Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-10-11
TOWN TAX OF Z ~ MILLS VOTED
Three Hour Session Of Town Meeting Provoked Much
Discussion-Otis Library and Academy Tuition
Passed but Voting Machines Beaten-Norwich
Town to Have Lights.

| 1lr1Q sUCCll pIlHt6u.s ALBEIT EOdIQIiidIl
asked if the personal tax would not
cover that. but was told that the com
muta ton was entirely separate and has
to be paid to the state. To offset the
two increases, Mr. Spalding said that
the personal tax collected will be
placed in the. estimated receipts, but
could not be before this, as when the
report was made the matter was before
the legislature, with good chances of
icing repealed. 1t was not, though
some changes were made.
1t was stated that other towns are
keeping their tuberculosis patients ac-
counts separate. and 1t is desired to do
SO here. A sanatorium in the county
is expected in the year and several
patients are now kept at Meriden.
Reports Accepted.
The reports of the town treasurer,
treasurer of the town deposit fund, the
sinking fund commission, the health
officer, the school visitors and the trus-
tees of the Otis library were approved.
Salaries We're fixed as follows: First
selectman s2,100; second and third Sc
lectmen, $500 each; town clerk, 5000;
town treasurer, $500; collectors COM
mission. one per cent. of amount col
lected, all being the same as last year
Acting School Visitors Salary.
When the salary of the acting school
visitor was taken up a resolution from
+. H. Cranston was. presented as an
amendment to the motion of Nicholas
Tarrant who desired the salary to re-
main the same as last year, calling for
the increasing of the salary to $500.
Henry G. Peck spoke in favor of this,
saying that the present official is worth
it and he has saved the town much
money. Nicholas Tarrant soke against
it, as did Albert Boardman, who said
he had taught school ten years and he
was never greatly impressed with a
school visitors work. The $500 means
$12 a week, or more than the average
dition to Office work. He said it is al
most as much as some college grad
yates get at teaching. When schools
are consolidated no visitor will be
reeded.
F. H. Cranston told of the excellent
W rk the acting school visitor had done
and that the East Side school and Oc-
cum school had been added since the
$500 salary was fixed.
When put to a vote it was over
wnelmingly defeated. after which the
salary was fixed at $500. The salary
the three.
Otis Library Appropriation.
For the $4,000 for the Otis library a
resolution was presented by G. S. Ray
mond in its behalf and he said that for
Is years it has been voted and the
people given the privileges of a free
library 1t amounts to only a quarter
of a mill tax, cents for each inflabit-
ant or 40 cents for each taxpayer. He
voted. The appropriation was ap-
proved.
Voting Machines Beaten.
A resolution asking for. $4,000 for
voting machines, ten in number. was
presented by Ernest A. Smith Albert
Boardman asked if they could be leased
but was told they could not. When
Mr. Boardman asked If other than one
make had been looked up, Mr.. Spafding
stated that the selectmen had inquired
what machines are in use in the state
and had written to several cities where
they are in use. The state commission
advises the use of the machine pro-
posed.
Gen William A. Aiken IN speaking
for the machines said that those who
have seen them in use endorse them.
BY the present method votes are being
lost, voters DISTINGUISHED. There is no
way of knowing whether votes are
counted now unless straight ticket is
voted. (That's the way to vote.) All
the trouble comes from the so-called
but wrongly called Australian ballot
The machine gives the Independent
voter an equally easy chance to vote.
The present ballot is a complex zone
vote. In Meriden there were 400 votes
thrown out because of it. Personally I
would prefer an honest ballot passed
by the legislature. but they don't mean
to give the voters one. I therefore
favor the machine he said. 1t saves a
large amount of work. is quicker and
it gives confidence.
Edward Kirby opposed the machines
and had paper read showing where in
Eimira a machine failed to register
Only four democratic votes in ten cast.
Economy was his watchword and he
moved indefinite postponeInent
Mayor Thayer asked to have the let
tors from other cities read, but Mr..
Shields thought the people ought to
say whether they could be read or not.
The vote to indefinitely postpone was
put, but the Yes and No vote was so
close that second trial was neces-
sary. That was little better, but the
chairman decided that the Noes had it.
This was appealed from, but it was i'm
possible to tell whether the appeal had
been sustained or not.
Rev E. s. Worcester maintained that
a two-thirds vote is necessary to re-
verse the chair, but it was held that
the ma jority would rule. In order to
endeavor to clear up the situation the
discussion was allowed to continue.
w. H. Shields reviewed the various
ballots which had been used and OPP
posed the machine. He did not think
il had been perfected and soon new
style would be wanted. He considered
it would be prudent to wait. He didn't
like relying on the machine.
Albert Boardman stated that there
is less excitement about the polls with
the new ballots. The votes cannot be
guided so we'll 1t is a great improve
ment, but the machines would be still
better. The machines do the work cor
rectly and like an adding machine can
foot up a column of figures faster and
letter than man. SO can the voting
n. achine do it's work better Machines
have been in use a dozen years and
they assure an accurate vote. A mis-
take of voting for more than one man
for a single Office cannot be made and
what is voted for is recorded. The
rpachine is no respecter of persons.
The voter alone knows how he voted.
BY no other system do you know your
vote is counted He expressed salts
faction with the proposed machine.
Rev. F. C. Wright said that he was
never at a town meeting when the de-
sire to carry out the wish of the peo-
pie was more evident. He said he be-
Eeves in the average ability of the av-
erage American and that he was safer
with the intricate ballot than to trust
to an intricate machine. He considered
above the average mans ability to
operate machine. He believed the
matter should be settled by passing in
front of the desk
Wlnslow L. Williams thought non
partisan commission should be named
to look into the matter and report at
a subsequent meeting.