Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-03-08
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS
Largest Vote Ever Cast With But
a Single Exception
A Majority Of only 10 for Lleense-W. w.
Barry Elected Road Commissioner
Carnegie Ghost Again.

A Majority Of only 10 for Lleense-W. w.
Barry Elected Road Commissioner
Carnegie Ghost Again.
At town meeting Tuesday a very large
vote was polled, the largest in the his
tory of the town except that of 1909
when 110O votes were cast. The total
vote upon the license question Tuesday
was 1917, of which nine were spoiled in
marking, and 5i2 counted for Eyes" and
526 for no." a majority of only 16. 1t
is interesting to compare the votes of
the last three years and see how little
variation there has been in the number
of yes votes cast: 5i2 in 1905, 537 in
1906 and SAP, exactly the same as two
years ago, this year The mo" vote has
fuctuated as follows: 55S in 1905, sol in
1906 and 526 in 1907 1t rather looks as
if the yes voters polled each year
about all their strength, while the indif-
ference of the mo" devotees caused a
much wider difference in the totals cast
Little interest was evidenced in the
meeting except upon the question of Ii
cense. The vote of the regular ticket
for officers was less by many votes than
that upon license, there being less than
500 cast. The only office for which there
were two candidates was that of road
commissioner for the south end of the
town, and Walter w. Barry won over
Fred a. Smith by over 100 majority.
The business of the meeting was taken
up Immediately after the boxes were
turned at o'clock 1t was voted not to
have a tree warden; 1920 was voted for
the public library, 5000 for the cemeteries
and 500 for expenses of Memorial day,
all the same as in former years except
the library, which was increased $780,
The question of flying the United States
flag from the school buildings was left
with the school board and selectmen
with the appropriation limited to $75
The article regarding flying the flag from
town hall was dismissed. The United
States deposit money was voted to be
returned to the state treasury, and the
borrowing of $4,000 therefor at not to
exceed 3h per cent. interest was author
lied. The selectmen were authorized to
redecorate the opera house and provide
a new drop curtain, the expense being
estimated by Selectman Ray at $1,000. A
laugh was ELECTED by the facetious mo-
ton that "the selectmen draw their or
ders upon the profits earned by the
opera house" The article regarding
free open-air concerts was dismissed
$500 was voted to be expended upon per-
manent highways in addition to the regu-
lar tax in order to comply with the pro-
visions of Act Ill of 1906, a tax of So
cents was levied in place of So cents last
year, which makes the total tax of the
town outside of Bellows Falls $1.35 in
stead of $1.55, while the village tax is
80 cents.
A resolution was introduced by George
A. Weston: Resolved, That it is the
sense of this meeting that the selectmen
should proceed to sell the Walter c..
Smith property on Henry street." and
considerable discussion resulted 1t
opened up the old question of acceptance
of the $4,000 gift by Andrew Carnegie,
for a library, the property having been
bought for that purpose. The resolution
was adopted by a vote of $40 to 50. The
sentiment developed indicates strongly
that a large majority of the voters are
in favor of a library building, as soon
as a suitable lot can be secured, but the
sentiment was decidedly against using
that location. The property can proba-
bly, be disposed of for the $4,000 it cost and
enough to cover the interest paid.
The meeting voted to discontinue the
publishing in the town report of the
names of those who are assisted each
year by the Campbell fund, the record of
all payments to be kept by the custo-
dian of the fund in a book that shall be
open to the inspection of any voter at
all times
The counting of the ballots for officers
was not concluded until about 10 o'clock
in the evening, but the license vote was
declared soon after the box was turned.