Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-04-28
FOR NEW BAlLlFFS.
The Other Side Ably Presented by
Its Partisans.
Editor of The Reformer:-

Ilage meeting rather beneath the dig
nifty of the subject and of Brattle
boro? There never was a cause o
deed so good that such a substitute
for argument couldn't be Imagined
against ii, or so bad as to be incap
able of defense in the same way
And is Ii fair objection to such ;
man as r. +. Gordon for bailiff tina
ne happens TO be a director of thu
Gas Light company? Does anybod,
in Brattleboro believe that II woulC
swerve him hairs breadth ip doinl
his duty by the village, or that If ht
acted at all in making a contrac
with the company, its only effec1
would be to cause him to lean back
ward to the village side? What ht
would doubtless do is to leave 1t en-
trely to his associates.
! But If 1t be an objection TO him that
he is director of this corporation
dealing with the village, how about
Mr.. Crosby, whom the report shows
to have contracted with himself-and
in a competitive business-for all the
feed the village has had the past
year?
But the real truth Is that instead
of a few weeks ago" the electric
lighting contract expired In the
spring of 1903-so that the situation
appears no different in this respect
than 1t has been for two years past.
And If the present board of bailiffs
hasn't improved the opportunity to
make a better contract for the village.
wherein does the fact contain a rea-
son, as against another ticket, for en-
trusting it with the work again?
But as matter of fact isn't new
contract already substantially made
and only awaiting signature after
village meeting, by the bailiffs. the
signed for the town light on West
ern avenue, at SIS for midnight
and 500 for all-night lamps-saving
only 1920 a year from present prices
And isn't this one reason why we
need a new board of bailiffs to inves-
tigate and see if this is fair price
for the village?
Isn't 1t about time for taxpayers to
cease regarding different increases of
village expenses as trivial and TO
consider them on their merits, as
whether necessary or for value re-
ceived? A handsome man like Chief
Hall paradng in a handsome uniform
may make us feel citified but what
earthly need is there of 1t. with one
police officer constantly at the town
lidiig pupliN pay oS Johi''i'
ready to answer any call of need, to
say nothing of two or three deputy
sheriffs with headquarters right on
the street where the parade goes on?
The village tax has grown from 25
cents, when f. G.. Crosby was head
of the board of bailiffs. to 40 cents
now; and where is it going TO end
under this policy of constant and
needless trivial increase? Isn't II
the everlasting economic law that
big taxes mean little growth in
business or prosperity for any COM
And isn't it about time for
to about-face?
Indeed, isn't it plain matter of fig
lres that on the present scale 40
cent tax will not suffice? 1t paid
nothing on the debt last year,-all
hat was paid being for money bor-
-owed during the year or from
crowell on the Vernon street water
there are bonds and |
totes hanging overdue. Juggle with
he figures to the end of time, there |
S no escape from the fact that the |
xtra employment of day police, at SO |
day, means about $1,000 year extra |
To bring themselves |
within their 40-cent recommendation |
he bailiffs estimate $4,000 for the |
Ire department where they spent |
Z ,00450 last year. To be sure there |
vas some $500 for repairs; but such |
xtra items are always coming up, I
nd there is likely to be $4,000 one |
ext year for the Estey steamer. They |
stimate street lighting at S4,700 |
where it was s5,04S.90 last year, and
additional lights constantly called
or as at least a partial offset to any
of price that may be Sc
ured. They call the police $1,'00,
here it was s1,63S.24 last year, with
My s141 included of the $1,000 to be
dded for the day police frill. They
gure miscellaneous" at $1,000,
here it was s1,471.90 last year. And
0 on. And finally they include in
heir. resources" for the coming year
SSo,46 on hand-which is Just
$3.50 more than they started the
ear with-and 1896 of sewer assess
rents, of which every year shows a
alance uncOllected.
The simple truth is, and might as
ell be faced, that unless different
avs are adopted the tax must be As
ants instead of 40 cents. or else there ;;
i'll be increased debt at the end Of !
lie year, and if there is money to ,
pare, sensible, practical way to d.
Sc ii, instead of this day police or
would be to have Sec ..
Id team for the Fire Department, -.
lie working for the town forenoons, !
I'd one afternoons, so that one would I
ways be at the engine house. ready :
instantly respond to an alarm.
The day police was put on with
e astute calculation that 1t would
lip the Yes" vote at town meeting.
) il didn't work exactly that way v
ny not now drop 1t, and starting on .
e road to reasonable economy, direct e
new board to gather information as u
what would be right and fair for Il
rect lighting and on that informa-
IN make a new bargain for approval G.
all to the purpose of getting our q
xes back to somewhere near what U
ey were a few years ago?
In such a work what has il got to .
with il whether Waterman & Z
irtin or Haskins & Schwenk or other
cd citizens favor one ticket or the C
1er? The only questions fit for n
nsideration are the qualifications rs
the candidates and the issues they NJ
md for. To get on the lower level re
argument. it might, far more
lthfully. be retorted that the other
the Wheel club ticket" And in bi
I'd II is a bit queer that in all the til
izenship of Brattleboro no one 81
I be found fit for bailiff who is not I'm
member of this club. as every can ca
late on the "old board" ticket is. al
d many members of the club do de
like the looks of the fact and do de
want to see it used as a political 81
.anization. gu
Ind is a ticket that didn't want Ju
in Calvin on 1t for reelection with an
rest of the bailiffs the one the HI
age wants? John has his faults. tel
has the village ever had a more ba
thful and industrious official. one re
o more thoroughly knows the 5tl
les Of bailiff and the needs of the rie
age. especially in the fire depart sts
nj. or who has given more of time tn.
effort TO gathering information, a