Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1906-01-12
The Water suppy Question to Date.

The village of Brattleboro wants and Is
determined to have municipal ownership
of its water system. The vote on We'd
nesday evening was not only to this ef-
feet by a two-to-one majority, but it was
Enthusiastically "n the air at the meet
ing that immediate and positive action
should be taken. The method which it
was voted to adopt was not that which
had been proposed and advocated by a
strong majority Of the business men Of
the village. but 1t is not the Brattleboro
way to keep up a fight or set a back fire
after any public question has once been
definitely passed upon, and there will
therefore not only be no attempt on any
bodys part to put obstacles in the way
Of the water committee chosen, but there
will be united support Of all lawful and
well-directed work to establish the mu-
nicipal system.
When the resolution offered by Mr..
Martin and adopted by the meeting is
shorn of all embellishments and Of all
provisions and phrases which II is pre-
sumed were thrown in to catch the
crowd" it appears to confer the same
actual authority and to come TO the same
posed by Mr.. Dunham. While the Mar
tin resolution authorizes an expenditure
OF $25O0OO for a water system, the VIII
lage charter, as amended by the act of
1892, expressly limits the Indebtedness
which the village may incur for this pur-
pose to $500 600. The same enactment
gives no authority for any resort to AR
bitration' in any negotiations for a water
system. but distinctly provides for a
courts commission to fix damages and
award compensation. The resolution as
adopted names and elects a water board
Of twelve members, but the 10th section
OF the act Of 1892 is explicit in saying that
the village corporation "at a meeting
called for that purpose, shall elect three
commissioners who shall constitute a
board OF water commissioners who shall
hold office. one for three years, one for
two years and one for one year. But
the saving blanket clause Of the resolu-
ton. IF the same may lawfully be done,
covers these and all other doubtful points,
and will prevent any legal complications.
The real difference between the two res
olutions appears to be that the resolution
adopted calls for such immediate action
as may lawfully be taken, with further
necessary legislation to be secured at the
session of 1896. while the Durham reso-
luton proposed to have all necessary or
possible preliminary steps taken by a
committee. with definite action as soon
as the requisite legislative authority can
| be obtained.
We have no doubt the expectation o:
the voters was. and is, that the action OF
the meeting will mean the taking over
Of the Crowell system by the village, fol
there can be no responsible man who
wishes to see the village take on the bur-
den of an independent competing sys-
tenn. Whoever owns "A water system In
Brattleboro will need all the income there
is. And there Is no upright or reputable
cutting out the bondholders."
Mr. Crowell declares his wish tC
meet the village and its ""9mittee in ar
absolutely fair way, and -SF1tts states
that his objections to the resolution
adopted were raised and entered. not fol
purposes of intended obstruction, bui
simply for the protection of Mr.. Crow
ell in all his legal rights
We hope the outcome of this agitation
will be the acquisition by the village o
the Crowell system on just basis. anC
its development and completion in a wa!
fully and permanently TO meet all ou
| community needs.