St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1907-02-27
Municipal Affairs.
The Special village Meeting. The
Granting of Licenses. The Electric
Light Contract.

AAS OPSSANA hAAAN6S AZ
Granting of Licenses. The Electric
Light Contract.
:, The largest attended meeting ever helC
in the history of the village was helC
j, Wednesday night when the specific OBJ
; ject was to take action on the new by
laws. The meeting opened in Town
, Hall, but as that proved too small for the
crowd Adjournment was taken to the
Armory where over 700 voters assembled,
many standing, throughout the two
hours session.
In the absence of the village clerk,
David E. Porter was chosen clerk pro
tenn and the business of the meeting was
at once precipitated by the motion of R.
w Simonds that the new bylaws be
adopted zen bloc" Cries of ballot"
filled the air and after order was restored
the motion was amended by Harry
Blodgett that the bylaws be considered
separately. The trustees had provided
for ballot and also the use of the check
list, but all the bylaws were adopted by
reclamation except the ones relating to
the licensing of hacks and cleaning snow
from the sidewalks. These two were de-
feated after some discussion
With few exceptions the bylaws were
adopted as originally drafted Article 8,
which provided for the licensing of all
places here drinks were sold, was pas
sed without dissenting vote. The arti-
Gle was amended by inserting a comma
IN the draft between the words market
grocery and with this change was
adopted
Article 1 elected the most discussion.
This related to licenses for peddlers and i
the opposition arose over the prospect of
licensing the farmers who sold produce,
and children who sold berries. This arti- |
Gle was amended by exempting from
license all who sold their own produce or
berries, and with these amendments the
article was adopted.
Though the Armory was crowded to
the doors the best of order was main
tanned, the usual tobacco smoke was
not in evidence, and all had the desire to
accomplish the best results for our body
polite. Marshall Montgomery, John
Mcdonald, Harry Blodgett, Charles P.
Carpenter and Alexander Dunnett took
the principal part in the discussion of the
various articles, though the meeting was
characterized by perfect freedom of de-
bate, and several participated in the
meeting whose voices have seldom if ever
been heard before in public
At the close of the meeting the old by
laws were abrogated, and on motion of
Charles P. Carpenter it was voted to
print for general distribution 1000 copies
of the village charter and the new by
laws.
In accordance with the action taken at
the special meeting the trustees have
notified all who must have a license to
carry on their business to come to their
office and get their licenses. The fee for
all of these, except the peddler's license, {
mas been fixed at 80 cents which is to be {
paid to the village clerk for recording the
same The fee for the peddler's license is
$40 which goes into the village treasury.
N all places where licenses are granted
where drinks are sold this clause is printed !
II the license: :
This license is granted with the
mutual understanding and agreement
hat no Intoxicating liquors, fermented 5
liquors, lager beer, Uno beer, or any of l
he so-called notwithstanding beers, or
my imitation OIL lager beer, Uno beer, or
he so-called notwithstanding beers, shall
'e Sold furnished, or given away in or
bout said licensed premises. And the
ale of the aforementioned liquors or
'eers in or about said premises is hereby
trictly forbidden and prohibited.
And article nine of the new bylaws
provides that if any person sells any
thinks as beverage without a license
he shall forfeit and pay as penalty to
he corporation the sum of $40 and
osts of prosecution for each ofense."
The village trustees have signed five
ear contract with the St. Johnsbury
electric Company to furnish outdoor
ghting at the rate of $50 a year for an
II nights service of lights of 5000 candle
lower. This is $3.50 per light less than
he previous contract and on the new
ontract the village will save about
400 year. The citizens ofSt. Johns
Jury will be interested to know that this
) $50 per light lower than the average
rice for similar service in all the cities
nd towns ofNew England.
The St, .IOhnsbury Gas Company sub
lifted proposition to furnish so lights
milar to the one which has been in use
n several months opposite Fred S.
arrmans livery stable, but the trustees
ecided to give the entire contract to the
lectric Company.
There is difference of opinion among
he legal fraternity as to whether a
board can make a contract
nat will hold longer than their term of
flee, but that is question to be deter
lined in the future and in the meantime
he voters have the satisfaction of know
1g that they are getting their street
ghtlng at the lowest figure ever reached W
n this village. l