Connecticut western news., 1908-10-08
CANAAN, CONN. THURSDAY OCTOBER s, 1908
COMMITTEE ID AIT
 WITH SELECTMEN
A TAX RATE OF 15 MILLS

Street Accepted Permission Granted
 to Build Tramway on Highway
 Committee Styled a Board of Su-
 pervisors."
 The annual town meeting of the town of North Canaan was held in town hall Monday afternoon, John B. Reed pre- siding.
 After the reading of the warning. moderator Reed called attention to the | fact that the liabilities of the town now amount to 0,S64.60, assets $7,057.12, town deposit fund $2909.60. liabilities over assets $40, ,897.8S, an increase dur ing the past year of about $16,000, which increase came about largely as the result of the enlargement of the school building and the construction of school committee was asked what amount was spent in the enlargement of the school building and remarked that it is $9600.
 The report of the selectmen was unani- mously accepted after which moderator Reed remarked that the amount the town has to pay for the support of schools, after deducting the money which comes from the state is $5307. The report of the school committee was also unanimously accepted as was the report of the Board of Directors of the Douglas library and of town health officer Lee. The library report shows a balance on hand of $l51.23.
 The meeting approved the action of the selectmen in laying out the Il W street from West Main street to Bragg street and also granted William Can field permission to lay a tramway along side the highway for a distance of about Il half mile, between his lime kilns and his stone quarrles in East Canaan, the cars on same to be drawn by horses and the tramway to be laid and maintained under the direction of the select men. MT, Reed remarked: "You will notice that town expenses have increased a great deal i'll the past year. owing to roads, bridges and the school building. understand the school expense for the coming year will be about $500 ill excess of last year and cannot figure any way that the town can pay its expenses for another year at less than 15 mills on a dollar" On motion of E. S. Roberts, the rate was made 15 mills. The meet ing unanimously appropriated $50 for the use of David Cowles Post in the hb- servance of Memorial Day after which MT. Reed remarked that he had been asked by certain citizens to present a resolution to the meeting. He said: Expenses must be cut down and economy must be practiced in the future, 1 therefore it has been proposed that a finance committee be appointed to COIL fer and advise with the selectmen. The selectmen have been consulted and say l they will be very much gratifed to have such committee appointed" The con- mittee named by the resolution consists of Edw. s. Roberts, G. s. Fuller aad J. B. Reed, MT. Roberts remarked that he did not wish to be put in position where he would seem to be critlcizing the selectmen. Two years ago, he said, the scheme was tried in Norfolk and every selectman resigned but if the North Canaan selectmen are willing that the committee should be appointed, he was not averse to serving.
 s. A. Eddy remarked that he was in sympathy with a part of the spirit of the resolution but thought it over stepped little and encroaches upon the legal rights of the selectmen. He be. ieved the selectmen have certain powers restricts them. MT. Eddy stated that the resolution says that the selectmen Si4all not do certain things unless the com mittee says they can. MT. Reed ad- mitted that the resolution so stated and added that the selectmen would have their way. Mr. Eddy thought it should be more definitely stated. MT. Eddy took the position that the town has no right to put board of supervisors over the selectmen. He said he had no ob- jection to an advisory committee but ac- cording to the resolution, the committee would be more than that and he thought the law would be exceeded. After con- siderable discussion, selectman 0. H. Sage remarked that he did not believe the Board would object to an advisory committee. There have been number of instances where the selectmen have wanted to do what was for the best in- terests of the town and could not de- eide upon the best course to pursue ana a committee might be able to materially assist them. Selectman Reel offered no