefit that has been done the
sick and suffering to whom the agency
is alone supposed to furnish, accord
ing to the intent ofthelaw. The out
come of this proposition is easily
foretold. A vote to discontinue
would be a surprise indeed.
just "A whisper comes as to possible
future officials. 1t is understood
/, that Harrison Dodge, who has rt
Gently moved TO the village, will be
, candidate tori wayCommissione
7 the position so long and ably flleC
by q. A. Barrows. We have alst
! heard it minated that Mr.. Brigham
= who was called to the office of frs
3 Selectman last year, doubts wbethe
: it is wise for him to accept a re-elec
ton, if il should be rendered him
, Should Mr.. Brigham decide to TAX
this stand, Mr.. Munson, second O
the board, would be promoted t.
g 4" 4