The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-02-29

A steady, consistent decrease In
this very considerable item of the
towns necessary expenditure,
The assets Of the town for the same
period have proportionately increased.
The town Is not now involved in lit
cation, and with the exception Of a few
minor suits the only one pending for
the town during the period given was
the one against the Bennington Water
company which has been amicably
settled and disposed of.
During the year ending January 81.
1908 two hundred coupons of the 4
percent refunding bonds. amounting
to $4,000 have been paid. The select.
mems interest bearing note No. for
$1,000 has likewise been paid leaving
outstanding one note Of $1,000 which
Is to be paid ON April 3rd next and
there is also outstanding a note for
$5,147.7S with interest at per cent
payable at~the pleasure of the select.
men. The United States Deposit
Fund amounting to $l5:640.67 has been
paid with interest from June 14th
1907 to Feb'y 2lst., 1908.
| The auditors report for the year
ending January 31st. 1908 states:-
With the same relative condition
throughout the town as during the pas,
year, with a tax of 60 cents 1.-THE same
as last year, we should easily pay
this amount within the next two
years"
II is easily possible with like con
tinuance of economic management
that q SO cent tax can, thereafter be de
pended upon to care for all the operat
ing expenses Of the town of Benning
ton.
Can such desirable result be more
certainly assured to the town by the
Installing in Office as selectmen Of the
town. of men without previous expert
ence and utterly lacking In familiarit.
with the conditions and needs of the
town? Assuredly those who in the
past have done so well for the town
can be depended upon in the future Il
again chosen to succeed themselves.
| 1t is not the purpose Of the Banner
in this editorial to give resume Of
the entire town reports either for 1905
or for any other year. but 1t has ven
tured to thus bring to the attention Of
its readers comparatively few of the
facts creditable to the present boari
of selectmen; in the main monetary
ones which affect In no uncertain way
the individual and corporate interest.
within our town contributing through
taxation to the support Of its govern
ment.
The Banner seeks In no way to de
cry the capabilities of the men who
have been placed in nomination
against Messrs Cromack, Crawford
and Houghton; all are reliable men
all we doubt not would do the best
they could il chosen; but they lack In
experience. in ability to at once take
up the present needs of the town and
carry them to successful completion
The present board of selectmen Is
non partisan and by their intelligent
conduct of affairs and harmonious con
sideration of every question presented
they have made for themselves q
record by which they and the voters
Of the town of Bennington. irrespec
tive of party. may we'll stand.
For the many good and efficient rea
sons, self evident in connection with
the record Of the present board Of
selectmen, we believe that by It's re
election the town Of Bennington will
again be possessed Of Board Of
selectmen Capable. prudent ant
economic, interested solely for tbs
best intrests of the town, its mora
and financial welfare"