The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1913-03-04
PUBLIC SPIRIT OF
TOWN IS AGAIN
EVIDENCED
Annual Town Meeting Takes a
Progressive Stand
TAX RATE is LOWERED
Auditor Yelling Though This Might
Be Done Because Abolition of
Offsets viii Raise Grand List.

Town meeting today was not very
exciting, though there was good at
tendance and practically sohd sup
port was given to all movements tor
Improvement and extension OF the
pubic service.
1t was voted to appropriate the re-
quested amount, S496.lO, which is
bennIngtons share toward the en-
pioyment of an expert advisor on
agricultural. matters for this county.
one thousand dollars, the limit al
lowed by law, was voted for perma-
nent highways. The library appro-
priation was increased from $l7OO to
$500, the extra hundred being tor
the North Bennington library. A
new appropriation OF $3.50 was made
for the protection of shade trees, and
the best OF it is, that the citizens OF
the town showed themselves to be
practically unanimous in favor OF
these things intended to help the
the town.
On motion of Z. d. yelling, \chair-
man of the board of auditors, town
tax of 60 cents on dollar was voted.
This is ten cents on dollar less
than last year, the decrease being
made possible by the new tax law
abolishing offsets, which is expected
to increase the grand list by some
five thousand dollars.
The town school tax, outside the
graded districts, is so cents on a dol
lar, the same as last year. This will
carry the rural schools next year to
July l, when the school year now
ends, and will next year enable the
school tax to go down to 40 cents.
There was some argument by At
torney C. A. Maurer in favor Of hav-
ing only one grand juror, but r. E.
Healy and others urged that the
town people are so scattered that it
would be better to have four and 1t
was so voted.
The balloting for town officers was
slow owing to the constitutional
amendments, which took time and
were puzzling to a good many voters.
1t was often necessary to wait for
some time in order to get into q
booth.
Moderator Z. II. Holden presided
and Town Clerk K. A. Booth read the
warning. The several articles in the
warning and the action on each was
as follows:
/. To see whether the town will
vote to empower and authorize the
selectmen to appoint one or two
road commissioners, the number to
be determined by the town in said
meeting, or whether the town will
vote to elect one or two road COM
missioners.
Voted to elect two, one from each
district.
2. To see IL the town will vote to
elect one library trustee.
DR.. L. H. Ross whose term expires
this year was reelected.
3. To see IL the town will vote to
elect a lister TO serve one year in
addition to the lister to be elected at
said meeting for the term of three
years.
Article dismissed. This will make
the board of listers consist of three
members, the same as last year.
4. To see how many grand jurors
the town will vote to elect for the
year ensuing.
Voted to elect four.
5. To see If the town will vote to
elect a second constable.
Voted to elect a second constable.
6. To see IL the town will vote
to elect a collector of taxes.
Voted yes.
, Z. To see il the town will vote
to elect a tree warden.
Voted to elect tree warden.
s. To elect all town officers.
Polls opened. Closed at 3 o'clock
Q. To vote by ballot in the man.
ner provided by law. upon the follow
ing questions: A.-"Shall license be
granted for the sale of intoxicating
liquors in this town. B-"Shall
licenses of the fifth class be granted
in this town."
Polls opened. Closed at 3.
10. To see if the freemen will
vote to accept or reject the proposed
articles of amendment to the consti.
tuition Of Vermont.
Polls opend Closed at 3.
IL. To hear reports Of the town
officers.
Printed reports accepted after f.
d. yelling had stated that the state
highway commissioner had settled
with the town according to his agree
ments.
IL. To see what sums are neces-
sary to be raised for the following
purposes, viz: For the laying out,
maintaining and repairing the high
ways Of the town, and for the pay
ment Of a state highway tax; for
maintaining the schools and school
houses, and for the school purposes
Of the town and for the payment Of
a state school tax; for the payment
Of any Indebtedness and interest
thereon; for the support Of the poor;
for the maintenance Of bridges and Of
winter OF snow roads, for the prosecu-
ton and defense. Of the common rights
and interests Of the Inhabitants Of
the town; for the other necessary in
cidental current town expenses; and