The Newtown bee., 1907-08-23

l towns deSlr1ng to make an apprOpla
 tion with a full understanding of tht financial transaction between the sev
 eral towns and the State, so that al
 any town will be required to do, if i desires to expend a certain stipulated
 sum of money is to simply provide II it's vote for it's proportion allotted tt
 the town by the State, either on the
 basis of one-eighth or. one-quarter. 1 A list of the Board of Equalization
 classification of the several towns o1 the state will determine which class
 your town is in, and I subjoin herewith
 such list showing the towns under theil
 proper classification, as reported by
 the Board of Equalization, June To- 19O7 From this list you can determine | which class your town is now in. Under this law every town in the state has the privilege of petitionine for maximum sum in any one year ot $1O, 900. The law also provides that, with the consent of the Commissioner. any town may use not only the appro- priation of the current year, but also that of the next ensuing year. This same provision existed in the old law, the only difference being the amount winch was $4, 500 in any one year.
 Carrying out the same method of pro- cedure as has been pursued during the past two years, in which towns were allowed to vote not only for the current years appropriation, but also that of the next ensuing year, all towns in the state will be allowed the same privi- lege under the new law, so that the maximum amount your town may vote under the new law is $2O, 900, or any sum under that amount.
 While the old law has been inter preted to mean that the statute limita- tion of appropriations did not affect the money apportioned to the towns, this law determines this question beyond peradventure or any doubt by making a definite provision that all appropria- tions shall be continuous. Hence it would be wise for all towns in the state, to save time and unnecessary de tail of the department and to expedite matters, to vote for the limit of the appropriation allowed the towns, if they so desire, and thus remove the necessity for calling town meetings next year and the consequent delay occa stoned thereby.
 The Legislature having adjourned so late, the administrative part of the highway department will be crowded with an unusual amount of work, and with limited time only at our dispos- al; hence it is desired to comprehend as little loss of time as possible in get ting towns in operation, so that we can let as many contracts as possible this year.
 I do not intend, in this letter, to go over the entire law at this time, pre- ferring to defer other features of the law until we can get all towns in con- structive operation.
 I might say, however, as additional information to the towns, that the ap- propriations that have not as yet been provided for or expended will remain in full force and effect under the pro visions of the old law, and the same pro- portion of allotment will be extended as that provided for under the old law of 19O5 viz, one-third and one-fOurth, respectively, until after all appropria- tions made under the old law have been used by the several towns to which an appropriation has been granted and al lotment made. In other words, all eS- isting contracts, and contracts yet 70 be made under the appropriation grant ed in 1905, remain in full force in ac- cordance with the votes of the towns, and only appropriations made under Chapter 264, Public Acts of 1907, will be affected by the present law.
 I might add, by way of imparting further information, that the entire appropriation for each year under the present law is $750,00 Of this amount, $500, 900 is for the exclusive use of the towns on all main highways, as heretofore, under the old law.
 $25O, GOO of this annual appropriation is to be expended by the State in inn proving unfinished intervals that may exist upon the main trunk lines on which the State has been at work dur ing the past 12 years.
 It is not the intention of the State to lnaugurate any new plan, but simply to extend the one under which we have been operating since the commencement of the work, and in this, my first letter under the new law, l beSpeak your hearty cooperation and request con- tinuance of the confidence you have al ways shown towards me in the past, ir all our future relations.
 Nothing will be done hurriedly, nol will there be any careless haste, nc
 matter how strong or vigorous may be the clamor to get into active operation While this money is your money by vote of the General Assembly and by permission of your representatives II the Senate and the House, a sacred ob l ligation has been placed on me as Com missioner to see that this money i! honesty expended and that dollar fol dollar is given as an equivalent for the
 work done in the State. This will b.
 my standard in the future as it ha been in the past in the expenditur
 of the money placed in my hands. l will be from start to finish under tn
 new appropriation, the same as unde
 the old, "a business administration. Enclosed find blank form of. vote t be taken by the town, and also the ap plication to be presentd by your Boar
 of Selectmen, as required by the law