Connecticut western news., 1913-06-05
TWENTY WOMEN VOTED
School House Addition Defeated
 $5, 1000 for Two Good Roads.

The road from Benedict's corner to Clayton and the road from H. O. Ste- vens's corner to Canaan Valley may be improved to the extent of $2,600 each.
 There will be no addition built to the school-house.
 The town is authorized to borrow $24, 900 from the Canaan Savings Bank, at AZ per cent. to take up notes to that amount now held by the bank.
 Such was the result of the special town meeting held last Saturday afternoon, which was attended by about twenty la- dies, who voted consistently against in- definite postponement of the school house matter.
 The meeting was attended by about one hundred persons. Town Clerk Full Ter called the meeting to order and Wal lace Canfield was chosen moderator. The school house matter was first taken up.
 E. s. Roberts moved that sufficient amount be appropriated to build the needed addition to the school house. Levi Bronson said some definite amount should be named, and added that we don't want Leland Stanford Universi- ty in Canaan" MT. Roberts replied that it would be useless to specify any sum if the sense of the majority present was against the proposition. Mir. Bron. son insisted that the indefinite motion was absurd.
 John B. Reed said the call for action on the school-house matter was prema- ture, and he didn't know who was re- sponsible for it. but as it was in the warning. this was proper time to talk about it. He said there were 303 pupils in the school District No. .2,) at the last report, as against S2S the year before hence he could see no pressing need of increased room. The town is now $55, 900 in debt. "Some of us older men have been described as too conservative" !" said MT. Reed. "but if these younger ones live to our age they will probably be just the same kind of old fellows that we are." Inspired by the presence of the ladies, MT. Reed cited recent instance, in 8 neighboring town, where women at. tended town meeting to vote on an ap- propriati6n for schools, and it had been announced that they might be depended upon to "vote right" but when it came to the vote they were exactly evenly di yided on the question.
 School Superintendent George J. Vo. gel explained, in considerable detail, tho needs of the school and the necessity fol more room in certain grades and es pecially better facilities, as to room, foI instruction in the sciences, which he considered of more importance than the classics. He suggested the addition oi wing, with two class-roons.
 MT. Bronson moved to amend Mir. Roberts's motion, to provide for the ap- pointment of committee. consisting of Mir. Roberts and one or two others, to make thorough investigation into the needs of the schools, both here aud Tn East Canaan. Mir. Roberts said his other duties would not permit him to under take the work of such committee. Mir. Bronson then suggested Mir. Vcgel as chairman of such a committee. MT. Reed at this point asked if there was a motion before the house, whereupon Mir. Roberts, in view of the Bronson propo. sition for committee. withdrew his motion, and Mr. Reed promptly moved that the whole matter be indefinitely postponed, thus forestalling action on the committee plan. e
 "It seems to me you've got it in worse shape now than had il" said MT. Bron- son, whereat there was general laugh.
 A rising vote was had, on the motion to indefinitely postpone, G. W. Parsons and E. s. Roberts being appointed tellers.
 The vote stood 69 for postponement. ana 2S against, two-thirds of the nega- tive voters being ladies. And here end eth, indefinitely the school house inn proYement.
 When the result was announ ced, MT. Bronson said, now that the matter had been disposed of he didn't mind saying he had been in favor of doing something toward the betterment of school condi. tions.
 The matter of road improvement was then taken up, and MT. Bronson raised another laugh by offering motion to in- definitely postpone that
 MT. Reed made a facetious reference to the available money in the town treas. ury resulting from the recent great re- form movement" which had produced a considerable amount in fines, and said he was waiting to hear what Dr. Camp would have to say about the need of a good road toward Clayton.
 Dr. Camp said he thought the place to improve the roads was from Benedict's corner to the Sheffield line, toward Clay 9on. He would favor it, even if his lime kilns were not situated in that region. fy- T Al Al.