The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-12
Discussion Of the
Situation
IN SOUTHBRIDGE.
Board of Trade to Consider
Brookfeld Road.

Southbridge, Feb. 11.-Among the
things which are just now being talked
about is the probable result of the COM
ing spring election. Many predict a
general shakeup and change in the
entire board of town officers. The old
gag" of running an independent cit
liens ticket is also once more being re-
heansed, though it is not at all likely
that it will amount to anything more
than talk
The license question is also receiving
much agitation. possibly more than
ever before While the license men are
determined to secure license vote. an
equally as strong sentiment exists
among the opponents.
The settlement of this question pro-
misses to cause one of the hottest fights
that has occurred here for some years.
Exorbitant town appropriations are
also threatened to receive a setback.
The town has always been lavish in
this matter which has gradually
brought the town into a state of in
debtedness consequently raising the
rate of taxation which is at present
nearly $40 per thousand.
| In many cases property has been over
taxed and a determined effort will be
made to cul-tail expenses the coming
! year and thereby reduce the rate. In
! the election of town officers it is per-
fectly safe to predict that no change
will be made in the choice of either the
town clerk or tax collector, as these
offices have been filled for the past few
years by Messrs. Edgar NJ. Phillips and
Joseph M, Olney respectively to the
perfect satisfaction of all, and it is
doubtful If any name is proposed to run
against them.
Each year brings surprises in the
elective choice of selectmen, and pre-
diction on the coming election would be
useless. The present board, Joseph M.
Olney, Thomas Sanders and William
c. Callahan, although often subject to
severe criticism have given the towns
people good and efficient service and no
better men could possibly have been
chosen.
The names of Charles P. Phipps o.
B. E. Chapman, G. G. Bowlen and John
A. Whitaker have been mentioned as
! possible candidates for this office.
The present board of assessors, Ste
phen K. Edwards, Franklin Jacobs and
Victor Lamoureux are perhaps as good
a set of men as could be found for this
office, yet in this quarter a general
shapeup is expected. Possible candi-
dates appear in connection with the
names of Charles Hyde, Marcus L. Dill
aker, w. III. Cheney and Michael Egan.
The probable choice Of board OF
auditors is also an unsafe thing to bet
on. The present board of c.. Fred Hill
John A. Whitaker and w. j. Lanour-
eau were elected last year on a very
close margin. This office although pay
ing salary of but $50 a year, seems
to be the aspiration Of every young poll
tician in town in both parties. Several
names have already been suggested tc
succeed the present board, among
whom are those of Samuel S. Perry
Alec Boyer, Jr., William r. Olney, JAS
o. Saunders and A. p. Taylor.
The board of overseers of the poor
viii also have for candidates in addition
to the present board, which consists OF
L. Wesley Curtis, George Lamoureux
and M. Morrill,, two very strong
names in G. A. Paige and George
Northltp, the present town farm super
intendent, who will resign his position
the first of March. In the minor Offices
there will be less strife, yet it will not
be at all surprising If a general shaking
up of each of these smaller boards will
happen.
The Board of Trade will hold theil
regular monthly meeting Monday eve
ming. The question of the proposed
electric road to Brookfeld will be one
of the principal articles discussed The
road has been talked before the board
before, and nothing of a new or start.
ling nature will be presented at the
meeting of Monday night It is hoped
that large number will be present as
items of interest will come up.
The work Of the fire last night was
evident to all who visited the ruins OF
the Pellet block today, and surprise
is expressed by many that the fire de.
partment could have done the work
they did and save the surrounding
buildings. Frozen hydrants caused nc
end of trouble in getting the water, and
1t required a good deal of ardor ano
some suffering for the firemen tC
keep the water on the fire, with the
temperature down a few degrees below
zero. Had it not been for the jealous
work of the firemen, the business por-
ton Of Southbridge would have beer
! wiped out, as the burned building was
: right in the heart of the business por-
ton of the town. The building de.
J stroyed win be rebuilt as soon as
} practical.
Uncle Sam is advertising for bids
| for the location of a new post office II
!
, Feb. 2S. They may be filed with Post
master John w. Mcnamara. They must
include bids for 300 new lock boxes. fol
better accommodations for a money
order and registry department and for
private Office for the postmaster
For 20 years the office has been located
in the bank block, where it now Is, ii
is probable that the necessary accom-.
} modations can be found on the spot
There viii be no evening meetings il
the evangelical churches tomorrow
, night. The evening services have beer
, suspended SO that the several flock.
, may attend the union temperate,
| meeting to be held in the town hall a.
, o'clock. This is the first or a serie.
Of sunday mass meetings which ar,
} designed to make people think over tn,
temperance question and vote for no
| license March s. Two speakers viii
address the meeting. The first is Mrs
, s. M. I. Henry, national evangelist O
} the w. G. T.. She will be followed b,
] Elder A. T. Jones of the Review ant
J Herald. Battle Creek, Mich.
The meeting is held under the aus
: plces of the Clinton Temperate,
Union.
{ The district conference Of the Won
ans Auxiliary OF the Y. M. G. A. fo
this district will be held in the Meth
: odist church, Wednesday. Among th
Z speakers will be ID. l.. Rogers, assist
8 ant state secretary; Mrs. S. A. Har
low of Worcester and Rev. Leo Boon,
| Thomas Of Worcester.
{ Capt. Peter f. Cannon, Lieut. Martil
! 1 j. Healey and Lieut.. John j. Boyle 0
Cornpany X have been ordered to Bog