Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-03-08

which ne devoted six years of work.
which was ruined under the present
administration by the use of the road
scraper which tore to pieces the perma-
nent foundation MIR. Sargent quoted
from the town report figures to show
that the rural districts did not have
expended for highways an amount pro-
purtiOnate with the tax raised. He said
that the roads in the west part Of the
town were terribly neglected simply be-
cause Mr. Eames could not attend to
them There was a unanimous vote i'm
favor of two commissioners
r. s. Childs nominated John L. Sar-
gent as second commissioner and II. G..
Barber named David T. Perry. Soon
after the voting began Mr.. Perry came
to the hall and on hearing that his name
had been presented announced that he
could not be a town commissioner owing
to his duties as county commissioner.
Upon request of J. G.. Stafford, Arti-
cles Is and 1G, in relation to selling
schoolhouses in districts ., and ana
authorizing the erection of a new school
house near the brick yard, were taken
up. ana it was voted that they be laid
on the table for consideration at an
adjourned meeting to be held Tuesday
evening, March u. in Academy hail at
: o'clock. ON motion of w. l.. Walker
it was voted that the election of officers
of the town school district be postponed
until the adjourned meeting.
Articles > and s. for vote on the ques-
ton of liquor license and the election
of town officers were then taken up and
the voting began under tho Australian
ballot system. continuing until o'clock
for town officers ana until 3 on the
question of license.
At in the afternoon, when the other
articles were taken up. probably 500
people were present and a large number
ha
cupied the galleries. The auditors re-
port was accepted and adopted.
James f. Hooker moved that tax
of 35 cents on dollar of the grand list
be raised. payable July l. John Calvin
said he did not wish to curtail the
seleCtmen. but moved that the tax be
30 cents. He said the selectmen's fig
ures in their estimates for the coming
year were too high and read the COM
parative tables of estimates and last
years expenditures in proof of his state
ment. He scored a point on the Sc
lectmen by showing that they had not
included in their estimates the 1925 in
terest money which will be needed on
the United States deposit account. Mr.
Calvin said that on a grand list of $55.-
900 a 80 cent tax would raise $l65
which he figured would yield a surplus
of $3.50.
w. II. Ninton said that the general
enough should be raised so that it would
not be necessary to borrow money Mr.
Calvin and Mr.. Ninton debated this point
at some length. George W. Pierce Of
fered an amendment through these reso-
lutions:-
Resolved, That the minimum rate of
wages to be paid by the town of Brattle-
boro for the ensuing year through it's
town officers for all labor. labor on high
! hnn ~,
per day.
Resolved, That tax of two cents on
dollar of the grand list of 1907 be voted
and levied to be used in conjunction with
Tie state highway money on the high
ways in the town. the same to. be ex-
| pended under the rules and regulations
! governing the expenditure of the state
! highway money.
Resolved, That a tax of 20 cents on a
! dollar of the grand list of 1907 be voted
and levied for the support and main
tenance of the highways of the town.
Mr.. Pierce spoke in favor of the two
| per cent. tax He said that our roads
! We're deterioratng and spoke of mud to
| depth of six to eight inches on Canal
street and of the complaint from the
| rural districts. The town made a great
mistake, he said, when it neglected TO
! use It's stone crusher. He explained how
$1,000 would come to the town for perma-
nent roads if the two per cent tax was
voted. ID. \. Perry spoke effectively
! Tor better roads and said that the state
IS now offering an incentive to each
| town to raise money. He urged that
Brattleboro show that it is up to the
times and in favor of good roads. Mr..
Pierce's motion was adopted unani-
! mOusly.
on motion of II. B. Chamberlain. c. A.
Miles Ephraim Crane and NJ. J. Car
| mody the retiring trustees of the Brat
| tleOoro Free library, were reelected for
three years. An appropriation of $1,000
was voted for the maintenance of the
| library. Col. c. A. Miles spoke at some
length of what the library accomplishes
and its needs.
On motion of l.. II. Putnam 500 was
! voted for the observance of Memorial
| Gay An appropriation of 1850 was voted
| Ior care OF the commons and burial
| grounds on motion of E II. Putnam
j. l. ROess tried to have the sum raised
! to 800 so that Mr.. Devine might receive
500 more for his work on the common
put l. Il. Holden and j. c. Stafford
spoke against the increase, and the
negative vote was very strong One of
Mi Stafford's Oratorical flights at this
point brought out the first applause of
the day, when he declared that we must
stop somewhere or not go through on
80 cents on a dollar
II was voted 10 pay the town officers
the same salaries as last year.
The polls of the members of Western
Engine company, No l, of West Brat
ieporo We're exempted from taxation ac-
cording to custom. p. S. Chase asked
Tor information about the steamer Sc
lectman Walker caused a laugh when ne
replied I'VE use it when there is a fire.
ana don't when there isn't" but said
later that the engine was in good con-
dition.
j. q. Stafford spoke against the Dlan
to grade the hill and sidewalk west of
the Prospect Hill cemetery. John Gal
Nlns query brought the information from
, Selectman Putnam that the estima ted
expense was $2100. but from this should
be deducted S60S for an iron fence. which
would not be used, but later he said
the estimate was made when price of
labor was lower than at present. and
that In round numbers $4,000 would be
needed l.. T.. Holden moved that the
artlcle be passed over. w. II. Vinton
hoped this motion would not prevail and
moved that the selectmen be empowered
TO cut the grade three feet. i'm accord
ance with the plans now in the office
or the selectmen. As no provision had
been made for this expenditure. e. II
Putnam moved that a four per cent.
tax be levied. j. G. Stafford then argued
10 the effect that the town could not
aHord this expenditure, and the proposi-
ton was voted down.
On motion of G. w. Pierce the arti
Gle in relation to cutting down and re-
grading Vernon street was dismissed
Article IA was fnIIou,e.