Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-03-07
ANNUAL TOWN MEETING.

The annual town meeting occurred
tions, there was bit Of a change in sew
eral minor offices and the slate did not
go through so easily as its makers anti
cipated.
Darwin Rider called the gathering
to order promptly at the stroke OF
10 o'clock, and the first article in the
warning was quickly disposed of by the
! election Of F. A. BoId as moderator
and j. M. Burke as town clerk. The old
board of selectmen, Darwin Rider, G. j.
Mathews, w. N. Cady, were reelected
with no opposition, as was likewise VIM.
Jackson for overseer of the poor, and ii
was voted to pay the overseer the same
salary as last year.
The auditors report was read and &C.
cepted.
c. j. Seeley was elected as first con-
stable. Upon the moderator calling for
a nomination for second constable, the
names of M. X. Moore and lE. M. Day
were placed In nomination, which neces-
STATED voting by ballot. This resulted
in Mr.. Day receiving 1S5 votes to 80 for
Mr.. Moore, and Mr.. Day was declared
elected. Upon motion of Judge w. II.
Bliss it was voted to give the constable
Jurisdiction within the state.
G. j. Seeley was elected tax collector
by reclamation, as was also the present
incumbents on the board of listers, G.. d.
Miner, A. X. Carr, Geo. II. E!dridge.
Geo. E. Marshall as 1st, A. X. Carr,
I'd, and DR.. w. ii. Sheldon, Sd, were
elected auditors.
Upon motion of Judge Bliss the clerk
was instructed to cast one ballot for G. f.
Pinney as treasurer, and Mr.. Pinney
was declared elected.
1t was voted to have the selectmen
serve as fence-viewers.
Upon motion of Judge Bliss the vote
for tax collector was reconsidered, Mr..
Bliss showing that such an Office was
unnecessary, inasmuch as the treasurer
was the collector and all taxes not paid
within the specified time were placed in
the hands of a constable for collection.
1t was voted to collect the taxes the COM
Ing year in the same manner as hereto
fore.
The first real enthusiasm shown at the
meeting was when the moderator called
for nominations for town grand jurors.
DR.. w. II. Sheldon was elected by ac-
clamatiOn as the first, but the call of
the moderator for second resulted in
no end of noise. Several names were
called and shouting was induldged in
until the moderator quieted the house.
j. M. Burke declined the nomination,
his name being one of those called. f.
w. Burke was elected as second. There
being two candidates for third it was
necessary to resort to a ballot, which re-
suited in Thos. F. Burns receiving l41
votes and Ezra Brainerd. Jr., 81, and
Burns was declared elected. Judge Bliss
introduced a motion to elect four grand
Jurors instead of three as heretofore, but
it was lost.
T. kidder was elected as inspector of
leather and E. G. Hunt pound keeper !;
surveyor of lumber and inspector of
wood and shingles, II. NJ. Chapman.
Upon motion of Judge Bliss the clerk
was instructed to cast one ballot for w.
F. Hammond for road commissioner,
and Mr.. Hammond was declared elected
by the chair amid much applause.
Judge w. H. Bliss was reelected
agent to care for the legal business of
the town.
1t was voted to appropriate $75 for
Memorial Day, $50 to be devoted to this
village and S25 to East Middlebury.
The recommendation of the auditors
that tax of 65 per cent. on the polls
and ratable property, as per the grand
list, would be necessary to defray the
expenses for the coming year was read,
and upon motion of MIR. Bliss 1t was
voted TO raise this amount.
w. r. Remele, Allan Calhoun and H.
w. Hammond were elected as county
grand jurors, and G. G. Cady, c.. L..
Hooker, f. r. Clay, j. o. Seeley, f. II.
Thomas and F. w. Bacon as petit jurors.
Judge Bliss moved that the selectmen
be ordered to make repairs upon the
town hall steps, and it was so voted.
The only outbreak in the oratorical
line came at this point, and was brought
about by the motion of Judge Bliss that
the taxes for 1901 on all property owned
by the college outside of the campus be
abated. Mr.. Bliss explained that under
the college charter and legislative act it
could not be collected, and that it was
costing the town quite sum to attempt
to collect the same. Several spoke upon
the question, and Il. NJ. Chapman sec
onded the motion of Mr.. Bliss, which
being put to vote was defeated. Mr..
Bliss again explained to the voters that
the tax could not be collected and that
in the interest of the town no further at
tempt should be made to collect, and
once more the moderator put the motion
before the meeting, and although the
vote was close he decided in favor of Mr..
Bliss and the motion prevailed.
j. e. Weeks moved that the selectmen
be authorized to make any necessary re-
pairs on the town hall and Judge Bliss
asked to have his original motion and
the vote on the same reconsidered, which
was done, and Mr.. Weeks's motion was
| substituted.