The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-03-02
Annual City Meeting.

The annual city meeting was called to Or
der by Mayor Guernsey at nine o'clock
Tuesday morning and the warning was
read by City Clerk Merrill. On motion of
John III. Senter all articles in the warning
except balloting for officers were passed
over until two o'clock. 1t was voted, on
motion of H. A. Huse, that the Australian
ballot be used at this and subsequent an
nual city elections.
At two o'clock the ballot boxes were de-
clared closed. the board of civil authority
began the work of counting, and the regu-
lar work of the day was taken up. Under
the article to receive and act upon the re-
port of the auditors George p. Boyce inter-
rogated the board as to what an item Of
81, 401, charged to miscellaneous in the re-
port Of the superintendent of streets was
composed of. After brief discussion the
report was accepted and adoped.
On motion OF j. FL. Senter the city treas
urer was authorized to borrow $25, 900, un.
der the direction of the council, to pay any
immediate liabilities OF the city. 1t was
voted to pass over the article to see il the
city will vote to authorize the city council
to refund any part of its bonded indebted
ness due, or to become due during the COM
ing year.
On motion of Hiram A. Huse the city was
authorized to renew its contract with Hea-
ton Hospital and 81, 600 was appropriated
for that purpose, the contract to expire one
year from date. S. ii. o. BoswOrth en-
quired how much of the $4,000 had been ex-
pended during the past year Mr., Huse
treated. While possibly on close figuring
the hospital had made 81 900 out OF the
transaction, yet the money had been we'll
expended in helping support the institution
founded by Mr.. HeatOn. No dissenting
vote was heard to the appropriation.
Article FIVE, to see If the city will vote to
appropriate money for the support of the
Montpelier Public Library Association was
passed over, on motion OF John II. Senter.
The same motion was made by Mr.. Senter
in regard to article six, to see if the city will
vote to appropriate money for the support
of the Kellogg Hubbard library. f. A.
Rowland called attention to the report of
the trustees of the Kellogg Hubbard library
and asked the voters to consider what
curtailing OF the benefits of that library will
thought the city ought to appropriate $1,000
for its support. j. A. DeBoer said he look
ed upon this library as strictly private
institution, as such he appreciated the good
1t had done, but there Is principle involv-
ed in this debate, and that is whether the
tai, endorse compromise that was made
by the city several years ago. He favored
Diminishing the article because there ID no
warrant in law for voting money for the
support OF this library.
Mr.. Rowland replied that he was sur
calling this library private enterprise.
We are not losing but gaining by the man.
agement Of this library. We ought to do
away with this II am holier than thou"
idea. We are getting all we possibly can
out of this library. No library in the state
is better managed. 1t is not private instl-
tuition except in the election Of its trustees.
When we refuse this aid we are not only
gratifying private caprice, but we are de-
priving the children of our city Of the bene.
fits they now enjoy.
j. II. Senter reviewed the facts connected
with the Kellogg will. the contest of the
will by the city, and the final settlement,
by which close corporation was formed
and the people OF Montpelier were left out.
1t seems poor grace for Mr.. Rowland to
talk about the "holier than thou" crowd,
when the fact is this close corporation was
formed because the ruff skuffs" of Mont
pelier could not be trusted. He never
would oppose granting money for public
library, but there Is principle involved in
this. He would not find fault with the
trustees OF this library, he had no right to,
for they were only accountable to them
selves and their fund giver. Montpelier
has been wronged and throttled out of its
just rights. You are asked to appropriate
money for an institution over which your
voters have no control. 1t is taxation with
out representation.
Mr.. DeBoer replied briefly. A. j. Sibley
thought the discussion was sowing seeds
that would bear only weeds. He believed
the "rabble" had been excluded from the
management of the Heaton Hospital and
the Wood Art Gallery as much as they had
from the management of the Kellogg-H Hub
bard Library. This library is established
for all time for the benefit of every man,
woman and child in Montpelier, and for
every person who will ever live here. The
city is belittling itself If it does not not APP
propriate 81 600 for this library
II, l.. Laird thought that the problem
could be solved at once If the trustees OF
the library would turn it over to the city
where it belongs. Let that be done and
the city will look after the institution and
pay its bills AS it is now they are trying
to wiring this money out OF our pockets for
the support OF something over which we
have no control. Let them turn our prop