Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1912-03-08
BELLOWS FALLS NEWS
No.LlcENsE AGAIN.
Unanimous Vote to Sell Old High
School Building for Parochal School.

Unanimous Vote to Sell Old High
School Building for ParochIal School.
The two matters of interest in the an
nual town meeting Tuesday were the re-
suit of the license vote and the disposal
of the question of selling the old high
school building for the use of st.
Charless parish to be used for parochial
school As indicated in The Phoenix the
apathy of voters resulted in the smallest
vote of any year since local option went
into effect but the surprise to every one
was the large increase in the majority
against license, it being the largest ma
jority with one exception since license
prevailed in 1907 by only 16 votes. The
no majority has been as follows 1908,
200; 1909, 1856; 1910, 1854; 1911, 1886; 1912,
32S. The vote this year was 222 yes, and
$50 no, total 49, The total vote of re-
cent years has been 1911, 904; 1910, 1918;
1902 1888; 1908, 1856; 1907, 1868. General
opinion credits the result to the work of
the citizens committee, of which Rev.
A. p. Pratt is chairman. A paper has
been published annually the past five
years, well edited by DR.. Pratt, which
has reached every voter the Friday be-
fore town meeting, devoted to the inter-
ests of no-license, and a postal card
has reached each voter the day before
the meeting having a fac-simile of the
vote with suggestions as to marking.
This, with personal work by members of
the committee, combined with the i'm
provement in the general appearance of
the village, seems to be gradually having
its effect in putting us permanently into
the no-license column.
When the regular business was taken
up at o'clock there was a large at
tendance of voters, Appropriations were
made the same as last year as follows
Library $4,000, cemeteries $500, Memorial
day 500, highways in addition to that
required by law, $3.50. The tax levied
was the same as last year, rs cents for
current expenses, and 10 cents to apply
upon Indebtedness. Both the Crandon
Manufacturing Co. and the Saxtons River
Wooden Co. were exempted from taxation
for five years. 1t was voted that the
road commissioner be appointed by the
selectmen instead of being elected by
the meeting as had been done in former
vars. When the article regarding selling
the old high school building to the Ro-
man Catholic diocese for a parochial
school was reached Chairman II. ID. Ry-
der of the board of school directors made
q statement to the effect that he, in
common with large majority of voters
deplored the fact of the necessity, yet
the time had come when a parochial
school system must be established here
and he was in favor of doing all that
could be done rightfully to have it come
with the best of feeling and harmony.
He introduced a resolution authorizing the
seectmen school board and town clerk
to sell or lease" the building upon such
terms as they should see fit for the pur-
pose named. After some discussion, and
after the Roman Catholic committee had
stated it would be as satisfactory to
them, the word sell Or We're stricken
out leaving the committee authority
only to lease the building. With this
amendment the resolution was adopted
without a dissenting voice. The change
will not be made until the opening of
schools in the autumn of 1913
The largest number of votes cast for
any officer was for school director for
three years, DR.. James F. O'Brien having
538, showing that 237 more voted upon the
question of license than upon any other
issue of the day.