Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1905-12-08
Price Fiys Cents Pc, Copy.
NUMBER 49
J VERMONT FRIDAY TWELVE PAGES

should only be paid interest on what
he actually had invested and that IL
there was to be any bonus 1t belonged
to Mr.. Crowell In return for what he
had done for the village.
Mr.. Fits then moved that both re-
ports be laid on the table.
r.. w. Gibson arose at this point and
said he felt called upon to say n few
words in behalf of the majority OF
| the committee. AS to the estimate on
the Crowell system. he said the COM
mittee had to face the condition that
the system was not able to furnish the
village with a suitable water supply.
| There was no feeling, he said, against
Mr. Crowell but the committee could
see no way to give him bonus with
out also giving one to the bond
holders. Mr.. Gibson said he was not
In favor of the suggestion that the
| town own the system and could not
help feeling that II was made for the
purpose of delay. The majority of the
committee had been dumbfounded. he
continued. to learn that the same en-
gineer who made its investigation was
employed in laying out a system for
the Sunset Lake company: the major
ity of the committee was also consid-
erably annoyed to find out that one
member had taken the contract to do
said Mr.. Gibson in conclusion. that
the minority report was not dictated
by Mr.. Crosby, but by Mr.. Fits as a
special plea in behalf of Mr.. Crowell."
j. L. Martin then inquired of Mr.
Gibson If the committee had ever con-
sidered the suggestion of getting at
the value of the Crowell system by a
courts commission. Mr.. Gibson was
taken back at this question and hesi-
tated before answering that he
thought ii had been casually consid-
cred. He then held whispered con-
versation with other committee men,
bers. and said they were of the opin-
ion that the plan had not been con-
sidered
At this point Mr. Crosby arose and
said there seemed to be a feeling on
the part of the majority of the COM
mittee to belittle the value of the
present system. He also said the COM
mittee underestimated what system
that would satisfy the village would
cost, giving as his opinion that the
figure would be about $S5O,O0O He
then went on to say that he was not
in favor of the village putting in a
system for the purpose of crushing
man who had taken care of it for rs
years.
tIn answer to Mr. Gibsons insinua-
tions Mr. Fits said Mr.. Crosby did
come to him as counsel and ask him
about several points of the minority
report, saying that as long as the ma
jority of the committee had had
lawyer working on it's report for sew
eral days he thought he was entitled
to the help of an attorney for an hour
or two Mr.. Fits denied that he had
written a line of the report and as
serted that if he had had the making
of it the contents would have been
somewhat different
w. III. Brackett said the majority OF
the committee was fearful that the
cost of the Chestnut Hill and Sunset
Lake systems combined would be be-
yond the purse of the village. but that
the committee meant to be eminently
fair in the whole matter.
p. Fleming considered the Chestnut
Hill system well sold already ana
thought the village would better buy
as much of the Sunset Lake system as
is already installed and complete 1t
itself.
James L. Martin said he was in
favor of village ownership of a water
system and also of lighting system
(the latter remark brought out much
applause) but he could not see how 1t
would benefit the town to do so. He
thought the plan of having the pres
ent system appraised by commission
a fair one and suggested that the
present committee be authorized 10
see if a suitable commission could be
selected. Mr. Martin finally moved
that the meeting be adjourned for one
week in order to allow the voters time
to consider the matter.
II. p Wellman moved that vote of
thanks be extended to the committee
for its efficient services. and this was
given by rising vote.
Mr. Martin then amended his mo-
ton to the effect that the meeting ad-
iourn subject to the call of the COM
mittee, and it was so voted