Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-03-09
FOR CHANGE AND ECONOMY
THE SPIRIT RAMPANT IN TOWNS
itOH HBNp.s Town MEETING.
Various ofhcial Contests-New Tax Methods
No Consideration OF New Town Hall
y Question - Appropriations Voted Other
rown.nsna News. \ y J

S"os''on ~PP''P''"
Townshond News
~ -
Well, now that the smoke OF town meet
ing has cleared away and the members OF
the local branch OF the supreme court nave
rested from their liabors' 'the general con
census of opinion is that u IL were. MI "a
be done over again within lew days ~
could be managed in much better shape ms
only goes to prove that the aforesaid court
is after all human and It's aftersight Is some
times clearer than its foresight Ana TINS
conclusion is of considerable comfort to the
ordinary individual who, II he ventures at all
into the presence OF that august body, goes
no. further than tho, onter circle, where ne
listens spell bound 10 the easy How OF WIS
dom and eloquei'ce.A Town meetings gen
orally develop some sarprises, and this one
was no exception. 1t is safe to say that
even the candidates themselves were In some
instances surprised.
The spirit Of change seemed to be IN the
air and from half-past 10 until the time OF
final Adjournment, about o'clock In the
afternoon changes wise and otherwise, were
worked ont. The first one was in the choice
of p. ii. Rutter as moderator ana then foi'
lowed in slow procession TO the measured
tread OF much balloting the general mixup
OF the town officials. This occupied so much
time that the meeting adjourned for am
ner after the election Of town treasurer.
Immediately after the meeting was ready
for the transaction Of business. q. IL. STRAIT
ton and DR.. r, u. 0sgood were appointed
to take charge of the balloting on license.
The voting on this question was rather slow
and not many ballots were cast. When the
box was turned, at . O'Clock, 76 had vot-
ed No, and IL Yes.
A lively contest developed for the position
of town clerk, and three ballots were neces-
sary before W. s. Holland was elected. At
,he first showdown eight willing citizens
were more or less voted for. Half of the
number had a sprinkling of votes on the
second count, with Holland heavy gamer.
On the third count all the others had either
Withdrawn or fallen by the wayside and a
deputation composed of J. II. Ware and G..
II. Grout was sent to escort the new town
clerk to the scene of his conquest and from
that time on he was in the tolls Of Office
All three positions on the board OF select
men had to be filed by baloting and the
board as elected is A. b. Franklin, Charles
Stratton and Robert IIolbrook. When 1t
came to the Office of town treasurer, il was
the will of the meeting apparently TO have
the Offices combined with that Of town clerk
so W. s. Holland was elected to this Of
flee. a''-a - t-A' -
Just what the object of the meeting was
in making change in the office of over
seer of the poor the writer does not know.
Evidently the voters were intoxicated with
the desire to change all existing things, and
thought to make a complete transformation
Of the official forces of the town Certainly
il change was to be made, the choice of
Mr.. Hastings would have been an excellent
one, but when the gentleman named returned
TO the meeting and learned what had been
done he declined the office and the meet.
ing having sobered off from its hilarity
somewhat, e.elected. Mr., Ware to his 18th
wear of service as overseer OF the poor,
position which he has filed with ability.
This year the taxes OF the town, ii the
vote Of the taxpayers is carried out, will
be, paid direct to the treasurer instead of
to collector For those paying within a
certain period, discount will be allowed.
Taxes which have to be put into the hands
of a collector will be collected at the ex.
pense of the delinquent Y
The question of road commissioner
brought out considerable oratory. After the
meeting had voted against having two road
L H.