Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1902-01-17
ANNUAL VILLAGE MEETING.
Occasion Much More Harmonious Than
Preceding Discussions Thereof.

town hall. AS It was we'll known that
important business was to be transacted,
the seating capacity of the lower floor of
the hall was taxed to its utmost. The
interest was not confined to citizens Of
the village, either, as many from out CT
town were present.
Moderator F. A. Bond presided, and
after calling the meeting to order the
regular course of business was taken up.
After the reading of the call by Clerk
Burke, the matter of electIng a moderator
and clerk were quickly disposed of by
selecting F. A. Bond and j. M. Burke to
succeed themselves to their respective
positions.
The business of the day was then be.
gun. The matter of accepting the various
reports embodied in the printed pamph-
let took up considerable time of the
meeting and brought out discussion of
the methods of making up the report.
Many items were not explicit enough to
inform the reader. Officials Of the vari-
GUS departments were called upon to ex-
plain some of the items.
The principal speakers on this subject
Robert Cartmell. After developing
the non-informing character of the
reports, Gov. Stewart moved that a
committee be appointed to devise more
improved system of keeping the accounts
of the village and making up the annual
report. He nominated for this COM
mittee Charles f. Pinney and Gardiner
S. Wainwright.
Robert Cartmell explained to the meet
ing that no change had been made in the
mode of keeping the accounts and
preparing the annual reports for publ-
cation for many years, and said that
those who wished to see the itemized
expenditures could do so by going to
the village clerks Office, where the proper
voucher for every item could be found.
He admitted that he thought change
in the system would be for the best.
Gov. Stewards motion was carried
without dissent and the committee ap-
pointed as named.
Gov. Stewart then called attention to
the excessive pay of some of the village
officers and closed his remarks by sug-
gesting that the road commissioner be
paid lump salary of 800 per year in
stead of by the hour and that no village
officer should have any personal interest
in rloneys expended by the village.
After some further discussion the sug-
gestion, in the form of a motion, was
adopted.
Several articles in the warning were
passed over until action could be taken
upon the resignation of Water Commits
sioDer r. S. Benedict. Joseph Battell
nominated Prof. Thomas Z. Boyce and
the name of John II. Sargent was also
placed In nomination as a candidate to
succeed MIR. Benedict. The ballotlng
resulted in 100 votes being cast for Mr..
Boyce and Sc for Mr.. Sargent, and Prof.
Boyce was declared elected to fill out the
unexpired term of one year.
While discussion was in progress con-
cerning the acceptance and adoption of
the various reports, Prot. c. b. Wright
called attention to the fact that no re-
port had been made by the construction
committee on the new water works,
aside from short statement in the an
nual report of the water commissioners
and suggested that no action be taken
upon that section of article two in the
warning regarding report of water com
mittee, and the suggestion was adopted.
The next business taken up was the
election of board of seven trustees. and
the surprise of the afternoon came at this
time. Upon the moderator calling for
nominations for these men, Joseph Battell
received the recognition of the chair and
amid much enthusiasm and applause
stated that in the interests of economy
at this time he had list of seven names
for trustees which he would place In
nomination. and said he hoped thar the
meeting would depart from the old pre-.
cedent of electing each man OIL a separate
ballot and proceed TO elect them unani-
mously by acclamation. lie proceeded
to read the names of his nominees, and
the applause drowned his words as each
name was called. Mr.. Ba,tell spoke 6
few words regarding each name he pro
posed, all of which names were evidently
very acceptable to the meeting. Father
Shannon tried TO decline the nomination
upon the ground that he was not wei
thouSh dCpudiultu WIFI tilb Httus OI lnt
village, but The sentiment throughout tn,
room was so decisive that he should no
do so, that he very modestly and hand
somely gave way to it. Not dissenting
voice was heard and the moderator called
for vote which was not only unani
nous but decidedly emphatic. Follow
ing is the list as elected: Former Gov
John w. Stewart, Rev. j. ID. Shannon
John f Weeks, Robert Cartmell, Gavil
MOffat, Prof. w. +. Howard and Prof. L
f Boyce.
Following the election of the trustees
the matter of electing water commits
sioner for a term of three years wa
taken up. The moderator called for
nomination and two candidates wer
quickly put IN the field, DR.. B f. Suttol
and Darwin Ryder. Ballot distributor
for both candidates were armed to tn
teeth, and there was ample material t
assist all who wanted to deposit slip /
tbp hoy Tho vntinn on This uuasf,o