The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-07
VALLEY VILLAGES
Annual Fire District Meeting a
Protracted One, With Plenty
Of Warmth.

begun at o'clock, did not reach an ad.
journment until 1880. and even then al
Of the business had not been finished and
the adjournment was until next Tuesday
night In the absence OF Henry D. Hey
don, the moderator, several were appoint
ed pro tenn but all refused TO serve until
finally Mr.. c. ID. Robinson agreed 10 serve
and the meeting opened with the reading
| or the minutes OF the last meeting by
| Clerk william Houston. The reports of
| the various committees were then read
and the synopsis OF the same was as fol-
lows; Tressurer's report--Cash on hand.
%: notes. SIS. $50; interest, S&7l taxes,
5000. 80; miscellaneous, $4l3,Go; total s2l.-
! 1912; expenditures, on account, $53l AZ;
water works, $ls. .lS4.69; repairs OF sta
! ton, s59.ss: total. sl0.S7s07: leaving a bal
ance OF 1885 05. Tax collectors report
| Taxable property. y773 e0l tax OF s232O. so
/ resulted from tax OF three mills: s2l15
/ collected and RENTED to the treasurer.
! leaving a balance OF $20S.S0 still uncol-
lected. The report pf the committee on
the water works presented the following
| Appropriation made at the last meeting.
! $50, GOO: net cost OF the water works SIS
/ 5I3.99, which Is about $40 less than the
| committee estimated. The election of
| officers was next proceeded 10 and re-
suited as follows: Moderator, Henry d.
J Heydan: clerk William Houston treas
/ urer. Arthur r.. Lovett; assessors. Will
\ liam A. Johnson, John Swanson and
/ Thomas Bigbee. At this point Moderat tor
| Heydon put in an appearance and the
clerk was sworn In and IL was forthwith
! voted TO declare all OF the business al
| ready transacted as legal The remainder
OF the officers we're as follows: Fire war
dens John p. James, William Houston.
f. T. Kenyon, George f. Shearne and K.
A. Whitford chief engineer Harry
Marsh; first assistant. George L. Essex:
second assistant. Clause Il. Torrell. tax
/ collector, William A. Johnson; electri-
clan, John p. James.
II was voted that the bond OF the treas
urer and the tax collector should he $500,
and that the assessors should be paid the
sum OF s5 each for their work.
1t was voted that the salary OF the cleo
/ trician should be fixed at SIS for the year
and that the tax collector should receive
! $50 for his work.
A tax Of 20 cents on every 500 OF taxa
bic property was voted.
1t was voted 10 pay the treasurer the
same salary this year as he was paid last,
the sum being s25.
The tax collector was instructed TO add
six per celt per annum to all unpaid
taxes at the date OF Jan. lst.
al NnlS point TIE OlSCuSSlOn OF tne even
ing was opened when Mr.. Roberson asked
the collector of last year, Michael Riley,
II there was any good reason who the
taxes were not collected. Mr.. Reiley re-
piled that Is some instances the citizens
would positively refuse to pay II and I'm
others the tax was due from estates
which were not settled yet. "Of course"
continued Mr.. Kelley, the water COM
! pany's tax cannot be collected any way,
and that is how IL is"
The dicussion waxed warm at this point
and Mr.. Robenson finally made a motion
that the collected be instructed TO col
lect the taxes OF 1902 and 1903, with the
exception Of the water companys. accord
ing 10 law II necessary. Henry Mcmahon
then asked why the collector did not
collect from the other one. meaning that
the water plant owned by the district. A
smile went around the room at this ques-
ton and Mr.. w. +. Kenyon remarked that
IL was never assessed and II the asses
sors decided that the districts own prop
erty was unassessable he could not see
any question about II.
When the question was put in regard to
the previous vote as TO whether the un-
paid taxes should be paid or not the NOS
In the rear OF the room were volumous,
although there were only few who
voted The moderator claimed 20 be In
doubt and Mr. Mcmahon called for bal
lots. favorite call of that gentleman but
Mr.. Robenson called for registered vote.
claiming that all who were not in favor
of having the tax paid should have their
names placed upon the records at any
rate. The vote was put, but before It
could be voted upon Mr. Robenson said
that he had not come TO make any fight
and that he supposed that 1t was no more
than right that IL one man In the dis
trict was forced TO pay tax, why all
should not be. He also said that he was
surprised that there was any taxpayers In
the district who could take a different
view. But" he continued. IF the tax
payers are inclined I'm that way ] will
withdraw my motion and we won't have
TO pay any tax. II that is what the dis
trict wants so ] withdraw my notion"
The moderator said that the motion could
not be withdrawn and Mr.. Rohensou said
well vote IL down them
When the vote was put there was not
a vote in the affirmative and the few who
had voted in the opposite again voted the
same way. Mr. Whitman. one OF tho as
SCISSORS. then said: well, gentlemen, I
must say that think we are n bright lot
90 allow vote which, although only a
sentiment vote In which we say that there
is no need TO pay our taxes II we don't
want 10, II Is a singular proceeding, I
should think" More discussion and
finally Mr. Heydon arose and said that
although the meeting had been laboring
under a misunderstanding IN regard TO
the assessed taxes. he did not want 10 be-
lieve that there was single man in the
district who would vote for the negative
OF the last vote passed.
Mr. Commisky at once arose after the
remarks OF the moderator. and said that
he. at least. had understood the vote and
had voted the negative because ne wanted
TO Later Mr. Mcmahon said that al
though he had voted for the non-payment
OF the taxes he hoped the records would
be relieved OF that clause pertaining to
the vote. II was finally so voted
Mr. Robinson proposed an amendment
TO the vote OF last year when the district
ordered the bonds issued I'm which he In
serted the word notes Again Mr.. Nc
Mahon objected and again talked at some
length about the right and wrong of such
a move. IL was finally decided to con-
tinue the matter TO give notice.
The treasurer was empowered 10 hire
money 10 the amount OF $500. Adjourned
20 June IL.
VILLAGE AppIsNrNcc