Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-03-06
Mayor J. W. Gordon
CANDIDATE FOR RE-
ELECTION SPOKE AT
ARMORY HALL.
Gaye Il Detailed Resume of
the Situation.-Reaffi
j. w. McDonalds
Charges.

night by people anxious to hear wha
Mayor john W. Gordon. candidate fo
reelection, had to say on the issues o
the campaign. AT $50 the speaker wa,
introduced by +. b. Mudyeui. and spok,
in part us follows.
Follow Citiz,s: do not know
that | can materially add to any lhino
that l have already said. For thrr,
years have held the office of MAY on
and during the time | have discussed
practically the same uu' >lionS that pre-
sent to you in this canpa'gn.'
One of the points thai has been pre-
sented, and one that my brother >wa>ev
has had difficulty with is the question of
our finances Mr.. Gordon then refer
red to that part of his message where he
recommended II 50 tax as sufficient to
pay expenses. Said he did not mean
that tnat amount would surly be enough
Expenses might vary from year TO year
Referred to report of finance committee
who estimated $94 600 as the amount to
be raised next year.
Went on to state that it was not nee
essary to raise the whole Of that amount
by taxation. Assuming a 50 tax and
grand list of $4,000 we would get
$4,000 If taxes were all collec ed
This would leave $24.000 to provide for
still. The following things were indi-
Gated us sources of revenus TO supply
that amount. From water rentals 81 H.
900, Received back in state tax $4,000.
back in State school and highway tlA
$4,000. Back taxes $4,000. Rentals of
public buildings $500 to $500 Excess
Slve eXtmate Of finance committee for
sidewalks $500. Other sources $1,000
'lf my brother Swasey cannot under
stand this | wish some of you would ex-
plain it to him. am inclined to think
that the completion of onr city hall will
exceed $25, 900. We had right to bor-
row money to erect Il new school house
but used the money we already had on
hand rather than increase our debt.
Time is coming when we shall have to
make payments on the city nall and it
may be necessary to reimburse the treas
ury with the $4,000.
have certain ideas about bonding,
but if we come to the end of next year
with our city hall paid for and no debt
excepting for the school house YOU had
all ought to feel proud of the manag
ment. do not think the total cost of
the city hall will exceed S55oo0,
Mr.. Gordon then went over the letting
of the city hall contract from the begin
min itnr lin, ,n Statn hn
so many times made. In speaking of
our city attorney in this campaign he
told a funny story to begin with. 1.-The
man who says that the law department
Of this city has been so poorly managed
is the man vino managed ii? There Is
no other person responsible for It's de-
lays but George L. Swasey. No one
has hindered him, but have neglected
my own business and given my time to
assist him."
Mr.. Gordon then told how he had had
to conduct one of Mr. SwaSeys cases at
Supreme Court. "Nr. Swa>ey tells
us that if he was Mayor he would insist
upon an immediate hearing in regard TO
the water plant. Until his candidacy
as Mayor he hardly lifted his finger to
assist in this. Mr.. Mcdonald. III his
letter to the press has stated the exact
figures in regard to it," lie then went
on 10 enumerate cases of delinquency
II the part of Mr.. Swascy. stating that
the delay in all these eases was due to
him. 1.-The water case was attended to
by myself and one of the aldermen.
We got the experts here, and we asked
HIM to 90 with us and he wouldn't
"He tells about papers that were not
put into his hands. The papers i'll re-
gard to the water plant were given to
him and he lost them. found them