Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-10-31

Inc City council met IL special SeS'
sion last night with all members pre-
sent executing Alderman Houston.
T1e business was the consideration
of the petition circulated by the Re
tail Merchants Association, and signed
with t9k names, asking that the city
charter he further amended, placing
the street and water departments each
under separate commission, sini-
lar to the system Of conducting the
pubbic schools. Outside OF members
OF the council and piess representa-
tives. about 25 merchants and busi-
ness men were present.
After the reading Of the petition
Ma yor Melcher called on President A.
p. Abbott of the Merchants Associa.
ticnlte explain just what was wanted.
Mr.. Abbott called on Homer Fits,
chairman Of the committee in charge
OF the petition. Mr.. Fits briefly
stated the desire Of the merchants to
have the street and water depart.
ments run on the same plan Us the
schools which are so successful. He
was interrogated by Aldermen Duffy
Mckenzie and Currier, and by S. Fl.
Forsythe on several points relative to
how the proposed coH missions should
be made up, whether elected or ap
pointed, anc whether to serve with OF
without pay. He replied that they
should be elected aod receive pay for
what time they put into the work.
RsS. Currier stated that no city in
New England elected such commits
Sioners but c. S.Currser cited Concord,
N. H., where they were elected few
years ago, but he did not know as IL
he present AS Mr. Fits had
spoken in very general terms relative
to the changes desired by the ,mer.
chants, Alderman Mckenzie asked
that this matter b: stated more def.
nitely. He wanted them to tell what
they wanted done and how they pro
posed to do it. Mr.. Abbott replied
that the matter was brought up to
.be talked over As far as be knew he
was in favor Of q cnange.
Alderman Mckenzie asked the
merchants II theJ knew what the
present charter provided for in the
street ana water departments, and
Mr.. Abbott answered mo, NICK en-
zie asked {" Why do you want itchang-
edthen. :" John Anderson interrogated
the council relative to the schools,
and Alderman Currier answered him
at length, giving history OF their
Improvement. He said "Don give
the credit OF our good schools to the
com missioners but to tine SUperin.
tendent."
"Our street department has never
received the support that our sch .ols
have. We have got to have money
before we can do any thing with our
stree s." He then read a compare.
tive table showing the amounts expen-
ed by the school commissioners along
side those expe 4ded on the streets for
the past six years.
In 1897 the tax rate was $267 ON
dollar. City schools got 81 cents
and the state school tax was cents,
making total school tax Of 81 cents
on the dollar, or about Of the whole
amount of money raised The streets
got 25 cents, only five cents more
thin the minimum tax allowed under
the state law Every town, no mat
ter bow poor is obliged to raise 20
cents for highways. In 1898 the tax
rate was 81 81. Cty schools got 81
cents, pus the state tax of 5 cents
makes 81 cents again. That year
streets got IS cents. In 1899 with
tax rate of 50 25 city schools got II
cents, plus B cents state making Is
cents or about of the whole.
Streets got 20 cents that year, "a the
next, 20 the next and IS in 1902.
schools got 6O SO, and 63 cents re-
spctvely for the same years. The on
ly special tax for streets during the
six years was the s cent special tax
this year. 1t is money our streets
need, DO, new system OF manage.
hent.
Regarding systems" of caring for
streets Mr.. Gu, ner. cited Montpelier,
so often held up as an example. There
The whole council has charge of the
streets, through their superintendent
st. Albans is The sane. Rutland is
practically like Barre. In Burling.
ton there is a separate commission IN
charge OF the street department but
io is appointed by the city council aud
therefore under its dlrec ion. Mr..