St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-03-01
Communication on Town Affairs.

uerstooo that the report OF the several
town officers covers only from ten to
eleven months of years business or
expenses of the town, as it was necessary
to comply with a vote made last year
to get the report out at, or before, the
caucus, while before they were got out
tor distribution at the March meeting.
Thus this year, areport ofonly 1 months,
and in case Of the road commissioner,
only 10 months expense is given. Norisit
considering comparisons of the different
departments expense, or the total foot
ings, as shown by the treasurer's re-
| port OF 10 or IL months compared
with any Of the previous reports that
cover II months a fair way of COM
parison. Are not the towns several de-
partments growing apace in magnificent
proportions, as regards the cost of sup
port of each and all, without exception?
A few instances from the report cited
may prove eye-openers to some voters
and taxpayers, besides may tend to
substantiate above statement. For in
stance, the town officers and expenses
footed $2144.83, to which should be in
cluded the selfconstituted fourth listers
compensation and expenses paid out,
which were some 1916. This expense
was classed in the selectmen's general
orders, but which would make $2421
town officers salaries and expense. The
cost of the town of making up its list
the last year was $981.S5 or approx
mately. The cost Of the schools in excess
of the 40 cents on a dollar of the whole
town grand list, and all the other school
fund resources was $1371.42. The
treasurers report foots up grand total
of sixty.one thousand two hundred fifty
one and and 5-10O dollars. One may
well wonder how such an amount or sum
could be made way with in year of IL
months (for solution refer to report), in
view that besides that 80 cents on a dol
lar of the grand list of the village was
expended on top of the said SCI 900, or
nice final footing of near cool one
hundred thousand dollars of sum total
for town and village of st Johnsbury
for less than years time.
Is it to be wondered at by the average
mind, voter and taxpayer that the query
often arises, "Where am at ?" or where
shall we or the next generation OF tax
payers come to? Even the reported &C.
casional pedestrian that is said to be
extant in this town and village streets,
who is said not to be in more doubt or
uncertainty of his location and equi-
librium than are many of the business
men, voters and taxpayers are of the
certainty and fear of the present and
future prospects of taxation. The treas
urer's report shows that on Feb. 5th, 90
year ago, the town had $11 ,443 81
cash resources on hand, while Jan. Is
1899, they have but $2412.9S cash re.
sources, little over two thousand dol
lars cash on hand with twenty thou.
sand dollar new schoolhouse to be pro.
vided for. But then, the present genera.
tion need never fear having to pay for
that, for don't they tell us the town is to
be bonded for that amount, and the
interest on that annually is all the pres
ent survivors will have to foot, which
would be, at per cent thousand dol
lars yearly on top of what we already
have to meet. II anyone doubts but
what the summaries of the different re-
ports given in the present report ought
not to be increased a twelfth approxi
mately, all one has to do is to refer to
the present report, or ones before ano
note the arrearages of town officers ser
vices and other expenses that are brought
forward to cover the lapse between then
and their successors
In view of all these things is it to bt
considered at all strange that conserv
alive, economical, hard-earned dollar fol-
dollar class should demand the value
of that dollar and intend to get its
full face value before it is expended
We repeat, is it strange that sucf
class should arise and place {
Young Mems Temperance and Eco
nomic" ticket in the field? This they
supposed to be properly made out anc
certified before notary for the voters
consideration at the forthcoming annua
March town meeting and not till thu
publication of the CALIFORNIAN was il
known that the certificate of nominees
was decided invalid by a mere techni
{ cality OF it's being swornto. Presumably
it would not have been made known but
what it was valid till its absence from
the official ballot at the March meeting
if it had not perchance appeared in thu
above mentioned paper. In regard tt
/ this subject would cite section 90, Re
vised Statutes of Vermont, 1894:
Sec. 90. Certificate OF nomination
which are in appearance and conformity
with law shall be valid unless objection
thereto is made in writing at least tel
days before the day OF election. If sucl
objection is made, notice thereof shall
forthwith be mailed to all candidate
who may be affected thereby, addressed
, to them at their respective places OF resi-
. dence as given in these certificates o
nomination. The officer with whom tn
original certificate was filed shall in tn
first instance pass upon the validity o
such objection and his decision shall b.
~ 4 Ill L.