St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1913-01-15
TOWN MEETING NEXT
Little Discussion Yet But Some Inn
pOrtant Questions Will Come
Before Voters In March

uG0tluS OOL1SO OA L QCS0dg >
March 4th, this year. AS usual a eau
Gus will be held in February to nom
mate the officers to be voted upon at
that time. The date of the caucus
has not been set as yet and but lit
tie talk has been made on the mat
ter. However March meeting may be
quite an important event for ST.
Johnsbury this year and The Cal
edonian gives the voters a little of
the talk that has been made in re-
sponse to inquiries.
The terms of the following officers
who hold Office for three years ex-
pire this year: Selectman William
F. Welch, lister G. w. CaIdbeck and
school commissioner A. J. Higgins
None of these men have been asked
if they would accept a reelection but
it seems probable that Messrs. Welch
and Higgins would. The fact that
Mr.. Caldbeck attempted to resign be-
fore the beginning of work last sea-
son indicates a doubt about his want
ing the Office another term.
Whether there will be any oppo-
sition in case these men would serve
another term is not known but there
is the possibility that the women of
the town may put a candidate in the
field for school commissioner and
some men have expressed the desire
to put Judge Porter back on the
board.
In regard to selectman, it is felt
that Mr.. Welch has done very good
work and has a knowledge of con-
ditions that would make him espec-
faI onnfhnT. n
the other hand the idea has been
expressed that it would be to the
advantage of the town and the
village if one member of the board
of selectmeh, was also a village
trustee. With a man holding both
offices he would possess a knowl
edge that would enable him to man
age things to the advantage of each
organization.
One branch of work that might
be undertaken more advantageous
ly is the road and street work. At
present the town maintains one
street working equipment and the
village another, each with a full
equipment of horses that eat wheth
er busy or not. In neither depart
ment is the services of a trained
road builder secured and much mon
ey is expended that might be saved
by the employment of a competent
engineer to lay out and specify the
manner in which the work should
be done. This makes the position of
road commissioner an important
one that is likely to bring out some
discussion but it is not. certain it
will bring definite action.
Of course all the one year term
Office holders must be filled again
and there is yet little evidence of
any desire of a change in the clerk.
treasurer, overseer of the poor or
constable. 1t is felt these officers
have performed their duties well
and inexperienced men are not like
ly to give better results.
Outside of the choice of officers
the matter of a tax rate will be i'm
portant. The tax rate the last year
was $1.10 on dollar and it did
not give revenue enough to pay
the expenses of the town. Then the
expenditure of money in improved
road work, the amount spent by
the town to be matched by the state
will come up. Under the new law
the town can expend a sum up to
$1,000 and get an equal amount
from the state.
Another thing that will be asked
is an appropriation for a new
school building to replace the Map
le street school and the matter of
an isolation ward for the town may
also be brought up again.
Now please remember these are
not put forth as the opinions of The
Caledonian in an effort to influence
public action. Only talk with vot
ers has been given here and it is
given for the purpose of letting
other voters know what is being
thought in order to awaken a gen
eral interest in the matter in the
hope that discussion will result in
the selection of best men for town
officers.