St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-03-06

money or insist upon the collection OF
back taxes.
Alexander Dunnett was moderator
and the various items of business were
taken up at 2 O'Clock and disposed of in
about an hour
Article 2 in relation to raising money
for the current expenses was disposed
of by accepting the recommendation of
L. P. Slack that the town tax be the
same as last year, $1.55 on the dollar,
divided as follows: 70 cents school tax;
20 cents highway tax 65 cents general
tax.
Article 3, relating to the appropriation
for the proper observance of Memorial
day was disposed ofby voting, on mo-
ton of Rev. A. F. Walch, $50 for this
purpose.
Article 5, giving the selectmen authori-
ty to borrow money to meet current
expenses, was voted down without
debate.
Article 6, relating to discount on taxes,
was disposed ofby passing motion
introduced by Harry Blodgett, that a
discount of per cent be allowed on all
taxes paid before Oct Is.
Article related to action by the town
in reference to the United States deposit
money. Harry Blodgett introduced
this resolution:
Resolved That the selectmen and the
town treasurer be and hereby are
II. IL tc
as in their Judgment is for the best inter
est of the town with reference to the con
tinuance of the loan, or the payment OF
the same as to all of the funds now due
from the town and known as the United
States deposit money,
Mr. Blodgett explained that the town
could borrow money cheaper in the open
market than to pay the interest on the
U. S. deposit money and therefore he
favored the passage OF the resolution.
The resolution was adopted.
Article 8, relating to forming union
of the various schools in town was
passed without opposition, Harry H.
Carr explaining that under the provis-
ions of the new law the state would pay
the town $1,000 towards the superin-
tendent's salary.
Article 9 related to providing the Office
of the town clerk with better facilities
for keeping his records, and on motion of
Harry H. Carr this matter was referred
to the selectmen.
Article 10 related to another provision
of the state law by which the town
could vote to raise money in excess of
the amount required by law to improve
its highways.
Harry H Carr explained the provision
of the law passed by the last Legislature
by which the sum of $50, 900 was to be
divided among the various towns in the
state for highways. He moved that we
make special appropriation of $1,000,
and said that under the new law the
town would get at least $500 back and
might get a good deal more. His motion
was carried.
Article II was the first one to elicit
much discussion and related to the cree
ton of foot bridge across the Passump-
sic river opposite the stone sheds.
]. Rolf Searles spoke for the petitioners
and made strong plea for the erection
of bridge, saying it would not only in
crease taxes by stimulating building in
that vicinity, but that it would also
accommodate As families across the
river Mr.. Searles moved that the select
men be instructed to construct a bridge
at this point. Harry H. Carr amended
the motion by inserting the clause "at an
expense not t. exceed $4,000" Mr.. Carr
said the voters had foolishly forbidden
the selectmen to borrow money the COM
ing year and he believed bridge could
be built for $4,000. John Mcdonald ia
vored the construction of bridge and
| the amendment was carried and a $4,000
bridge voted without opposition.
The rest of the hour was spent in a
spirited debate oyer the article that had
been dismissed relating to borrowing
money to pay current expenses.
The debate was precipitated by the
motion, introduced by Harry Blodgett,
that the vote of article 2 be reconsidered.
E. H. Hallett said there wa enough
uncollected taxes to run the town with
out borrowing money and this sentiment
was also voiced by J. R. Stevens, w. A.
Kicker and Elmore T. Ide.
Harry H. Carr said the selectmen'
hands were tied and that the towr
treasurer must have ready money to pay
school orders, state taxes, interest or
the funded debt and running expense!
before the taxes were collected.
l.. P. Slack said he was heartily will
the sentiments of Messrs. Ide and Kicker
but he believed we ought to borrow tn,
money this year and start with a bal
ance in the treasury next year.
On close vote the motion to recon
slider the vote was lost and the selectmel
cannot borrow money the coming yea
to pay running expenses,
About $50 the moderator announced
that these officers had been elected fo
the coming year.
Moderator, Arthur F. Stone.
Clerk, H. W. Blodgett.
Selectmen, Wesley Sargent, Fred D
Gilman, Luman A. Laid.
Treasurer, H. W. B,odgett.
Overseer. w. H. H. Robe
First Constable, George R. Crosby
Second Constable, w. H. Worthen.
Collector Of Taxes, George X. Crosby.
Listers, d. NJ. Bacon, o. S. Abbott
Charles Ross.
Auditors, Harry H. Carr Preston T
May, J. F. Puffer.
Trustee of Public Money, H. w. Blod
gett.
Grand Jurors, Guy W. Hill, R. W
Simonds.
School Director, A. Francis Walch
Town Agent, l.. P. Slack.
Tree Warden, John T. Borland.
Road Commissioner, DIN G. Sargent.