News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1900-02-28
Are We In a Nice Pair of Oxen, or Are We
Out One Old Ok Cart?

Sometime ago a tax payer of this town
rushed into the first store he came to and
wanted to use the telephone running to Fl.
Powers office, to consult the leading, law
abiding and peace making citizen of that
place in regard to the default and false ac-
counts of the liquor agency of this quiet and
peaceful town. 1t seems queer to me that peo-
pie never can think to lock their barn till the
horse is stolen.
Why haven'G we seen these shortages many
years back? Why is it, if there is no profit in
the liquor business and none allowed, that 80
out of 100 are & anxious to sell it, and al
ways fall short in shrinkage? Why is it that
some of us are asked to book our homes when
we get a pint of liquor and Others go Scot
freel Why is it when We are authorized by the
First Selectman to build a certain bridge in
town and a certain piece of o a in Eden
Notch, that it is built on the strength of that
stuff they call whiskey, that will kill a mar
almost as quick as arsenic? The same grade
fof liquor is sold to the poor citizens of this
place at 60 cents a pint that cost 80 cents,
and their names booked, while we do not see
on that book the number of quarts furnished
by some one to build that piece of road, or a
new bridge, and no charges made. Maybe it
is samples that cost the town nothing, or it
may be the cause ofshortage to draw on some
one else back.
We understand that there is going to be
different works. We hope so. What we want
to do is to get in some store or hotel and tell
what we are going to do, just before March
meeting; that we are going to vote no H.
quor, for it is a curse to us, but March meet
ing day you see some ofyour friends, and you
get a taste of some of that sample whiskey
orsOme of that shortage, and you will vote
jnsUas your Sample Friend" told you to.
| tell you it is about time we began TO get
our eyes open, and not do business on the
aEnap-Nh Af %hDca aoYnn1na NJ w vunnt 10
get into a nice lawsuit, that will make our
taxes a little larger. If so you nave got a
good chance to. 1t is time these party wheels
we're broken up.
We have run our town meetings too long
with about one-half dozen men, the rest say
ing |, because the six Others wanted us to, or
because we were afraid we would hurt some
ones feelings. Don't blame anyone, only
yourselves for the condition we are in and the
enormous taxes we are paying. You place
too much confidence in a few.
Come to March meeting and vote whatyour
sane mind tells you to. Leave your samples
of poison at home while doing legal town
business, and if we can't handle a liquor agen-
cy as the law directs, don't handle it at all.
Does the law say that the Agent shall be d.
rected by the Selectmen to sell all they can
or does the law say that the Selectman shall
keep in bis possession all liquors at his home
for bottling purposes to peddle out to the
Agent as wanted. If there is a shortage in
this work where shall we place the loss? Are
we all honest, or are we not ? Does the law
direct the Selectmen to remove the liquors
from the Railroad Station to some ones barn,
out Of town, and while there a faucet being
placed in the. barrel, not for the purpose of
drawing ont any Of its contents, we hope, but
to sa We time in making all things in readiness
so we can dish it out to those in own that
must have it for sickness as the Law directs,
but not 365 days in the year, taking out the
So Sundays that we are supposed to be in
other business. There is one good point we
have learned we have had instructions to not
give such men that are liable to getintoxicated
more than " pint of alcohol each day, which
would make l pint, if not reduced before,
while that man, in case of actual sickness in
one weeks time would be liable to need help
from his neighbors for comfort to his family.
We have watched this work in silence, now
brace up and do something.
CONSTANT TAXPAYER.