The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-06-05
They Had Listed $4,000 10
Bonds for Deeds
THE PROTESTS DISMISSED
Board Of Civil Authority Holds That ths
Bonds Are Taxable-Bare Rail
road Gets $500 Taken Out
Of the List.

The question Of taxing some s50,oOe
in bonds for deeds" which amount the
Barre assessors had brought into the list
this year, was threshed out thoroughly
By the board Of civil authority for three
hours last night. and then the board sus-
tained the assessors by dismissing the
petitions Of four persons who had felt
aggrieved over what they called double
taxation and who had filed their protest
There were 25 other holders Of bonds for
deeds who had not fled a protest. The
sustaining OF the assessors was not
reached until after one Of the hardest
forensic clashes that a Barre board OF
civil authority ever had.
The four who had fled protests were
/ Mrs. Gertrude NJ Brlinelle on two
pieces OF property, William Gilbertson on
l two pieces, w. A. Boyce on four pieces
and w N. Burnham on one piece. John
Nicholson hadn't fled protest, but he
appeared in person to enter his cbjec-
ton.
In stating their case the assessors ad-
mtted that while perhaps the system Of
taxing the bonds might be double taxa
tion and perhaps not right, yet 1t was
the law Of the state and the custom in
practically every town in the county,
as they had learned BY attending the
recent meeting Of Washington county
listers, where they had been made sport
of because, previously, Barre had not
taxed these bonds for deeds. City At
torney Carver supported them; while At
torney ". NJ Gordon, who appeared for
afr. Gilbsrtson, Fred L. White for Mr..
Boyce, Mr.. Nicholson for himself, Mrs,
Brunelle for herself, Attorney A. A. Sar-
gent, member Of the board, and Alder
man Alexander vigorously opposed, the
last named taking the ground that II was
working to the disadvantage Of those
who were trying to build homes.
After the protestants had had their
say. the members Of the board had theirs
and the debate was not without g tinge
of acrimony. Assessor Ayers suggested
that there were members on the board
III civil authority who held bonds for
deeds and ought not to vote on the
question. G. W. Nfelcher moved that
such members be barred from voting,
seconded by N. j. MCGOWAN.
Attorney Sargent jumped to his feet
and declared ut is an unreasonable
suggestion Moreover, I understand full
well for whom it was aimed, but the
shot fell short, for don't own bond
for deed
Mr.. Meleher: Il did not aim at any
one
Mr.. Sargent: @Mr. Melcher, I did
not mean YOU; whereupon Mr.. Aielcher
and Attorney Sargent sat down. City
Clerk Mackay then suggested that none
of the board could be dabarred from vot-
ing unless be had an interest in the
case at hand; sand; Mr.. Melcher's mo-
ti0n was lost. Chairman HowiRnd had
previously ruled that all should vote,
unless debarred by direct interest in a
case. WS&
II was explained that in the ordinary
bond for a deed, while the holder may
pay on that as personal property as
wen Is on the title to the property, he
was nevertheless reimbursed for the bond
taxation by the person who contracted
with him.
A standing vote Of the board was
called for at the end Of the long discus
sion. and Mrs. Brunelle's petition was
dismissed by a vote of nine TO six. The
other three were then dismissed viva
voee
The Barre railroad, through Harry c.
Shurtleff protested against the taxation
OF the W. F. Shepard property on Pros
pect street because the property was not
rented for commercial purposes, and be-
cause it was to be used for railroad
purposes Just as soon as the river chang
ing progress goes through, the property
having been purchased to make room for
a driveway into the reclaimed land. Mr..
Shepard has the right to remain until
July |. ]. II. Higgins moved to dismiss
the petition, but the motion was lost,
whereupon Alderman Alexander moved
to take the assessment Of $500 from
the list and the motion prevailed.
Il. r. Hutchinson had fled protest
on the doubling Of his taxes, but during
the course of the meeting he withdrew
the protest and the board dismissed the
petition. Nothing was done with the
verbal protest Of John Nicholson against
bond for deed taxation.