The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-16
A Few Petitions for Relief
Were Granted; a Few
Dismissed
FORMER COLLECTORS
BOOKS TAKEN UP
Board of Civil Authority
Will Meet Again Next
Friday Night

The problem of uncollected city taxes
occupied the attention OF the Barre board
of civil authority in regularly called ses-
| sion at the city court room last evening
for two hours and half after which
the board adjourned to Friday evening
at o'clock, with the work OF going
over former Constable NJ b. Nichols
books about half completed There was
the largest attendance of the board last
night in years, an even twenty out of a
total of % eligible members being pres
ent, with +. g. Rowland acting as chair
man and James Mackay as clerk.
The call for the meeting was merely
for considering the Nichols tax books
of the past eight years. but as several
persons appeared to present statements,
| the board decided to hear the petitioners,
| following which hearing a few of the
taxes were abated.
| The first of these personal presenta-
tions was by Mrs. Jessie Mcdonald of
| Windsor terrace, who stated that she
was willing to pay taxes, provided they
were to get decent road on her street
and also better lighting as she said it
was dangerous to traverse the street at
night. After stating to Mrs. Mcdonald
that the city council would be the proper
| place to make request for better street
facilities, and after cautioning the city
council to look into the matter, the
board dismissed the request for abate-
ment, although not unanimously.
Like action was taken by the board
on the request of Mrs. Jane Trail of the
same street, who had identical reasons
for appearance as the former petitioner.
BY close vote, 5he board voted to
abate the 1912 tax OF Mrs Mary Cook
on a small house at North Barre. Mrs.
Cook stated that she has five children,
one of whom is in school. Her tax was
abated last year; and she thought she
was no more able this year to meet
the obligation.
The tax of Mrs Lizzie Cook on
house on tie continuation OF School
street was abated. Mrs. Cook is the
mother of six children, three of whom
are in school, and son on whom she
had depended in part had been sick early
in the year. Mrs. Cook also presented
the case of Mrs. Emily Baril, who asked
for abatement on her property on
Pleasant street. She and her l5-year-
old son live alone, and the boy is too
Young to leave school and 90 to work.
The board dismissed the case.
Mrs, Elizabeth Merchant asked for
abatement on two houses on Smith
street, one of which she occupies and
the other, of two tenements, which she
rents. The board spent considerable
time on this case. and first refused to
abate and then voted to dismiss the
petition.
Samuel Wheeler. whose poll tax was
abated last year, asked for similar
abatement this year. Someone asked
him il he didn't have bank account
but failed to get the message home, as
Mr.. Wheeler is deaf; and after some
more fruitless efforts TO get information
from him and after a member of the
board had stated that Mr. Wheeler has
no family and is able to do some work,
the board voted unanimously to dismiss.
DIR. f. B. Whitaker had horse which
was pastured in East Montpelier April
| and without thinking he listed the
horse in a Barre inventory, only to be
confronted recently with tax bill from
East Montpelier for the same horse.
The board decided that the animal was
taxable in the town where it was kept
April ! and abated the small tax as re-
quested.
Appearing for Mrs. John Patterson of
Eastern avenue, Frank l.. Small stated
that Mrs. Patterson wished abatement on
her house She is SO years old and lives
with her granddaughter. The tax was
abated last year, and the 1912 tax was
abated last night.
A statement of the tax against the
estate of 4. A. Carroll. whose funeral
was held yesterday, was made, but the
matter was held open.
Former Tax Collectors Books.
This ended the appearances either in
person or by proxy, and the board then
took up former Constable Nichols 1905
book on which there remained but a
single tax, that against one George II.
Gilman. the other uncollected taxes hay-
ing been either abated or paid since the
list was handed to the collector The
board abated the Gilman tax and cleaned
up the 1908 book.
On the 1906 book also there was but
one notation remaining; and it was Sl.5s
costs of collection which stood against
the name of George Robinson OF East
At the time the collector
went after the tax, Mr.. Robinson stated
he had received no notification of the
tax and refused to pay; and in probable
verifieation OF that statement Clerk
Mackay said last night he thought the
notice was sont to Plainfeld. However,
Mr.. Robinson had later agreed to pay
he tax on the real estate, minus the
,ost of collection. The board decided
o scratch out the Sl.5S costs, thus clos
ne up the 1906 book
BY the time the clerk had gone down
through the 1907 book the members of
he board were showing signs of weari
Tess, but they stuck to the task until
he 1905 book was completed. The 1907
,ook contained long list of poll taxes
md few small real estate taxes. All
# these taxes were abated with the eX-
option of ten realty and poll taxes,
which were considered collectible, all the
ther persons named having died or left
he state, so far as the board knew.
Seven real estate taxes were found on
he 1908 book; and these the board re-
used to abate. In addition, one poll
ak was not sbated. the board consider
ng that the man. still resident of the
ss D., y,,onf fba hill Tho hoard