The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-06-24
VILLAGE REFUSES
TO PAY MAURER
HIS CLAIMS
Also Turns Down Surface Sewer
Proposition
AND BYLAWS NOT AMENDED
village Meeting Last Night Emphatic
In Action Though Crude In
Its Methods.

Inc village meeting Monday even
Ing carried out what was the appar.
ent sentiment of the village, in refus.
Ing to go into debt at this time to
build surface water sewers and like.
wise declining to pay Attorney c. A.
Maurer's bill of $2,654.S4, but it did
1t In a crude and laundering way that
was almost a burlesque, though
doubtless effective.
There was large attendance of
voters when the meeting was called
to order at 7.SO by President d. A.
Ward. The warning of the meeting
postponed from June 2 was taken up
first.
The first article of this warning
was to hear the report relative to the
surface water sewers. Trustee Ed
ward II. Holden reported at some
length, rehearsing some of the troub-
les the village had from surface wat
er and how they might be averted.
The trustees had had the ground
looked over by competent engineers,
VINO estimated that complete sys-
tenn OF surface sewers would cost
about S10S.000, but that a few short
mains could be put in that would
take care OF the worst of the water
for about 100000 This temporary
arrangement would be in shape to be
added to when the village could af-
ford it. Mr.. Holden did not urge the
building of the system, but merely re-
ported the facts as directed,
w. B. Sheldon moved that the re-
port be accepted, but inasmuch as he
tailed to include in his motion that
no action be taken, some of those
present feared that to accept the re-
port would commit the village to the
proposition, though such was not the
case.
E. L. Sibley moved that the article
be dismissed. His motion was man
ifestly out of order as the meeting
mad been proceeding under the arti-
Gle for half an hour and had already
done part of what the article call
ed for, in hearing the report. For
this reason the article was not sub
1ect to dismissal. but the meeting
mad no intention Of building any sew
ers and wanted to make it manifest
as soon as possible and SO voted to
dismiss with rush.
Under the next two articles of the
warning 1t was voted, on motion of
Ed Hall and Fred Martin, to appro-
pirate $1,000 for the extension of san
itary sewers and to take the money
from the general fund.
The next article was to see what
would be done about the proposed by
laws, which everybody agreed were
TOO verbose and cumbersome. C. M.
Graves moved that the article be dis
missed, and 1t was so voted, despite
the protests of Village Attorney C. A.
Maurer, who drafted the bylaws.
Mr.. Graves then offered a resolu-
tion that the president of the village
be directed to appoint COMMITTEES,
composed Of three trustees and two
water commissioners. to draft what
bylaws the village needed and report
at the next annual meeting.
Mr.. Graves intent was good. but
his motion was as much out of order
as Judge Sibley's earlier motion. for
having dismissed the article the
meeting could not proceed to act on
the question raised by the article. No
one raised the question, however. and
as the idea was approved 1t was
adopted.
The meeting then took up the mat.
yer brought over from the afternoon
meeting: ITO see what action the vii
iage would take relative to the claims
OF corporation Attorney C. A. Maur-
er for legal services"
Frank Battles made the correct
motion that the matter be referred
back to the trustees. This wouId
have expedited the matter of SETTLE.
ment, but Judge Sibley butted in
with a motion to dismiss the article
rms motion was not out of order
put was the poorest possible way TO
dispose OF the matter.
Technically II puts the matter over
until next March, as the trustees hav.
ing referred the matter to the village
are not compelled to take It up again
unul directed by the village. IL thew
DO take It up. probably no one viii
OBJECT unless they should pay It.
Mr.. Maurer appealed for a vote ON
the issue, but spoke only for a mo-
ment MT Battles asked him ~ he
would take the money n Il was vot-
ca TO pay the bill Mr.. Maurer said
he would. Mr.. Battles then asked hin,
u ne would sue the village n the vii
age refused to pay the bin Mr.
Maurer didn't say. but again asked
Tor vote on the issue.
The meeting, however. was anxious
70 show its disapproval OF the claim
IN the quickest and most emphatic
iorm, and adopted Jldge sibiey's mo-
uon, by vote OF more than four to
one. -~'
The sentiment OF the meeting on
the various questions before Il was
never IN doubt Il violated the rules
OF parliamentary procedure without
hesitation or ccmpunction. but onlv
because Il wanted to slaughter the
cnlet propositions before II in the
Quickest possible way. The meeting
adjourned before O'Clock ana IN
SIDE OF ten minutes John Harte-s
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