The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-02-20

GflO, lUJ IL
OF this the water debt was $3.50 600; the
balance $22S, 10911, was the city debt. In
1896, when Mayor Gordon commenced his
services, says Mayor Hersey, the city debt
was SlS3, 244 rs. During this time the
water debt was contracted and the city
debt has increased, making total increase
OF 1924 1854 80 in four years, and the Mayor
wants to know Flows that for the pay as
you GO policy?"
The mayor recounts his efforts to put "a
check on lawlessness" in the missppropri-
alton OF funds. He cites specific instances
of "lawlessness" as, for example, in 1899,
S7,100 was paid into the city treasury
TO be paid over to the State in June,
1900, but "when the time came the
funds were missing" The treasury was
empty, the debt limit reached, the
city coul not borrow and was reported as
"tax delinquent" 1.-THE city jails its tax
delinquents; what should the State do with
the city?" suggests the mayor, The alder
men rejected his resolutions looking TO
remedy of '1awlessness," adopted one of
their own and re ,cinded it, and thus claw
lessness must 60 unchecked" So he ap-
| pealed to the grand jury, which took no no.
| tice of his complaints.
The "crme" Of Burt H. Wells, city treas.
urer, his trial and conviction" very IA
miliar history in the story of the Granite
City's more recent woes, is reviewed at
length and in the mayors trenchant way.
The mayor gives the new papers of Barre
passing notice, charging them with con-
tempt of court, contempt of city and city
council, and incidentally Of the mayor him
self So the reporters were excluded from
the mayors office. One day these lawless
scribes "rudely burst" into the official pre-
cincts, las If under the influence of some
thing better than city water, anxious to
know something about crazy man in the
lock up" who, tho mayor believed, twas not
half as crazy as they were drunk" So he
expelled them. His Honor believes the re.
porters are doing more injury than good to
the city. "If Barre merchants could COM
bine to issue eekly advertising Sheet"
says the message "the advertising would be
done better and cheaper at quarter the ex-
pense, and on the tombstones OF the two
city newspapers would be seen the fitting
epitaph Died TO please the city,"
And so this unique message continues on
through some forty pages The water sup
ply is considered at length. He sdmonish-
es the city to avoid the $4,000 trap set on
the closing day of the Legislature at the
late session, for the amendment of the city
charter giving the right to issue $4,000
more water bonds, making an aggregate
water debt of $250,000. In pungent phrase
he sets forth his view OF this trap" and
admonishes his fellow citizens not to walk
into i
Mayor Hersey presents figures to show
that Barrels total city debt June l, 1901,
was 1914 1888 %, which will be increased on
March 6. to 1881, 1925, showing a reduction
during the year of $36 1863 So, which he
claims as the result of the policy OF the new
administration, and complacently regards
as "a favorable showing" The tax rate
the past year was 50 49, but under right
management q tax rate of $500 the coming
year will be sufficient" The grand list will
probably be- not less than S37, 800
In conclusion the Mayor hopes "a check
has been placed on the spirit of lawless-
ness, but from the indications Of the alder
manic spirit is inclined TO think that 1--WE
have scotched the snake, not killed it,"
Further prosecutions are in order" and
Barrels annual city meeting will unques-
tionably be a halcyon and vocferous occa-
sion.