Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1908-03-20

l.
The last thing before adjournment, with
less than one-fourth OF the legal voters
present aud voting.
First-Suh section = of section OF
the act Of incorporation of the Town oil
Brighton Water System, provides that
the Commissioners shall fix THE
terms of payment" for the use OF
the water as we'll as the rates. They
have fixed the terms of payment quarter
", but this resolution instructs officers
Of the town not to pay quarterly. Mr..
Hunt called attention To this at the time.
Secondly THE resolution introduced
new business of vital character which |
was of great interest To a large number
of voters who were tot present., the sub |
iect of which was nowhere stated IN the |
warning. Therefore the action taken
was illegal, null and void. If town Of
ficers acted under such instructions aud
were beaten in suit at law, should
think the town might require them to
paw the costs of the suit. At all events
it would be perilous proceeding.
Besides the resolution is unjust to the
large majority of the citizens. The
town as town owns the Water System.
But if the town as town pays nothing
for the privilege of having fire protection
and watering troughs and water in its
school houses, then only portion of the
people are helping to pay for the prop
erty. To illustrate there are a good
many people in the village that do not
pay any water rate to the town system.
There are some who own small aque-
ducts of their own, some Of which fur
nish water to customers. There are
others that have wells and windmils.
Then there also those who are outside
the village limits. In all these cases
there is no way in which they can con-
tribute their share towards the cost of
the System except 10y the whole town
paying for the water which is used in
common.
Let us look at it in another way
Will the nom water takers in the town
agree that if we will exempt the town
from paying for the privileges of the
system, they will quitcaim all their title
to it? I trow not. Bnt if the water
takers are obliged to pay for it why
should they not own it? There is nc
reason why, except in the minds of those
who expect to get something for moth
ing.
OF course it is in the interest of the
town, as well as Of its officers that the
business shall move along smooth
without friction. And when some dis
gruntled person sits up nights to con
coct a scheme by which to inject fac
tional dispute among town officers, anc
cause doubt as to what is the prope
line of action, as has happened in thi
case, and unfortunately in too many 9th
ers in recent years, it is the duty OF TIN
{ officers to work together and smooth i
up. As for the Water Commissioners
it is impossible for them 10 do anything
except what the charter under whicl
they are working allows. But the Sc
. ectmen are more free. There is col
, siderable latitude allowed them. S
r that, in any doubt IT'S to their line IL
5 action. which they ought to tahe, cause
by this resolution, the Water Commits
+ sioners hope they will take legal advic
e and we shall he perfectly satisfied to lie
the case rest upon the judgment of an
r disinterested lawyer in town, or an
j good lawyer of any other town. But
it is to be done let it be- done befor
next quarter day, 50 that there may b
no break, and the business may 60 o
c smoothly. Of course we expect it vii
cost something to get legal opinion
: but to get it now may possibly save
+ vast amount of trouble aud expense i
the future.
Below is statement of what tn
System will do in q years if it is a
e lowed to run as it is doing now.
g Money on hand, including rents due
n and unsolicited. town order and
interest thereon, s 3o5s.
7. Net income for ~ years, at $4,000 $500.
~ 7o5ss.
e Subtract the bonded Indebtedness
of the System, 10000.
j. Leaving surplus of, 2o5ss.
= Without reckoning cent of intere
!, OH the net income, which means tn;
;. the interest on the water bonds is PAL
. every year, the System will pay mo
than the total indebtedness of the tow
" except the factory bonds.
,r A TAXPAYER.
s. CANAAN