Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1905-05-05
THOSE CAMPAIGN CIRCULARS.
A Case Of Statement, Denial and Refuta-
tion-Hasn't Somebody Lled7

tion-Hasnt Somebody Lied7
The Phoenix said last week THAT no
negotiations whatever have been entered
into between the present bailiffs and tine
Gas Light company regarding a contract
for street lighting the coming year"
This statement had for foundation pos
tive declarations of Charles r. Crosby
Of the board of bailiffs. and Deacon
c. F. Thompson, treasurer of the Gas
Light company. On Saturday the OPP
ponents of the Citizens ticket for bail
IFS had several hundred circulars Issued
and distributed throughout the village re-
plying to the above statement. The main
part of the reply, which was signed by
]. L. Martin and r. E. Gordon, directors
of the Gas Light company, read as fol-
lows:
AT the request of one of the present
bailiffs. Charles r. Crosby, such nego-
tiations were authorized by our board
OF directors, one Of the directors
deputed to conclude them, and that
director reported to each of us fully
ten days ago that the price had
been agreed upon just the same as with
the town-for which the selectmen have
already signed the contract-at $75 for
the midnight and 500 for the all night
lamps-or in all just 1920 a year less than
the village is now paying. We had no
doubt then, and have none now that the
fact is as he reported. Besides we under
stand this director and Deacon Thomp-
son, to whom the above statement is
credited in the local press. are both siren
uous for the reelection OF the old board
of bailiffs. For ourselves We believe that
the true policy alike for the village and
the Gas Light company is that for which
the Independent ticket stands-to care
loot Eal. ny,I
have for some time been doing. what
other places like Brattleboro are paying
for their electric lights, and to place the
Information thus gathered before a spec
ial village meeting, with a proposition for
a new contract based on il. so that It may
be entirely in the control Of the people
who can thus see what is right and fair
on both sides. and thus finally eliminate
what bad feeling has grown up
Dr. II. y. Holton followed the statement
OF Messrs Martin and Gordon with the
following: Il. as a director know that
such negotiations for new contract were
authorized. Though the exact result had
not been reported to me direct l under
stood the price was satisfactory 10 both
parties. concur with Messrs. Martin
and Gordon as to an investigation and
bringing the matter before the people as
stated by them
c. r. Crosby replied to the directors in
another circular as follows: The state
ment made in the circular issued today
| that one of the directors had concluded
a contract with me or any of the baiiffs
/ for lighting the streets is absolutely false.
/ 1t was suggested to the treasurer of the
/ Gas Light company a few weeks ago
/ that the company present their best fig
/ ures possible 10 the village and also sug-
gested that they wait for the new board.
| AS vet those figures have never been
/ handed to me in any shape whatsoever.
/ This is absolutely true. also deny max
! ing statement in regard to the license law
credited to me by c. III. Davenport"
The Phoenix makes a statement. Two
Gas Light company directors refute It,
Mr.. Crosby says the refutation is false
So do other eX-bailiffs. No answer in
any form has been made to this last dec
laration. None of the members OF the old
board of baiifs ever knew of 1.-The price
that had been agreed upon" and never
knew that figures had been presented.
! Hasn't somebody-lied?
II Mr. Martin and Mr.. Gordon will pro-
duce their mysterious fellow director who
! entered into negotiations for a contract
and bring him before the old board of
bailiffs the responsibility may be fixed.
Why not have such a meeting and clear
up the whole question?