The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-29
A HOT TIME
An Appropriation Re.
fused.
DEMOCRATS BOLT
And Clinton Republicans
Garry Meeting.

Clinton, Jan. 2S.-The town refused to
vote $4,000 to exc out the towns in
come for the fiscal year.
The meeting was interesting. 1t was
characterized by the spirited debate
that used to characterize town meet
ings here. ~
Town Treasurer Joseph z. Harrity
bore the burden of leadership for the
party in favor of Iaaking the appro-
priation. His shoulders were too mar
row for the burden. lie could not keep
the democratic voters in the ranks
They broke and voted with the repub-
licans.
Despite the largeness of the interests
involved, only $50 voters were in the
hall. There are $500 in the town.
Representative-elect S. Ives Wallace
was elected Moderator. The meeting
was closely divided between the par
ties, but there was little opposition to
Mr.. Wallace The voters of both par
ties had confidence in him.
Town Solicitor Thomas F. Larkin
moved that the vote be taken on arti-
Gle of the warrant appropriating
$4,000. He explained that he was in a
hurry to take a train, and could not
spend much time to detail what was
wanted. His statement Of what the
money was wanted for was certainly
vague. He said that it was wanted to
pay town laborers, and the school
teachers and for other expenses. He
could not say how much was wanted
for school teachers, nor how much for
laborers.
Judge John w. Corcoran who is a
member of the committee. took the
floor and said that the item relative to
school teachers, was not familiar to
him, and that he was not interested in
seeing the appropriation made, as far
as the school teachers are concerned.
Charles Frazer, president of the Clin-
ton Business Mems Association, asked
why the town boards, who would use
the money if it should be appropriated,
were not represented.
Wellington E. Parkhurst, who is well
known as a brother of the famous cler-
gyman, Rev. Charles H. Parkhurst of
New York, rose to a point of order.
He wanted Mr.. Larlxin's motion ruled
out on the ground that the article was
too indefinite, in that it did not name
the precise purposes for which the
money was wanted. Mr.. Parkhurst's
motion was ruled out by the moderator
lOWn treasurer 11dTT1Ly secured tine
floor to explain. Mr.. Parkhurst had re-
ferred' to the fact that the town had
100000 IN overdue notes on its hands al
ready. Mr.. Harrlty said that $4,000 OF
these notes We're a legacy from three
years ago, in the day of Town Treasurer
Hamilton. He explained that the appro-
priatioEs made in the beginning of the
year were all right, but that the towr
treasurer had failed to collect as much
q ha OF tod
was the same magnificent vagueness il
Mr.. Harrity's explanation of why the
$4,000 was wanted This lack of detail
in the speech of the town treasurer ha6
a disastrous effect upon the motion.
Wellington e. Parkhurst and Hugh
Stewart, sealer Of weights and mea.
sures, had another whack at the unfor.
tunate motion, and it was lost on {
rising vote by a good majority, some
democrats voting with the republicans
and lost again after Mr.. Harrity doubt
ed.
The article relative to providing fol
paying the Clinton Wall Trunk Com
Z panys judgment against the town was
postponed until the March meeting.
A motion was made and carried tina
henceforward articles asking for money
shall specify in detail for what purposes
the money is wanted
The article relative to a committee
to look after the towns interests in thu
metropolitan water basin matter. cam,
up and was explained by Judge Corco
ran, who said that some committee OF
person should be designated to prepar,
evidence or the towns claims agains
the state, to be used as the best inter
ests of the town might direct. II,
suggested that the law COMMITTEE,
would be a proper body to have charg,
of the matter.
Mr.. Frazer asked if this was the sam,
law committee that judge Of the su
perior court had just declared could no
serve. -,-s.4f
Judge Corcoran, in a sharp speech
said that then the committee was suine
on it's own account, while now it wa.
coming to the voters for instruction
Judge Corcoran was attorney for tn,
Heagney bondsmen, who secured tn,
ruling of the court that Mr.. Frazer re
ferred to.
Hugh Stewart moved that Judge Cor
coran be made the agent of the town
Carried. c. Frank Fairbanks moveC
a reconsideration, and the law commit
tee was instructed to act in conjunct ioI
with Judge Corcoran.
An amusing feature of the meetins
was the way In which Wellington e
Parkhurst sought to embarrass tn,
moderator with repeated assertion,
der.
telegram came to Martin H. Gar
Vey, late sergeant Of Company X