Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-23
TIE MPLETON LIGHT.
All Absorbing QuestionAgitating
Townspeople,
Full Text of Legislative Bill Disposition
Of Town Farm and Precinct
Voting.

Templeton, Feb. 22-The subject
of electric lights has been agi-
tated for year or more by the busi-
ness men and others Of Baldwinville
and Otter River. 1t is well known that
by far the greater amount of business
carried on in this town is at the north
precinct, Electric lights would be of
no use to either of the south precincts.
How to obtain electric lights for the
Baldwinville people, without incurring
expense to the south end of the town,
has been a conundrum. The way for
this is cleared up. In the first place,
leave must be obtained of the legisla-
ture. A bill for this purpose has been
introduced by Francis Leland, Esq,
representative from Templeton. The
bill provides that either or both the
Baldwinville or Otter River districts
may alone, or Jointly, construct, pur-
chase or lease plants for manufacture
Of electricity, for use Of private individ-
uals or business men, who may desire
the same and pay for it, or either or
both districts may purchase electricity,
to be distributed by means of the same,
from any one, or may purchase power
either case, neither district shall have
this authority until legal meetings shall
have been called and a vote Of not less
than two-thirds of the voters present
and voting shall be passed. This being
done the town mot the districD shall
proceed with such a plant, and for this
purpose may incur an Indebtedness not
exceeding per cent of the valuation of
the estates in the two districts. The
fe IN oil of
and other expenses, the same as other
bills against the town are paid These
bills to be presented by the manager of
the electric light. All sums for expense
of operating the electric light must be
repaid to the town by the districts
maintaining the plant. The meetings
of the inhabitants of the district for
any purpose connected with the above
act are to be called by the selectmen,
the same as town meetings are called.
At the end of the municipal year, the
selectmen are to certify to the ASSESS
ors of the town the whole expense of
operating the plant, and the total
amount shall be assessed upon the es-
tates of the district maintaining the
plant, and shall be collected in the
same manner as taxes upon real estate.
VERY IMPORTANT QUESTIONS.
The warrant for the March meeting
calls for more business than usually
comes before the town at the annual
meeting. The question Of disposing of
the town farm is an important item to
be decided. There is a small number of
inmates at the farm, and it is believed
that more economical method can be
found for supporting them than the
present one of maintaining farm for
this purpose.
The town will be called upon to adopt
precinct voting for town officers. A
large number of voters do not attend
the annual meetings on account of the
distance to the hall where the meetings
are held Voters at the south part Of the
town are from three to six miles from
the hall. With precinct voting, the
same as at the November election, vot-
ers can easily deposit their ballots and
return to their business. The subject
was brought before the town a few
years ago, The only objection raised
against it was the expense of the pre-
| cinct officers. Sure, it will cost some
| thing, but it will be worth ten times
the cost. With precinct voting, the
| town is sure for no-license Last veal
| the license Uote came very near ma.
| iority. The vote on that question de
| pends entirely on the vote of the soutf
! part of the town.