The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1907-03-08
STATE NEWS.

% al II MI w y.
The Rev. Benjamin Swift has
resigned the pastorate of the
Congregational church at Orwell.
The master painters of Mont
pelier raised the price of work
from 80 to "a cents an hour after
March 1.
The Vermont Association of
Northampton, Mass, is planning
to give a reception to Charles A.
Prouty, of Newport, of the inter
state commerce commission, who
intends to visit Northampton
this month.
Governor Proctor and the Yer
mont jamestown Tercentennial
Exposition Commissioners have
selected Wednesday, September
Is, as Vermont day at the expo
sition. An attractive program
of exercises will be arranged for
this occasion.
The senior class of the Brattle-
boro high school left Brattleboro
Saturday, Feb. 23d, for a trip to
Washington, Philadelphia, and
New York. Beside the twenty
four members of the senior class
there were Twenty-Five teachers
and guests, including Principal
Edgar Burr Smith who has
charge of the party.
Mrs. Melvina Titus, one of the
Oldest residents of Tunbridge,
where she had resided all her life,
died at the home of a son-in-law,
Gideon Avery, February %, at
the age of SO years. She sue
cumbed to slight attack of
pneumonia. Mrs. Titus was one
of the Oldest of a large family of
whom three remain, Mrs. Mary
Darling, Mrs. Colby, and Mrs.
Glines, all nearly or over 80 years
old. Until recently Mrs. Titus
had been strong and active for
one of her years. She leaves two
daughters, Mrs. Avery and Mrs.
j. I'll. Alexander, who each live
only a short distance from the
old homestead.
Ex-Alderman John j. Burger
died at his home in Barre at Z 40
on Thursday evening Feb. 21st,
after an illness of several months
with Bright's disease. In 1896
he was elected to the board of al
dermen and served one term. In
1902 he was again elected and
served two terms, retiring from
the board last March. While a
member of the city government he
was one of the strong members of
the council. He was a man of
strong convictions and absolutely
fearless in following them. He
was elected park commissioner in
1901 and reelected in 1903, the
latter term expiring in 1908. At
the expiration of his term as al
derman, last March, he was men
toned for mayor, but refused to
accept the office. He was a mem
Der and past chief ranger of the
Catholic Order of F0resters.
Though holding some of the most
important offices in the gift of
his fellow-citizens he was essen
tally a man of home tastes and
devoted to his family.
Acknowledgement G. c. Fits
made public Feb. ODD his specifi-
cations again in the case of the
State VS.. George T. Howard of
Craftsbury to recover money
which it is alleged that Howard
charged to the State illegally for
services and expenses while he
was railroad commissioner in
1904, 1905 and 1906. The State
is suing Howard for $1,000 al
though the total amount of money
alleged to have been received by
him illegally is but $65S. In the
specifications it is charged that
Howard charged the State for
wages at Sc a day and expenses
for 63 days when he was working
for himself and not for the State
and charged the State for tele
Uhoning on his own private bust
ness amounting to $11.3O, team
hire amounting to Sal, and Other
expenses amounting to Sis
These periods of alleged graft eX
tended over three years and the
figures used in the specifications
= were taken from vouchers in the
= office of State Auditor Horace f
= Graham. Howard was State rail
S road commissioner three years
He, it is alleged, worked hi
graft all the time and charged thu
i. State for his exDenses when b,
q was engaged in his own private
! business. A committee from tn
). Legislature investigated his &C
+ counts at the last session and rec
e commended that some action b
: taken against him for the recoy
: cry of the money. He was remoy
, ed from his Office of railroad con
= missioner about four months ag
!, and Acknowledgement Fits ha