Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-07-12
OUR FINANCIAL BLOCKADE.
How it Came and How 1T Went

| EDITOR EVENING TELEGRAM. "A |
a city meeting June 80, vote was
passed authorizing the city council to
borrow $40, 900 in anticipation of this
years taxes. For a number Of days
preceding there had been no money in
the treasury. Twenty-Six thousand
had already been borrowed in antici-
pat ion of tho taxes. This was the
limit. No more could be borrowed by
the city council without authority
from the city. This authority was
given by vote at the city meeting,
Friday evening. At the city council
meeting the next Monday evening.
July =, Il resolution was passed au-
thorizing the mayor and the city clerk
and treasurer to make the $50, 600 loan
on the best terms possible for the
city. This resolution was placed IN
the hands of the city clerk. 1t was
of course his duty at once to 40 the
telephone correspondence with Boston
and other firms in order to negotiate
the loan; but he hesitated for the rea-
son, as he claimed, that the mayor
must first approve by his signature
the resolution. This caused a need
less delay of five days, viz, from July
= to July 7.
Who, if anyone, was to blame for
this delay? One may Judge from the
facts inc the premises That very
Monday evening, July 7, at a special
meeting of the city council, called for
the purpose, the council unanimously
decided that the resolution in ques-
tion did not require the mayors sigma
ture, and instructed the clerk at once
to negotiate the loan. This was Sat
urday evening. Before II O'Clock the
next Monday. July 8, the clerk found
that he could negotiate the loan with
parties in Boston.
Thus whole week was consumed
in doing what might have been done
in less than l8 hours, that is from
Monday evening, July ,, to Tuesday
morning, July ). Who, if anyone
was at fault:
But in order now to get the $50, 0oO
of course must sign the notes. And
vet. as things were, | could not &c
this for the reason that | believed
the taxes assessed by the board of al.
dermen June 6, without my persona
presence, was illegal. 10 borrow
money in anticipation of taxes illegally
assessed, without the lender knowing
the fact, would be getting money
under false pretenses. Accordingly
called another council meeting last
Monday evening, July o, and recon-
mended to the aldermen the passage
of a resolution which should be thei1
own making, intended and competen,
to remove all doubts of illegality.
had before, June 81, recommended
the passage of just such resolution
knowing that it would be shortl!
needed. But the aldermen then re
fused. Now, fully realizing the ne
cessity thereof, they adopted such
resolution. The taxes were thus lie
galzed and was then at liberty tt
sign the notes. The next day, las
Tuesday, before II O'Clock the note
were signed and the negotiation TO
the loan was complete.
Thus came and went our iinancla
blockade. AS for myself, ] do no
know why | have not done my dut!
at every step just as fast as it wa
possible to do it. In no way have
caused moments unnecessary dc
Law. The June batch of warrants wa
handed to me for my signature Jul.
5. l at once signed and returned
them to the city clerks Office, whcr
they have since been waiting for mon
ey to pay laborers and Others 70
whom the warrants were made. Tha
money is now supposed to be in tn
treasury. HARVEY hEhSh''