The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-11-16
NNEXATl0N,
The Joint Committee Hear Arguments on
The Montpelier-Berlin Bill.

Friends and enemies of Senate bill 3, to
annex portion Of Berlin to Montpelier,
met in close array in the Senate chamber
Thursday evening and talked to the COM
nittee in their own peculiar and persuHsi We
way.
w. A Lord appeared for the bill and ex.
planned the basis of the claim to annexa-
tion-namely, the original petition signed
by residents and voters in the portion
sought to be annexed. This action OF the
petitions was the foundation Of subsequent
action in the premises, The city voted to
accept these people who were knocking at
its doors. The city comes here not rs "a
petitioner, but as the result OF petition.
Joel Foster was called. Had made map
of the town of Berlin. lie produced that
map and explained it to the committee,
showing also chart OF the original town of
Montpelier 23,040 acres, the present town
IL little less than one-ffth of the original.
He explained infinitely also the territory
sought to he annexed, not far from 1000
acres, with II miles of road and bridges.
II the latest petitioners come in it will in
Glude miles more and bridges.
Mr. Lord said it was Intended that the
expense of building the bridge ordered by
the court commission should DO paid by
Montpelier If annexation takes place. What
ever equity suggests in the matter, Mont
pelier will be ready to accept. The city
wants to do right, and had rather do more
than right than less.
Mr. Lord read the last petition for an
nexation presented by certain land owners
who were among the early renonstrants.
H. discussed the bringing Of these petition
erS into the original hill, and asked ADVICE
of com mittee ON this point.
Mayor Gordon OF Barre opposed such a
move, and said it was not understood
that Montpelier was going beyond the
provisions of the bill. Barre had kept
qniet and not interfered with Montpelier &
imperial policy. Barre obj scted to going
hey oud the bill; II this was to be done,
Barre wanted to be heard.
Me-. Senter explained how the new petit
ton was brought about. 1t was voluntary
on the part of petitioners. We don't want
them il they don't want us.
Mayor Gordon claimed that Montpelier
was the prime mover in this whole matter
These later petitioners, he said, had
changed their minds for some reason; evil
IDENTIFY some missionary work had been
done. There is no reason why an acre
should be annexed a Dove the Aldrich farm
If such thing is to be done, Barre wants
to have time to say something.
Mr.. Senter emphasiz sd the fact that
Montpelier did not want these petitioners
primarily; will take them if they want t.
come.
e. w. Bisbee spoke for trustees OF the
Adrich library; had Understood that nc
move was to be made beyond the Aldrict
farm. The trustees would like to show
why they don't want them to have the Aid
rich farm.
Mr.. Plumley said these petitioners had
not changed their minds as to the genera
subject of annexation, to which they are op
posed but il annexation is to be granted ri
all, the that little corner would like tC
come in
Mr.. Lord said il this is 80, we don't wan,
them to come in at all Leave them out, Il
they have not come here and sincerely ask
ed to come in. He was ready to proceed Oh
the lines of the original bill.
The discussion grew warm, and Chair
man Putnam ba | to call the takers "dowI
to business"
At this point an adj )urnment was taker
till Friday evening, when the matter will bt
taken up along the lines Of the original bill
The question of going beyond that will bt
settled later.
Senator Cudworth said the latest petition
should be duly investigated and the hear
| ing broke up with the "fever" OMIT being
stated that the persons who signed the las
petition would be on hand to speak fo
themselves. 80 .Ax&
49, -. ---.sS.l :. FRIDAY EVENING. 461esi. Nc a0l
The hearing before the special COMMITTED
! from the Senate and House on the bill nov
| before Legislature to annex portion of tn,
town Of Berlin to the city of Montpelier wa
continued last evening in the cloak room a
the State House. Senator Q. Q. Putnam
| presided.
Hon. Frank Plumley stated that com
pliance with the statute requiring prope
notice OF such proposed change in tow
| lines was the first requisite for the petition
ers to have any standing before legisla
tive committee, and he asked the commit
tee to consider such published notice, whic
he read from daily paper, published il
! Montpelier, inferring that the notice ha,
complied with the requirements of law
Although the commissioners had not de
scribed in said notice the exact boundary G
the portion of Berlin it was proposed to an
mex.
w. A. Lord replied in effect that the mat
ter OF notice was technical matter, an
that all the facts would DO placed in tn
| hands OF the committee at the proper time
Daniel Emery, who lives near the electri
light station. was the first witness called
He IL polisher and a real estate owner il
the town of Berlin. He is one OF the pet
TONERS TO have that portion OF Berlin Il
which he lives annexed to the city of Monl
pelier. He testified that in the locality il
which he lives there are no drains, side
walks or fire protection except that receive
from Montpelier. The residents OF tina
locality had often tried to get the drainag
water and refuse matter from the house
taken care of by the town of Berlin bu
without success.
A. j. Sibley testified that he is a stock
holder and director in the Consolidate
Lighting company. That company is
taxpayer on $50, 900 in the town of Berlin
The company is one of the petitioners fo
annexation. The town OF Berlin has neve
offered the lighting company any fire pro
lection. All the protection they have
purchased from Montpelier. The Mon
pelier fire department has always respond
cd to alarms on Berlin side ~ promptly d
for the city limits of Montpelier.
John Ducette was the next witness. Hi
testimony showed that no is a resident u
the Pioneer and one of the petitioners i
this case. He has six children who atten
the parochial and Union schools in Mon
pelier. Last year he paid over SIT i
tuition. Hal never sent his children
Berlin schools. The sidewalks and street
at the Pioneer are mud. Have no stree
lights there. He was anxious to no al
nexed to Montpelier that he and his famil
might have the benefit of Montpelie
schools, free library and Heaton hospital.
John Cook, resident of Berlin. anothe
petitioner for annexation WAS called. III
and his sister pay $35 taxes in Berlin. II
preferred to have his property in Montp
lier. The town OF Berlin had never ike
the road running by his place He had o,